Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

“To Kill a Mockingbird” was a sensation and a very special book for many of us, including me. But we had no idea that there’s a continuation to this story. If you are scared by a mere thought of grown up Jean Louise or elderly Atticus what about this: “Go Set a Watchman” has been written before the Mockingbird. Yep, you got it right. In fact, Harper Lee has written Watchman, but her editor recommended her to write a prequel because the readers would enjoy it. So he was right, eh? Mockingbird was a huge success, whilst Watchman has been in the desk up to 2015.

I have very mixed feelings about Watchman. On the one hand, I can relate to Jean Louise on so many levels. We are really alike, I understand her struggles because mine are the same and I support her. We are almost the same age now so it was interesting to read her thoughts on different situations and to see the world through her eyes. There’s been a while since the time described in a novel and yet still the world is the same. 

On the other, it seems that I’ve better not read this novel at all. This book is a total ‘wake up and smell coffee’ thing. Both for Jean Louise and me. For her (and me as well) Atticus has always been the role-model, a reliable man. She was so shocked to understand that he had different beliefs from those she imputed to him. It hit her hard! But she was strong enough to rise up and made a decision to be true to herself. 

This book is about growing up and understanding more about the real world and your delusions about it. You are who you are and you should choose the only right direction in your life – yours. Not depending or counting on anyone except you. All the young people over there who are lost and can’t find the way out this book may be in hand.