[Editor's Note: This review contains spoilers. Please do not read on if you have plans to read the novel Go Set a Watchman. I aim only to entertain and give my opinion of things and never to ruin.]
"For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth." Isaiah 21:6
Most people know the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, it has become a staple of English classes around the country. It has been talked about and debated, turned into an award winning film loved and hated for many, many years. Harper Lee has become one of my favorite authors, even though she only ever had the one book. Or so I thought.
Months ago a snippet of a rumor started going around about Ms. Lee and how there was a second book about to be released. The very thought of this made me giddy. I think that Harper Lee is brilliant in her writing and her character development so the idea that she was once more gracing us with that skill was almost too good to be true. In fact for a long time there was debate about whether it was indeed true or not. When it was confirmed that Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee would be released on July 14, 2015 I knew that this would be one of the rare times I would be buying a hardback new book. To get prepared for this new book, which was maybe sequel and maybe a prequel and also perhaps a first draft, I decided to reread To Kill a Mockingbird once more, I finished it the Monday before Watchman was released. I walked into Barnes and Noble that Tuesday, picked up Go Set a Watchman off the best seller wall and purchased it for 30% off. I started reading it that day.
I found myself slipping easily into the world of an older Scout, who is now Jean Louise. It was almost strange to see Jean Louise as an older woman with fully grown up thoughts and feelings but it was also a nice surprise. We first meet Jean Louise who is on her way home for her yearly visit. When she pulls into the Maycomb Junction station her long time at home boyfriend Hank is waiting for her. On the drive home Hank and Jean Louise go back and forth about when she is going to marry him and move back home. Right away it's obvious that this is a conversation they have been having for years. When they arrive at the Finch house Jean Louise's father, our beloved Atticus, and her Aunt Alexandra are waiting for them. At first all things seem exactly like home. Alexandra is giving Jean Louise a hard time about her outfit, her life choices and how important it is to stand up to the name of Finch. Atticus, suffering greatly from arthritis, is silently supporting Jean Louise and her wild independence while vocally agreeing with his sister. All seems well in the world of Jean Louise. At least at first.
After a wild first couple of days things begin to take a turn for the darker. When Hank and Atticus leave for a city council meeting Jean Louise decides to see what exactly this city council is. She sneaks in to the old courthouse and witnesses a city council meeting that changes her life. She sees a man named Grady O'Hanlon start preaching about how great segregation is and how important it is to keep the Negroes in their place. Jean Louise can hardly believe her ears she who has grown up in a house of inclusion and love can hardly breathe watching her father and Hank sit there and listen to this man spew his poison. Jean Louise stumbles out of the courthouse lost and disoriented and stumbles to her old house for a little bit of comfort. Lost in her thoughts of betrayal she takes a trip down memory lane trying to find where the lies began. And trying to discover if her whole childhood had been a lie.
What follows is a dark journey through discovery and the peeling back of layers of what life in the south is really like. Through memories of her childhood and the things she is living through now Jean Louise finds herself questioning everything that she once took for granted. It's a harrowing journey that ultimately ends up with Jean Louise finally confronting Atticus and asking him, was it all a lie?
To Kill a Mockingbird is an iconic book, and an iconic movie. The young vibrant view that Scout, as our narrator, brings to the world of the south. In the book Atticus is her hero and quickly becomes ours. It's a beautiful book that gives us faith and makes us feel good about all things. Go Set a Watchman is much darker and much more about the truth of things. For me this darkness and the new view of Atticus didn't ruin the memory of the Atticus I grew up knowing. This new book very much felt to me like a first draft or a first attempt at a book. There were a lot of similarities between the two books including some lines that were almost exactly the same. But there were a lot of discrepancies as well, Hank for instance is supposed to have been a long time childhood friend and he was never seen in the 'first' book.
I think that Harper Lee is brilliant in her writing, that's just what it is. She has a narrative voice that is astounding and a way to develop her characters that is unsurpassed. Reading Go Set a Watchman gave me a chance to experience that once more. For this I am very grateful but it was not a knock-your-socks off type of book. I have seen a couple of very scathing reviews about this book and I wholeheartedly disagree with what they have said. I don't look at this book as a sequel or prequel or anything like that so nothing from To Kill a Mockingbird has been ruined for me. For me reading Go Set a Watchman is like seeing into the mind of Harper Lee and watching her work out who she wants her characters to be and what she wants to say. It is an interesting look at the way the minds of white people in the deep south thought during the sixties. All in all it was an interesting study in human nature.
I enjoyed the book and thought it was well executed and I give it a strong three out of five tips of my hat. It is worth reading as a study of the way Ms. Harper Lee thinks and plots and plans. If you can separate the books as two different stories then I think this could be a good recommendation for you. But if you are worried that this could taint your memory of a great book then I heartily say stay away. As a reader I enjoy looking at the different sides of things so for me this was worth the read. And I sincerely hope that the press around Go Set a Watchman will bring people around to the brilliance of Harper Lee. I know that for me this new book has just reminded me of how amazing she really is. An intense read and one that may shock you in parts but something that is worth it if you can see it objectively. I say thank you Harper Lee for a trip into your mind once more.
It was almost exactly three years ago that I first came across a book called A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. I was working at Barnes and Noble at the time and we used to have to do this thing during peak hours when the booksellers had to wander around the floor, asking customers if they needed help and then try to con them into buying a membership. It was during one of these times when I was wandering aimlessly, because peak hours were rather slow, and looking over the display tables when I happened to glance this book that intrigued me. Turning it over I read the back and as soon as I discovered that it revolved not only around a strong and stubborn woman but a book I was hooked. When it comes to books about books I'm a pretty easy sell so I decided to go ahead and buy it. It was such an unassuming book, and the title suggested maybe a little bit of a silly story maybe so I wasn't expecting much. The old saying 'never judge a book by it's cover' couldn't have been more right on.
As soon as I started reading I was taken into this world of books, and history, magic and love. It was all intricately woven together with different characters and personalities. It all started with Diana Bishop, Yale University professor on sabbatical at Oxford doing research into the history of alchemy. She is well read, history nut, tea enthusiast, a woman who loves a good row in her boat and who happens to be a witch. The witchy side is something that she has been hiding for as long as she can remember all she wants to do is do her research and teach her students. While at the Bodleian Library one day she calls up a mysterious alchemical text called Ashemole 782. All of a sudden she becomes the center of some very unwanted attention, from other witches (some creepy sinister seeming ones), demons (erratic and scatterbrained though they may be) and vampires. One vampire in particular seems to be annoyingly interested in Diana, a tall gorgeous rather overprotective vampire named Matthew. Despite being unsure of just what she has done to elicit such attention from the creatures of the world Diana finds it hard to resist Matthew's charming desire to protect her. In a non-creepy stalker kind of way, but in a way that she learns to find charming as well as annoying (she is a modern independent woman after all).
I fell in love with the story, with the characters and all their stories and I fell in love with Deborah Harkness' writing. I was stunned to discover that this was her debut novel because her writing was so intricate and perfected in a way. I rarely see that in debut novels and so it was hard for me to wrap my head around that. But I liked her even more for it because I knew that she was going to be a force in the writing world and I eagerly awaited the next book. When the second book The Shadow of Night came out I was thankfully still working and Barnes and Noble and so was fortunate enough to be able to borrow the hardback book right away. I read it while in the middle of a move from Brooklyn to Harlem but it was so great that even despite that extra work I finished it long before the two week rental period was up. Again I was swept into the incredible magical world that Ms. Harkness created with Diana, Matthew and all the other amazing characters that come along in the story. I fear giving a description of this second book because I have no wish to accidentally give something away so I'll just say this, the second book was just as thrilling and amazing as the first and set me on the edge of my seat until the third one came out.
It took awhile for book three, The Book of Life, to come out. And let me tell you it was a long wait. When I found out it was finally coming out I did something that is very rare for me and went online to pre-order a signed hard backed copy of it. Why is this so strange? I usually like to buy soft cover books (more portable), and I enjoy keeping trilogies and series in the same style so paperback series stay paperback etc. But I knew this was going to be a great book and it was one I didn't want to wait to read so I went ahead and did it. Due to quiet a lot of upheavals in my life around the time it was released it took me over a year to get to the book. But one night I decided it was time to read it because I was looking for a magical mystery that is intelligently and creatively written so I knew it was time to turn back to the world of Ms. Harkness' imagination. The Book of Life was even better than I thought it was going to be.
In my new job at Starbucks I have rather strange hours, what do I mean? Well I have to be at work and clocked in at 4:30am most mornings which means my travel time is around 3am or so. Usually I am much to tired to read, my brain is still struggling to figure why I am awake and trying to function at that hour so reading on the way to work has become a non option. But this book was so good that it made me want to read on my way to work, and at work, and on my way home and at home and everywhere in between. I was so caught up in every aspect of the book and the story that I lost track of time a couple of times while reading. I got wrapped up in everything happening to Diana and Matthew that I would forget for a moment that this is only a trilogy and start finding myself unable to wait of the next book. Imagine my disappointment each time I was brought back to reality.
The Book of Life is a whole other level of greatness from the other two. I loved them all equally, in fact the entire series has moved into my top trilogies of all time, but the third installment kept me on the edge of my seat unsure of how she was going to wrap things up and I loved every thrilling second of it. This is a series of books that I highly, highly recommend to everyone! Don't let the title of the first book throw you or scare you away from it because the book is so good. So well written, so well put together that you will be hooked right away. Please if you love fantasy or good stories about books then go out and get a copy because you will not be sorry you did. The description doesn't even do it justice so you have to trust me when I say it is a world that you will want to fall into because it is a world that is worth losing yourself in.
My darling readers,
I apologize that it has been so long since I have been seen. But this time I have a truly great excuse I have had no computer with which to write down my words of wisdom. Yes it's true my dear tablet has finally gone the way of the Dinosaurs and blacked out. It took quite awhile for me to finally get to a point where I could justify buying a new computer. But my plan is to start going back to school in the fall (as long as I get accepted that is) and since it is going to be online I needed a computer. So here we are at last. A new laptop computer that will hopefully be all that I hoped for. So far so good seeing as it turned on.
Now just because I was unable to post updates or review anything doesn't mean I haven't been reading. Slightly slower than normal, I seem to have hit a reading rut and been less than enthusiastic about my books, but still reading. What have I been reading? Well I've really been running the gambit in genres lately. Finished up the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan and it was awesome! Highly recommend it for anyone, again I say anyone that enjoys Greek mythology. Been reading some of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events which is amazing and each book short and so good that I have been devouring one a day like vitamins. I read a historical fiction book called The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian, a mystery about violent murders happening in Italy, a murderer that is taking out an entire family one member at a time. Each chapter is different, one takes place in the present following the detectives investigating the murders, the next taking us back in time to World War 2 and a forbidden love and the next looking at everything from the POV of the killer. It was good, not great but the author did a fantastic job taking us into the mind of the killer. I read Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk a book about an aging porn star attempting to break the world record of sleeping with more than 599 men in one day. I finally read Maya Angelou's first installment in her autobiography entitled I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, haunting and beautiful and incredibly well written I fell in love with Miss Maya Angelou and can't wait to read more.
There have been a few more since my last post about Rory Gilmore but a couple of them I want to actually review so I'll leave them for now. Currently I am in the middle of reading a couple of books one psychological study called When Rabbit Howls by Truddi Chase about her struggle with her 92 different multiple personalities that all stem from the horrific sexual abuse she endured as a child. And to lighten the mood when that becomes too much I am reading Whores of Lost Atlantis by Charles Busch, a semi autobiographical novel about an actor down on his luck and not really sure how to jump start his career. When he gets together with some of his acting buddies who are also unable to keep steady acting work and puts on a play at an East Village underground club, where he is the leading lady, things begin to turn around for him. So far it's hilarious and awesome in so many different ways. It's well written and endlessly entertaining so I already know I want to recommend it.
There you have it my dears, a full if not quite complete list of the things that I have been reading in my time away from you. I feel like it was a little bit of everything, but I may be thinking I'm much bigger than my briches. I hope that now that I have a fully equipped and working computer I will be more inclined to post lots more reviews. For the moment I am going to bid you all aideu and go read some more and then go to bed. With my new work schedule I have to be up at 3am so getting to bed at an early hour is the only way I get any sleep. I will be putting my application for school in tomorrow so think accepting thoughts for me!
Missing You Already,
The Girl in the Tiny Hat
Let me start off by saying that yes I do know that Rory Gilmore is a fictional character and that she didn't actually read all the books that she said did. However knowing all of this has not stopped Rory Gilmore from becoming one of the most beloved reading icons of our time. There are lists on goodreads.com that are dedicated to her books and reading challenges that ask the question 'can you read as many books as Rory Gilmore?' Book nerds all over the place have taken the test on www.listchallenges.com that has a list of 339 books that were mentioned through out the entire 'Gilmore Girls' series and asks 'how many have you read?' I've only read 67 of the 339 books listed which according to the site puts me in the top 25% of challenge takers. For a goodreads list of Gilmore Girls titles go here.
Taking into account that fictional characters have often become ideals for us I set my sites on Rory Gilmore as a reading icon. Basically I hope to be just like her when I grow up. In the sense that she reads everything. I pride myself on being an eclectic reader, I'm not sure if I am one but I certainly like to think of myself as one. But even so I'm sure that I could branch out even further into unknown reading waters and every time I rewatch the 'Gilmore Girls' series I am reminded that there is still so much more for me to read.
Rory doesn't discriminate when it comes to reading, Dorothy Parker, Sylvia Plath, Jane Austen, Tolstoy, books about beatniks in Venice beach, history, fiction, philosophy, she reads it all because she loves the act of reading and retaining knowledge. She reads newspapers daily and not just the Stars Hollow Gazette but papers like the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal, she knows what is happening in the world. I admire her for this non-discrimination in her reading, I know that I have some discriminations, as do we all, when it comes to reading. Most of us, no matter how book nerdy we are, stick to one genre or sub-genre. Young adult, mystery, romance, paranormal romance, fiction, 'chick-lit,' teen, we can't help ourselves we find an author or genre or series that we can't put down and we get stuck. It's usually very hard for us to break out of our molds and venture into uncharted territories. I try to force myself now and again to try something new or pick up something that someone has suggested to me that I feel isn't really my style. But I know no reader that is as voracious and widely read as Rory Gilmore.
The reason I could never be as well read as Miss Gilmore is simple, I never read the newspaper, and quite a few of the books she has read are ones that I will never pick up. According to www.listchallenges.com one of the many books that were mentioned in the series was 'Middlesex' by Jeffrey Eugenides now I tried three times to read this book and was unsuccessful each time. I just couldn't get into it no matter what, the same with 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini I tried and tried but just couldn't get through it. Rory never puts a books down, she tries everything once and moves on to the next. I can't do that, if a book doesn't grab me or the writing is awful or the story so stupid that I just can't get into I have to put it down. Not to say that either of those books are poorly written and I know for a fact that they are both extremely popular books but they weren't my cup of tea.
Rory Gilmore is an inspiration to me, an inspiration to read things that have never tried before, an inspiration to try movies and music that I have never heard of before. I hope one day to be almost as well and widely read as her but I never will be because I know myself and I have limitations on my reading. No matter how hard I try to break out of my molds, one day reading Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes mysteries and the next Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate events and then the next 'Snuff' by Chuck Palahniuk, I just know that I won't be able to pick up 'Beowulf' or 'The Art of War' and sit down and read them cover to cover. I know they are important books and to be fully well read these are ones to read but they aren't books that I will read. I know this about myself and fully except my limitations as a reader.
Reading is about the pleasure of entering a new world, meeting new people, learning something new. If a book isn't bringing pleasure to the reader then the reader has every right to put the book down and start something new. I am very adamant about enjoying what I read so if a book and I aren't getting along then I will graciously put it aside, thank it for its time and move on. Rory Gilmore is a true reading fanatic and will never say no to a book or a subject which is why she has been an icon for book lovers every where. This is why I could never be as well read as Rory Gilmore, I have my few discrimintations. But I intend to keep on trying.
Meet Thursday Next a LitraTec with SpecOps-27 in London 1985. In a world where people routinely have protests over Surrealism vs. the realism of the Renaissance movement and the greatest crime one could commit is the stealing of an original manuscript of Dickens' Thursday's day to day life is anything but extraordinary. She works, goes home to her pet dodo and occasionally runs into her time traveling father and hopes to one day move up in the SpecOps department maybe one day being a SpecOps 9, although no one is very sure what they do.
As a LitraTec (a Literature Detective) Thursday usually runs down leads on forgeries of Shakespeare's works and occasionally helps out with security on important pieces of literature. Her most recent being the protection of the very rare and very important original manuscript of Dickens's 'Martin Chuzzlewhit,' something she is rather proud of. When the book is mysteriously taken the London LitraTec's are rather befuddled. They bring in Thursday Next to take the case to see if she can figure out how a highly secure book can disappear without a trace. After viewing the security tapes Thursday begins to suspect that maybe an old enemy of hers might just be behind the theft.
When a mysterious man from the mysterious SpecOps-5 approaches her to help them capture one Archeon Hades a mastermind criminal that they believe to be behind the theft Thursday jumps at the chance. After a night that goes bad quickly and lands Thursday in the hospital she decides to move back to her hometown to work for the LitraTec department there. And it is there that the adventures really begin.
It's a world where characters are being kidnapped out of books and people are being trapped in poems. Where bookworms spend their time eating double negatives and extra commas and where cloning has become the natural order of things and dodos are the best pet one can have. When her uncle and his device for jumping into books gets stolen Thursday knows that she will have to find a way to track Hades and stop him once and for all. What follows is quite a journey into some of literature's most well known stories, through a surreal England countryside and at times trough time itself.
Back when I worked at a bookstore, on the book floor, I used to hear about "The Eyre Affair" quite a bit. And although I heard it was good I was never all that interested in reading it. For some reason though it stuck with me and while out book shopping a few months ago at one of my favorite used bookstores I came across it and decided to go ahead and give it a try. After it sitting on my 'to read' shelf for awhile one day I had an urge to pick it up. I don't think I have been so happy that I randomly picked up a book in quite awhile. It had everything in it that I want in a good book. Adventure, romance, suspense, humor, good writing, and love of books. I was hooked from the very beginning and all I wanted to do was read.
It's hard to describe exactly what it is that hooked me so intensely but this book did it. It was well written, funny and full of book humor that only true book nerds would get. I loved the characters and the whole story idea of people being able to jump into there favorite books and mingle with the characters during their down times. I was blown away by the book and I ended up loving it so much that I went out right away to buy the second. I think that I may have a brand new favorite series. The second book was just as good and we got to interact with a lot more fantastic famous characters, the Queen of Hearts makes an appearance and the infinitely interesting Miss Havisham spends some time with us.
The books are just so imaginative and well put together and hilariously written. It is just such a treat to read them and each time I enter the world is so incredible and special. I really love them and have become a huge fan of Jasper Fforde. And if you really love books like really, really love them then I highly recommend the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde because they are incredible books and I can't wait until I can get my hands on the third book. It's a wild ride each time you crack open a Thursday Next story but it's a ride that I have loved and I think that I will continue to love it for as long as Thursday keeps finding herself in literary upheavals.
