OnlineBookClub.org

Which story did you enjoy more?

THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS DISCUSSION, SO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

To Kill a Mockingbird RECAP:

It takes place in Maycomb County, Alabama during the Great Depression. Jean Louise Finch or "Scout" is a young girl, and is oblivious to pretty much everything (we notice this more during the flashbacks in Go Set a Watchman). Her dad, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer, and is defending a black male for being accused of raping a white male's daughter. Scout sees the trial, and during the whole book, she stuck up for her father the whole time. She believed that black people should be treated, have the same rights, and viewed like white people. In reality, the white male actually raped his daughter, instead of the black male. Atticus and his defendant won the trial.

Go Set a Watchman RECAP:

Jean Louise is now a young lady in her late twenties. She has a job in New York. It is now the summer, and her dad is suffering from arthritis. Jean Louise goes back to Maycomb County, Alabama, and realizes it's not the same Maycomb from when she grew up there. Her boyfriend (if that's what you can to call him), Henry or as Jean Louise calls him "Hank" Clinton, wants to marry Jean Louise, but Jean Louise refuses because she claims to be no longer in love with him. During a meeting in the old trial house from To Kill a Mockingbird, Jean Louise goes inside, and sees what the men are talking about. They're talking about how blacks should not be getting anymore privileges, and that they're taking advantage of the white people. Jean Louise notices that her dad and Henry are there, and it causes her to get really upset, because her dad is now a racist old man. Jean Louise fights with her dad and Henry, and then is told by the both of them why they were there. Jean Louise still doesn't forgive them, until her Uncle Jack, or Dr. Finch, explains in a more depth way. Jean Louise finally understands, and goes back to her dad to apologize.

I'm sorry for my crappy summaries. XD I only did that for those who just wanted to have a recap.

Anyway, in my opinion, I don't know which story I enjoyed better. xD I really liked both of them. What really made me sad in Go Set a Watchman was that *spoiler alert* Jem is dead, and we never find out how he died (although my guess is that he either got hit by a car, or just killed by someone, because when Jean Louise was near her dad's office, she cringes at the site of "Jem's death").

I guess since I read To Kill a Mockingbird first, I'm a little more emotional and connected to the story. It was much more light-hearted (at least the first part) than Go Set a Watchman. Although, in Go Set a Watchman, *spoiler alert* I was dumbfounded at the fact about Jean Louise being color blind.

What do you guys think?

In my opinion to kill a mockingbird is far better than Go set a watchman.

pdfland wrote:In my opinion to kill a mockingbird is far better than Go set a watchman.

I agree with you, but remember that Got Set a Watchman was written before To Kill a Mockingbird.

In my opinion, I didn't like how Jean Louise got so upset about Atticus and Henry going to that meeting even after when Atticus and Henry explained themselves. I was also a little annoyed how Jean Louise didn't want to marry Henry. I think they were going to make a great married couple, and it was obvious that they still both loved each other. Jean Louise was being a bit too stubborn.

It kinda reminds me of Rory from Gilmore Girls. At the very end of the series, she could have had anything she wanted, and she rejected it all. She had someone she truly loved, and that same person truly loved her back, and she still rejected him. Fast forward to the new series, she's still in love with that same person, but she waited too long, because that person got engaged.

This tells us all to never leave the advantages that life gives us. If there's something you want, and it's in your reach, take it! Don't reject it, and then later on tell yourself you want it, because you may not be able to get it.

I much preferred To Kill a Mockingbird. I found Go Set a Watchmen too forced, and I didn't like the implications that Atticus was racist. It would be hard to beat To Kill a Mockingbird for me though, it is magical

EMoffat wrote:I much preferred To Kill a Mockingbird. I found Go Set a Watchmen too forced, and I didn't like the implications that Atticus was racist. It would be hard to beat To Kill a Mockingbird for me though, it is magical

Can you explain how Go Set a Watchman was "too forced?" It was written before To Kill a Mockingbird.
I didn't think it was forced. To be honest, I think Harper Lee could have done a little better with the whole story line. Maybe that's why it never got published on her behalf. Although, if that were the case, she could have just polished it a little bit.

I know it was written before, but maybe there was a reason it wasn't published and TKAM was? I just thought the character development and storyline felt forced, the flow wasn't natural and enticing like TKAM.

EMoffat wrote:I know it was written before, but maybe there was a reason it wasn't published and TKAM was? I just thought the character development and storyline felt forced, the flow wasn't natural and enticing like TKAM.

I researched the publications on Go Set a Watchman, and there was no definite answer. Some things should be left unanswered, and Harper Lee seems to have done a good job on leaving things unanswered. I pay my respects to her.

To Kill a Mockingbird is such a classic, I didn't really expect Go Set a Watchman to live up to its standards. Its hard to keep up with its caliber of writing IMO. Its themes and characters are just so amazing and so concise yet so deep. (so of course I vote for TKAM)

I have not read Go Set a Watchman yet because I don't really expect it to live up to the older work. Should probably get around to it soon.

I think I prefer TKAM to go set a watch man

To Kill a Mockingbird is probably my favorite book of all time. The characters are amazing and the plot is heart-wrenching. Consequently, I was totally excited when Go Set a Watchman was published. Unfortunately I couldn't get past the first few chapters. My favorite character seemed flat and the plot was dull. A friend told me it gets better so I may try again in the future.

I haven't read Go Set A Watchman because I heard that it was against the author's wishes to publish it. Can anyone confirm this? I don't want to miss out on it if there isn't a problem, and I'll honestly let it sit for a decade if it is true before reading it, just because I'm intrigued by Harper Lee's private writing endeavors.

I love To Kill a Mockingbird. I did read Go Set a Watchman, but didn't connect with the characters in the same way. I think it was the children and seeing the incomprehensible injustice of the world through their eyes that really made To Kill a Mockingbird so touching and honest.

I think I like both books but I’m more connected with “ to kill a mocking bird” and I didn’t like “go set a watchman” as much as TKAMB because sequals don’t make THAT impact on me, maybe.

Go Set a Watchman was an embarrassment of a book. A complete waste of paper and ink. It should never have been published.