Here are the discussion questions
- What is the significance of the title?
- This book represents one of the most emotive publishing coups in living memory (comparable with Harry Potter releases, perhaps?) What is your position on To Kill A Mockingbird, and what do you know of the circumstances surrounding the writing, publication and reception of Go Set A Watchman?
- To Kill A Mockingbird and Go Set A Watchman are separated by two (fictional) decades. Do they map onto each other happily?
- The novel begins with Jean Louise's fifth return journey to Maycomb having 'succeeded in folding herself up into the wall' half-naked and having to be rescued by a porter on her train journey. How does this establish the tone?
- What was your reaction to page 13's 'nightmare'?
- Some readers have complained that the wide sociopolitical allusions as well as the contemporaneous popular culture references make the novel difficult to read in the UK in 2016. Did these detract from your enjoyment of the novel?
- What are the narrative strengths of the novel?
- And its weaknesses?
- And the inevitable Atticus question: is he a racist and have your views of him changed?
Dawn: My soul is seared to miss this discussion. This book ripped bits of me out and made me question my own integrity. I see in Atticus the proof of cultural erosion. I also see in Scout the blind faith and worship of children matured to the adult view that can no longer see the perfect hero of childhood. The cracks along the fault lines show through. She sees them and hears them. Her father remains a voice of change, but not a perfect one. It mimics for me her own voice to Dill at the trial, 'After all he is just a negro.'
ReplyDeleteMy heart is still mourning at the loss of Jem - I wonder if some of Atticus's reticence later in life stems from the tragedy of losing both his wife and son? Scout is the fiery woman I expected her to be, but she also has a bitter edge. She is clearly damaged by the loss of Jem.
On a writing front, I see huge differences in the editing of TKMB vs this one. Clearly her editors helped to create the story that is immortalised in print and film and indelibly etched on my brain. I prefer the almost mythic qualities of that story and the heroic triumph over adversity, clear grief and sorrow, etc.
I am mostly aware of seeing much of myself in Scout - she leave the South - I left the South - I think lots of our motivations are the same - we had to be somewhere different, but neither of us stayed to fight the slow, painful, mostly losing battle that Atticus has.
I have just realised that this must have been our 100th book club read!
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