Book Review: Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

Jean Louise Finch (formerly known as ‘Scout’) is returning to Maycombe from New York. Not the first time she has visited her birthplace, but this time it feels to her that it might be a permanent arrangement. She has to decide if she will look after her ageing father, Atticus, and whether Hank is the man she wants to marry.

She re-visits childhood haunts and tries to reconcile how she has moved on from the beliefs inherent in the town. She is shocked by the attitude and behaviour of both Hank and her father. There will be a moment when this all comes to a head.

In my opinion, this is not as good as ‘Mockingbird’, but we can all be influenced by a film we admire, based on the original novel. Harper Lee develops the character of Jean Louise and we begin to understand better the nature of life in the deep South.

Michael Braccia