Well, I purchased Ms. Harper Lee's book "Go Set a Watchman" the first day it went on sale.
I have just finished savoring every word of the book. I understand that it was written in the mid -1950s , but I cannot help but feel that some of it was written in recent years, namely because the subject is so timely.
I will refrain from revealing very much about "Watchman" because it is too good a read to spoil it for those who intend to read it. The subject deals with racial issues. It is not as dramatic a book as was its predecessor, "To Kill a Mockingbird," but it deals with change and the perceived variations of emotion that confront many people, especially those who relish southern traditions and olden days and ways.
Personally, I identify with Attica Finch's daughter, Jean Louise, and understand her reactions to what upsets her. Her father, (played by Gregory Peck in the "Mockingbird" movie), doesn't seem to be practicing what he preached while raising Jean Louise.
Others may differ in their opinion of the book. I, frankly, found it to be even better than I had expected. Ms. Lee is a spellbinding author. She uses short paragraphs, colons, shocking metaphors, and near poetic sentences in profusion. She is a master of dialogue. A dictionary may be helpful when you read the book, as she delights in unusual word usage.
Bless her talented heart, she is about 89 years old now, but Harper Lee's brilliance shines through once more.
-- Louis Houston is a resident of Siloam Springs. His book "The Grape-Toned Studebaker" is available locally and from Amazon.com. Send any questions or comments to [email protected] or call 524-6926. The opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 07/29/2015