Harper Lee Collection: To Kill a Mockingbird + Go Set a Watchman

Some of the best writing in Watchman are the flashbacks to the childhood of Scout and Jem. These must have showed the editor that Harper Lee had a wonderful voice for children and led to Mockingbird. I did not care much for the first portion of Watchman. But, I became intrigued when Scout began to discover Atticus’ darker side, resulting in her feeling like the world was tumbling down as she lost Atticus, boyfriend Hank, Calpernia, and her hometown. Harper Lee presented many ideas that I have been pondering including:* The classes within Southern society—If Scout Finch did a social infraction, then that was just what Finches occasionally do. But if Hank Clinton did something similar, it was just more evidence that Clintons were trash. How would the community view Scout versus Hank if one took on leadership against white supremacy? What “infractions” do we all do until learning the ways of the culture they are born into?* When does one’s conscience become firmly established and separate from one’s parents? This is a big theme of Watchman.So, I consider To Kill A Mockingbird to be brilliant in being mostly well written with messages for youth and adults about many difficult subjects, including race, class, white supremacy, injustice, and rape. Watchman does not have the advantage of an editor requesting rewrites, but it presents some thought-provoking concepts covered in few books I have read about the South. Watchman also is a more realistic perspective of the world compared with Mockingbird’s filter through a child’s eyes.

according to PBS's Great. American Read. Harper Lee deals with the racial unrest brewing at the end of the 1950s by having her protagonist Scout remember life in small-town Alabama during the early 1930s. Lee's novel is semi-autobiographical, her descriptions vivid, her characters more than believable and memorable, and her themes timeless. If you have already read the novel, it's time to revisit it, and if you've never read it, you are missing one of th greatest novels of the 20th century. Don't deny yourself the pleasure of the people, places and events of the "tired old town" of Maycomb, Alabama.

If you've never read To Kill A Mockingbird, this Kindle collection provides the perfect opportunity. This novel was written in the '60s and centers around events depicting the racial tension and inequality in a small fictional Alabama town in the hard-scrabble 1930s, yet it is still highly relevant and extremely readable today. Harper Lee's insights and observations are conveyed via the perspective of "Scout" Finch, the young daughter of the town's leading lawyer and representative in the state legislature. As her father defends a black man who was accused of raping a white woman, Scout begins to question the motives and meanings of everyone--black and white--in the grown-up world that surrounds her. This "coming of age" novel incorporates hilarious takes on education and culture through the precocious Scout's eyes. Its ultimate ironic twist keys on an eccentric neighborhood shut-in, Boo Radley, who isn't the evil being that Scout and her brother had imagined all along. It is a very complete, satisfying read--an altogether excellent Southern novel--which can't really be said of Go Set A Watchman. GSAW is not a standalone book; rather, it picks up the story in Scout's young adult life and includes numerous flashbacks that are meant to "fill in the blanks" of the first book. Some people have registered shock that the novel hints that Scout's father, Atticus Finch, is in fact a white racist--but this is not so. As explained in the book's denouement, Mr. Finch is a realist--which his daughter finally comes to understand. So ... 5 stars for TKAM and 3 stars for GSAW. The collection is definitely worth reading!

I bought this box set for my mom for her birthday and I ended up reading it. I liked Go Set A Watchman a lot more than To Kill a Mockingbird, mainly for the controversial plot that has a lot of people up in arms. It's very realistic to how the world is and I could relate to Scout in it. She actually went off to school and developed her own opinions, going against how she was raised, and that's how I could relate to her. Give the second book a chance and don't just go off of what critics are saying. Sure, it makes Atticus look like a bigot, but read the story and form your own opinion. You won't regret it.

I am writing this review to let people know this will not play on the Echo because of audio rights. I purchased this book 3 different times thinking it was defective! I finally had to purchase the Audible version for Echo usage. I like the audio version at night to read many books my eyes would not be able to handle . I repurchased this book again today so I have a written copy . 3 stars are given because this info is NOT given....not because of the books themselves.

Oh my word...there are not enough stars for either or both of these books. Harper Lee is a A#1 author. I had read "To Kill a Mockingbird" years ago; I'm so pleased I have read it again as a mature adult with the wisdom of much more understanding. Her second novel "Go Set a Watchman" is just as compelling & held me absolutely spellbound.My parents were raised in the south, moved to the State of Washington during the depression. I was blessed to be raised "color blind" and I loved that statement describing "Scout." Children are born "color blind".. bigotry & racial hatred are taught. How sad.Harper Lee now has not one but two Classics on book shelves. Great reads.

Loved To Kill A Mocking bird ever since I first read it so many years ago. I resisted reading Go Set A Watchman for awhile thinking I would be disappointed. I am so glad that I read them together. Miss Lee brings you into her southern childhood world & then exposes the pain of coming to terms with civil rights in the 50s. I felt that I lived both eras with her . A great writer ...

Such a compelling look at the assumptions one makes based on the visible. Thank you for making him human beyond the love we feel for the character we built while reading mockingbird.

Not to speak about the Price, this collection is simply great, if you like the author Harper Lee. The Kindle Version is lovely, has no bugs or anything to be found.

Style trop décousu et parti pris excessif d'originalité, qui gêne la lecture. Mais plongée dépaysante dans le sud profond et son racisme.A mettre en parallèle avec "In Cold Blood": c'est elle ,Harper Lee, qui accompagnait Capote dans son enquête, qui fait superbement vivre une autre Amérique profonde, celle des céréaliers et de leur bonne conscience. . Mais dans une perfection stylistique toute en retenue, qui n'est pas à l'avantage de Harper Lee.

Muy buena presentación del libro, excelente para lucir en el librero. Muy buen libro, una lectura rápida y para reflexionar, muy recomendable.

She didn't need to write a follow up,it could never hope to be on the same magnificent level as'Mockingbird' however it's really a must read to find out whatever happened....these are classics and deserves full appreciation from all readers!!!!!

Great sets for gifts. As I bought them for Christmas gift for my niece. She is loving it and you can't go wrong with Harper Lee.