When I was a senior in high school, our English teacher handed out a list of books. He asked us to look the list over because we would be voting on a book to read and to study as a class. The list held the exact books you would think it would hold: 1984. The Great Gatsby. Tess of the d’Urbervilles. Jane Eyre. To Kill a Mockingbird.
Because I wanted to read To Kill a Mockingbird, I decided to fight for it in the only way a socially awkward college-prep student COULD fight: Wear a cute outfit, sound somewhat knowledgeable, and make everyone believe the book is full of sex.
When it came time to lobby and vote, I’ll never forget how I felt when one of the boys in my class tried to sell The Great Gatsby “because it’s short.” Damnit! The Great Gatsby IS short! Argh!
I raised my hand.
Mr. Brown: Angie?
Me: I want to nominate To Kill a Mockingbird.
Mr. Brown: Okay. Why To Kill a Mockingbird?
We voted, and To Kill a Mockingbird won.
(Disclaimer: Please know that I now cringe at the thought of selling a book in this way. I’m glad 1988 is in the past, and I’m glad I’m no longer the 17-year-old me.)
To Kill a Mockingbird was the first book that actually changed me. Harper Lee inspired me to start writing more than “I had stroganoff for dinner and it splashed on the wall and I am so angry at my family right now.” in my journals. My copy of the book was marked up and often soggy because I felt the need to highlight every single thing Atticus Finch said. Boo Radley and ham costumes and seeing the word Chifforobe for the first time… It was and is my favorite book. (To Kill a Mockingbird is why our dog is named Scout. It is why my youngest daughter is named Harper, and I believe it might be why Harper was actually born on Harper Lee’s birthday. (Okay. That might be a stretch. But still, it’s a great coincidence, right?))
I ordered my copy of Go Set a Watchman on February 3rd, and then I started reading the articles that almost convinced me to cancel my order. (Harper Lee is being manipulated by her lawyer! Harper Lee will sign anything you put in front of her! She’s old! Dementia!) I felt weird and sick about the whole thing, yet I didn’t cancel my order, and this is why: Go Set a Watchman is the book that was submitted to a publisher by Harper Lee and because it was rejected, it was reworked and eventually became To Kill a Mockingbird. I needed to read Go Set a Watchman because I needed to know if I would still have a Harper and a Scout had the book NOT been rejected. (How different would my life be if my daughter was named Carson (for Carson McCullers) and my dog was a Trixie (because she sort of looks like a Trixie)?)
The book arrived in the mail yesterday, and I finished it late last night. I won’t puke a bunch of spoilers onto your shoes because that’s not how I do, but I will say that the book is worth reading if you don’t view it as a sequel. It’s worth reading because Harper Lee has an amazing voice. It’s worth reading because Scout Finch has the backbone that I crave. It’s worth reading because even though it was written in the 1950s, it’s current. It’s terrifyingly current. Am I glad it was rejected in the 1950s? I am. Am I happy it was released in 2015? Yes. The timing could not be more perfect, and it made me feel nostalgic, and it made me very uncomfortable, and it’s not often that I’m stirred the way I’m currently stirred.
This morning I began reading To Kill a Mockingbird for what I believe is the fourth time. After spending all day yesterday reading what it could have been, I need to revisit what it is. ‘ ‘ ‘text/javascript’>
I’m glad it wasn’t awful. I decided not to read it because of all of those things you said (especially the Signing Anything part), but I trust your opinion so I might change my mind.
There is no way to elegantly segue into this, but: My neighbor’s cat’s name is Boo Radley, and he is a jerk.
Thank you.
I wasn’t going to read it, but I hadn’t thought of reading it from the perspective you described. So, now I think I’ll read it, view it as a rough draft, and a reminder of how the editorial process works.
But I’ll get it from the library because I don’t want to feed the buzzards. They make me furious.
I have ordered the audiobook and will listen to it driving to Louisville this week. (I picked To Kill a Mockingbird as the book I would be in Fahrenheit 451.) Let’s have lunch!
Hey, Boo.
The paper that we had to do on To Kill a Mockingbird? I didn’t do it. I had senioritis in the worst way. I was accepted to college, I had the scholarships that I was going to get, so I just plain didn’t do the paper. It is an awesome book, and now I think I need to re-read it. Actually, was it that one or Pygmalion that I didn’t do the paper on?
But, if you had named a son or a pet Atticus, would he have been able to keep HIS name? We seriously considered the name Atticus for both our sons.
( And Harper was on the list for our daughters too.)
Thanks for the perfect argument for reading this book.
I can’t wait to read Go Set A Watchman. Even though I adored To Kill A Mockingbird. It changed how I saw life after I read it in high school, I was on the fence about Go Set A Watchman and you’ve made me see I should read it. Thank you.
The book is here, and I’m edging around it like it’s an unexploded bomb. Your take is very, very helpful.
I’m hesitant to read it. I don’t want to mar my memory of Atticus.