“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.”
This may or may not be my fantasy. (Spoiler alert: it is.)
Four names that readers around the world love, named their children after, tattooed on their bodies in a moment of literary madness (or absolute clarity, but whatevs). Harper Lee’s first and only novel To Kill a Mockingbird is, in my opinion and many more, the quintessential American novel. And for others, myself included, it is the best novel of all time.
(Confession time: I have read the book approximately 45 times. And yes, I have whole sections memorized. Go ahead, test me!)
Published at a time when our country was at the brink of the Civil Rights movement, the novel dived into controversial and thought-provoking issues such as race, societal expectations of women, and flaws in the justice system – issues that continue even today.
And then came the movie, and we all wanted Gregory Peck to walk into our homes, put his hat on the hat rack (I would have purchased one!), and read The Maycomb Tribune in our living rooms.
So the ultimate news came today that had avid readers, English teachers, librarians, and anyone with a pulse celebrating like Anne Hathaway winning the Oscar: the reclusive author will be publishing her second novel, 55 years later.
And if that didn’t floor us, this did. The novel, entitled Go Set a Watchman, will be the To Kill a Mockingbird sequel, featuring an adult Scout and an aging Atticus.
Exactly, JT.
Yes, everyone. We’re going back to Maycomb County. Back to the wisdom of America’s favorite fictional father and hero. Back to the protective and sometime conflicting relationship between siblings. Back to a town where you knew everyone’s name.
Details of the plot are being kept in the dark. However, there are so many questions: What was the aftermath of Bob Ewell’s death? Does Scout or Jem follow in their father’s footsteps? Will Boo Radley come back out? Did Miss Maudie lose her place in the women’s missionary circle for giving Mrs. Merryweather a verbal smackdown that had us all cheering? (Even if this question isn’t answered, I’m going to say no. She took over and kicked that narrow-minded floozy out herself. That’s Maudie justice, people.)
But what we do know is that Harper Lee’s talent for creating vivid characters, dry humor, and heart wrenching moments is something we all missed.
Now, this announcement isn’t without a bit of controversy. Lee’s sister, Alice Finch Lee, who coincidentally became a lawyer and was practicing law until a few years ago, was Lee’s protector and helped manage her weary-of-the-limelight sibling’s business dealings, including making it clear that Lee was not interested in writing another book:
“She says you couldn’t top what she had done. She told one of our cousins who asked her, ‘I haven’t anywhere to go, but down.’ ”
Unfortunately, Alice passed away last year, leaving some to wonder if this new book is being published without Lee’s expressed permission.
Whatever is the case, my literary bags are packed, and I’m ready to make the journey once again. Because really, I’m ready to love breathing once again.
For those who have never read the novel or haven’t picked it up in years, here are just some of the moments of its brilliance. (Honestly, there are so many more.) Hopefully, you’ll make the journey to Maycomb soon:
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view….until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
“Just because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us to not try to win.”
“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.”
“Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s passin’.”
“If there’s just one kind of folks, why can’t they get along with each other? If they’re all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other?”
“Hey, Boo.”
Hey, Harper.
I think I speak for many fans when I say thank you from the bottom of my literary heart.
Are you ready to go back to Maycomb County with the To Kill A Mockingbird sequel? What lines from To Kill a Mockingbird still resonate with you? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!
