It's already sold 1.1 million copies nationwide. It's easily the top seller at Best of Books with nearly 160 copies sold since last week's debut. The fascination with Harper Lee, and the story of Scout, Atticus and the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, or Monroeville, Lee's actual hometown of 6,300 people, also extends beyond the latest book. "To Kill a Mockingbird" and the nonfiction "The Mockingbird Next Door: The Life of Harper Lee," by Marja Mills, are also selling well at Best of Books.
While there's no doubt about the sales, there has been doubt about the book itself from the time it was announced. Since it was released to the public, negative reviews and press have surrounded "Go Set a Watchman."
In The Oklahoman on Sunday, Book Editor Ken Raymond wrote an interesting Page 1A story about the debate and negative reviews. He also pointed out:
"I found the book disappointing. I suspect many others will, too. Whether that’s fair or not is debatable."
The only one who seemed to disagree with the reviews was Best of Books president Joe Hight, who was quoted in the story as saying in an email to Ken:
“I’ve been amused by the negative reviews surrounding ‘Go Set a Watchman.’ I’ve also been amused by those who think the novel should be just like ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ only 20 years later, or Harper Lee was coerced or even had no say in the publishing of her new latest book.
“What if someone found a copy of a manuscript that would advance the story of ‘The Old Man and the Sea’? Would anything top the genius of Ernest Hemingway’s work on the first book? Probably not, but we sure would want to read it.
Due to space, Ken couldn't use all of Joe's statement. Here is the rest of it:
"The same should be expected of 'Go Set a Watchman.' It’s a charming book; I laughed out loud several times. It’s a serious book of revelations about a young girl growing up into a young idealistic woman and discovering the people she knew for so long weren’t the people she thought they were. It’s a revealing book that should be published and read.
" 'Go Set a Watchman' advances a story that we’ve grown to love and admire. It’s revived the discussion about racism and its ugly impact on our society. And it advances the discussion of the motivations behind the first book and why or what it created at that point in history.
"Yes, 'Go Set a Watchman' could have used some more editing. Don’t we all need editors? But the writing style is that of Harper Lee, and it engaged me from the beginning. Isn’t that what a good book should do?"
Joe has since read more of the book and again emphasized the need for better editing of it: "There seems to be times when you're lost in a conversation or the language could have been more clear. I hope at some point there's a better edited version of it that's released to the public.
"I still have enjoyed it overall. Others who have bought the book from us have expressed similar sentiments about enjoying it. We haven't received any negative reviews from customers yet."
What do you think about "Go Set a Watchman"? Let us know.
While the debate rages, we'll also add it's fun to see the national discussion and debate over a book. That shows its significance of it and reading to all of us.
No comments:
Post a Comment