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Harper Lee to publish Mockingbird 'sequel'

bbc.com

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Re: Harper Lee to publish Mockingbird 'sequel'

#11

Post by tjr »

xianshou wrote: post #4

On the basis of regression to the mean ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regression_toward_the_mean ), or what we might call the "J.K. Rowling effect," it would be far too much to hope that the sequel will match the original. Nonetheless, this has got to set some sort of record for the gap between a novel and its sequel. Interestingly, there is a list of gaps between film sequels ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_t…

The article shares though that she originally wrote the book around the same time as To Kill a Mockingbird, or more precisely, she wrote this book first, and was advised by her editor to expound upon some segments of it to write To Kill a Mockingbird instead.

So a huge gap between publications, but I would expect the writing to be similar.

Re: Harper Lee to publish Mockingbird 'sequel'

#17

Post by nzealand »

wmeredith wrote: post #3

I'd be interested to hear more about the creative dynamic between this new book and To Kill a Mocking Bird. It says she put this new one aside 60 years ago to write TKaMB, but it features the characters later in their lives. I wonder if she was sketching out backstory to flesh out the characters and that was more compelling, so she pivoted and wrote To Kill a Mocking Bird instead?

"In the mid-1950s, I completed a novel called 'Go Set a Watchman,'" the 88-year-old Lee said in a statement issued by Harper. "It features the character known as Scout as an adult woman, and I thought it a pretty decent effort. My editor, who was taken by the flashbacks to Scout's childhood, persuaded me to write a novel (what became 'To Kill a Mockingbird') from the point of view of the young Scout.

"I was a first-time writer, so I did as I was told. I hadn't realized it (the original book) had survived, so was surprised and delighted when my dear friend and lawyer Tonja Carter discovered it. After much thought and hesitation, I shared it with a handful of people I trust and was pleased to hear that they considered it worthy of publication. I am humbled and amazed that this will now be published after all these years."

Re: Harper Lee to publish Mockingbird 'sequel'

#18

Post by puranjay »

pervycreeper wrote: post #13

Despite widespread changes in social attitudes on some topics, To Kill a Mockingbird is still as relevant to today's world as it was when it was originally published.

That's because it is a timeless tale about the goodness of people, of faith and charity and humanity. Those are everlasting values.

My girlfriend reads the book at least once a year. She says it keeps her grounded and optimistic. I started doing the exercise last year and I have to say, she is right.

Re: Harper Lee to publish Mockingbird 'sequel'

#19

Post by TwiztidK »

A writer working on a biography of Harper Lee came to my high school 6 or 7 years ago to give a presentation about her. He told us that she had written another book but didn't want to publish it due to the pressure she felt from the success of To Kill a Mockingbird, so she planned on having it published after she died. This is probably the book he was talking about.

I can't remember exactly who the writer was, but he spoke about his experience interviewing Kurt Vonnegut for his biography, so it was probably Charles Shields.

Re: Harper Lee to publish Mockingbird 'sequel'

#20

Post by puranjay »

cryptoz wrote: post #7
xianshou wrote: post #4

On the basis of regression to the mean ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regression_toward_the_mean ), or what we might call the "J.K. Rowling effect," it would be far too much to hope that the sequel will match the original. Nonetheless, this has got to set some sort of record for the gap between a novel and its sequel. Interestingly, there is a list of gaps between film sequels ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_t…

Isaac Asimov took a 30ish year break between the original Foundation trilogy and the sequels/prequels. And I thought that was a long break!

In between, he probably put out 200 odd books. The man wrote like his life depended on it.

As far as gaps go, I'm still hoping GRRM won't break any records

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