Harper Lee

[Gonnagle]

Goodbye and Thank you, thank you for the chance to watch the world through Scouts eyes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19896050

Gonnagle, a big fan.

[Sassy]

Rest in Peace...
What a wonderful thing she did to give Gregory Peck her Fathers watch.
Amazing how she has remained much herself and in the background out of the public gaze.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Sass,

Definitely, one of the few times that a movie reflects, captures what the book was about, Gregory Peck was brilliant in that movie, I think he won an Oscar for his portrayal of Atticus.

Gonnagle.

[Sassy]

Dear Sass,

Definitely, one of the few times that a movie reflects, captures what the book was about, Gregory Peck was brilliant in that movie, I think he won an Oscar for his portrayal of Atticus.

Gonnagle.

Hi Gonads,

It is one of those movies that once seen you never forget.
Many times tv series have tried to recapture the ethos of that movie but never succeeded except in bringing the movie to mind.
Like reading a loved book over and over again.  It is a work of brilliance and about a time when much is true about the ethos of the black people in America. A time where they bore more wrong doing because they were black. Sad to think it true for many.

[Brownie]

A marvellous writer.  I bought 'Go Set a Watchman' when it was first on sale here but have yet to read it, it's on top of the pile.   

'To Kill a Mockingbird'' was truly groundbreaking and so, so moving to read.  Youngsters at school, some years after my schooldays, have been reading that as a set text which is excellent.  It's the type of literature that has a real impact on the reader.  I agree with what others have said about the film with Gregory Peck.

It's good to know that Harper Lee lived until nearly 90.  Died in her sleep too, what we would all  like.

[Hope]

In the Times write up yesterday, their reporter suggests that 'History will overlook Watchman while Mockingbird lives on'.

" ... Until the news emerged of a forgotten manuscript in February last year, Lee was part of that elite group of one-hit wonders.  To Kill a Mockingbird, her novel of 1960, sat very well alongside Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights.  Both of them great novels unsullied by other inferior works by the same hand.  JD Salinger made the mistake of carrying on writing after Catcher in the Rye.  Did we really need Franny and Zooey?  No, was the answer of the book-buying public."

Firstly, how valid is the opinion of the book-buying public, especially when it is so often sullied by the opinions of the critics?

Secondly, could the sales of 'Watchman' rise following Lee's demise?


Harper, RIP.

[Gordon]

Moderator:

In line with threads on other recent deaths involving writers/musicians/actors this thread has been moved to the 'Literature' Board, since the discussion tends to go beyond the remit of the 'Prayer' Board.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Brownie,

A marvellous writer.  I bought 'Go Set a Watchman' when it was first on sale here but have yet to read it, it's on top of the pile.   

It is a must read if your are a fan of To Kill a Mockingbird, you will enjoy the conversations between Atticus and Scout as she comes to terms with her fathers thinking.

Gonnagle.

[Brownie]

I will read ''Go Set a Watchman'', atm I have a pile of unreads and feel a bit overwhelmed.  When I do, I'll judge it for myself; I know the book hasn't been critically acclaimed but that won't put me off.  I read in the newspaper that it was a first draft of ''To Kill a Mockingbird'', not something Ms Lee had written more recently.  Dunno how accurate that is.

Re:  a post above, yes I do think sales of, 'Go Set a Watchman' will increase now Harper Lee has died.  It's always the way but it did sell very well when it was published.  Those who pick it up in the supermarket, who haven't read 'Mockingbird', are likely to go on to do so.  The more people who read her work the better, imo. 

[Sassy]

I will read ''Go Set a Watchman'', atm I have a pile of unreads and feel a bit overwhelmed.  When I do, I'll judge it for myself; I know the book hasn't been critically acclaimed but that won't put me off.  I read in the newspaper that it was a first draft of ''To Kill a Mockingbird'', not something Ms Lee had written more recently.  Dunno how accurate that is.

Re:  a post above, yes I do think sales of, 'Go Set a Watchman' will increase now Harper Lee has died.  It's always the way but it did sell very well when it was published.  Those who pick it up in the supermarket, who haven't read 'Mockingbird', are likely to go on to do so.  The more people who read her work the better, imo.

I have lot's of books still not read. Think talking books better can close eyes and listen as we did to the radio at school and teachers story time in infants and juniors. Spoiled us really.

I always remember the smell of milky coffee and biscuit time in the afternoon.
The days when we were really carefree...