The Harper Lee Collection: To Kill a Mockingbird + Go Set a Watchman (Dual Slipcased Edition)[BOX SET] Hardcover – Box set, October 27, 2015

Some of the best writing in Watchman are the flashbacks to the childhood of Scout and Jem. These must have showed the editor that Harper Lee had a wonderful voice for children and led to Mockingbird. I did not care much for the first portion of Watchman. But, I became intrigued when Scout began to discover Atticus’ darker side, resulting in her feeling like the world was tumbling down as she lost Atticus, boyfriend Hank, Calpernia, and her hometown. Harper Lee presented many ideas that I have been pondering including:* The classes within Southern society—If Scout Finch did a social infraction, then that was just what Finches occasionally do. But if Hank Clinton did something similar, it was just more evidence that Clintons were trash. How would the community view Scout versus Hank if one took on leadership against white supremacy? What “infractions” do we all do until learning the ways of the culture they are born into?* When does one’s conscience become firmly established and separate from one’s parents? This is a big theme of Watchman.So, I consider To Kill A Mockingbird to be brilliant in being mostly well written with messages for youth and adults about many difficult subjects, including race, class, white supremacy, injustice, and rape. Watchman does not have the advantage of an editor requesting rewrites, but it presents some thought-provoking concepts covered in few books I have read about the South. Watchman also is a more realistic perspective of the world compared with Mockingbird’s filter through a child’s eyes.

If you've never read To Kill A Mockingbird, this Kindle collection provides the perfect opportunity. This novel was written in the '60s and centers around events depicting the racial tension and inequality in a small fictional Alabama town in the hard-scrabble 1930s, yet it is still highly relevant and extremely readable today. Harper Lee's insights and observations are conveyed via the perspective of "Scout" Finch, the young daughter of the town's leading lawyer and representative in the state legislature. As her father defends a black man who was accused of raping a white woman, Scout begins to question the motives and meanings of everyone--black and white--in the grown-up world that surrounds her. This "coming of age" novel incorporates hilarious takes on education and culture through the precocious Scout's eyes. Its ultimate ironic twist keys on an eccentric neighborhood shut-in, Boo Radley, who isn't the evil being that Scout and her brother had imagined all along. It is a very complete, satisfying read--an altogether excellent Southern novel--which can't really be said of Go Set A Watchman. GSAW is not a standalone book; rather, it picks up the story in Scout's young adult life and includes numerous flashbacks that are meant to "fill in the blanks" of the first book. Some people have registered shock that the novel hints that Scout's father, Atticus Finch, is in fact a white racist--but this is not so. As explained in the book's denouement, Mr. Finch is a realist--which his daughter finally comes to understand. So ... 5 stars for TKAM and 3 stars for GSAW. The collection is definitely worth reading!

Loved To Kill A Mocking bird ever since I first read it so many years ago. I resisted reading Go Set A Watchman for awhile thinking I would be disappointed. I am so glad that I read them together. Miss Lee brings you into her southern childhood world & then exposes the pain of coming to terms with civil rights in the 50s. I felt that I lived both eras with her . A great writer ...

Gregory Peck as Atticus Fitch. That's the extent of my exposure to Harper Lee until now. Atticus as seen through the eyes of his daughter, Scout, is so much more complex. But this is the story of Scout's memories of the rural South in the early 1900s, and, in "Go Set a Watchman," her angst as she confronts the wrenching changes challenging the social norms as the nascent Civil Rights movement opens schisms and threaten to isolate her from all of those -- including Atticus -- whom she loves.Today's political correctness and social veneer of polite language are stripped away as Lee immerses us in the conversations of the time.

I read this when I was very young and obviously didn't really get it. Reading both books now was eye opening. Life has not changed so much even now. Harper Lee displayed the human feelings of the characters perfectly. We just need to open our eyes and truly see. Recommend to everyone.

I am writing this review to let people know this will not play on the Echo because of audio rights. I purchased this book 3 different times thinking it was defective! I finally had to purchase the Audible version for Echo usage. I like the audio version at night to read many books my eyes would not be able to handle . I repurchased this book again today so I have a written copy . 3 stars are given because this info is NOT given....not because of the books themselves.

Oh my word...there are not enough stars for either or both of these books. Harper Lee is a A#1 author. I had read "To Kill a Mockingbird" years ago; I'm so pleased I have read it again as a mature adult with the wisdom of much more understanding. Her second novel "Go Set a Watchman" is just as compelling & held me absolutely spellbound.My parents were raised in the south, moved to the State of Washington during the depression. I was blessed to be raised "color blind" and I loved that statement describing "Scout." Children are born "color blind".. bigotry & racial hatred are taught. How sad.Harper Lee now has not one but two Classics on book shelves. Great reads.

I was really looking forward to reading this book but unfortunately, the print is minute. I’ve tried to alter the font size on my kindle but it doesn’t make a difference. I wear reading glasses but don’t need them when reading my kindle. I can’t even read the print with glasses on. Such a shame because it’s on my list of classics to read, I’ll just have to go down the traditional paper route.

Thie kindle edition of this book was almost impossible to read. The font would not enlarge, so the print was so tiny it strained my eyes to see. I completely wasted my money buying the 2 book edition, since I can't even read one. This is a book Club choice, so I have had to source another copy. I'm sure that the book will be worth reading, but not this kindle edition.

Gave this as a present to a family member so didn't remove the cellophane wrapping before gift wrapping it. Was very disappointed to see when she opened it that the pages were thick and ragged at the edges, looking like they had been torn off to size against a ruler. Will not purchase again.

She didn't need to write a follow up,it could never hope to be on the same magnificent level as'Mockingbird' however it's really a must read to find out whatever happened....these are classics and deserves full appreciation from all readers!!!!!

I was really disappointed as the formatting prevents you reading this version without eyestrain. Don't buy this - I had to return.