Alabama Booksmith celebrates Go Set a Watchman

On the release date of Harper Lee’s second novel, Go Set a Watchman, Alabama Booksmith held a night of Lee-related events.

Author Kerry Madden, who wrote the Up Close biography of Lee, answered reader questions and signed copies of the biography. Madden said a lot of the questions she receives are about the release of Go Set a Watchman. Readers typically ask “Did you know?” or “Did you hear?”

“I thought it was going to be The Reverend,” Madden said, citing another work she learned about during her research on Lee. “I didn’t think it was going to be the parent of Mockingbird.”

Madden bought her copy of Go Set a Watchman at midnight, she said, and she plans to read it on her trip from Birmingham to Monroeville, where she will see to experts on Lee discuss the book.

Amanda Pritchard, a former Homewood resident, said she attended to have the chance to ask Madden for advice. Pritchard is a writer and hoped to gain tips from Madden, who teaches creative writing at UAB.

“I was just very interesting in talking to Kerry,” Pritchard said. “She told me, ‘Don’t let doubts enter your mind.'”

One visitor described the night as an “adult Harry Potter day,” comparing the excitement over Lee’s second book to the long lines seen during the release of Harry Potter books.

Alabama Booksmith also hosted artist Nall. Nall was previously commissioned to create his rendition of To Kill a Mockingbird for the college in Monroeville. He also designed the dust jacket for Alabama Booksmith’s special edition of Go Set a Watchman.

Nall’s creation for Go Set a Watchman was unveiled at the store tonight. The artwork, including the Statue of Liberty’s arm raising a torch capped by cotton, a mockingbird on a railroad spike and a red flower symbolized segments of Lee’s experience – such as the train she traveled on from New York to Monroeville – as well as the novel. The change in Atticus Finch’s character was something he said he admired.

“There’s just so much hatred, that for Harper Lee to twist the image of her father from Mockingbird to what is portrayed in Watchman, that takes courage,” Nall said.

Other pieces of art by Nall, including a bronze mockingbird and railroad spike engraved with “TKAM” and “GSAW” were for sale at the event.

Nall said he was inspired by Lee and connected with her books as a man who grew up in Alabama.

“Being from Alabama, that was kind of an obligation and an honor to be able to show that,” he said.

Robin Blocker, a Decatur, Georgia, resident, said she came to the event to support Nall, who is a good friend.

“We’re very good friends with Nall … and with the Harper Lee biographer, I just thought this is a great event to go to,” she said.