July 14--Dozens of readers had already joined a waitlist to check out Harper Lee's "Go Set a Watchman" from the Aurora Public Library before the book's official release Tuesday morning.
The book, a first draft of Lee's classic "To Kill a Mockingbird," has been in demand across the region, where local bookstores and libraries planned release parties and are preparing for events centered around the novel. Nationwide, pre-orders helped the book leap to the top of best-seller lists months ago.
"I think it's going to have a wide appeal," said Leigh Mauer, popular materials specialist at the Aurora Public Library.
"Go Set a Watchman" was first written for publisher J.B. Lippincott from the perspective of an adult Jean Louise "Scout" Finch. An editor suggested Lee, a first-time author, go back and rewrite the book from Scout's perspective as a child, which became "To Kill a Mockingbird." The beloved book -- sometimes controversial for its use of profanity, racial slurs and adult themes -- would be Lee's only published book until a draft of "Watchman" was discovered.
More than 50 years later, current publisher HarperCollins has ordered an initial run of 2 million hardcover copies for "Go Set a Watchman."
Though the Aurora Public Library does not always have books in stock the day they are released, librarians worked to make sure "Go Set a Watchman" would be available Tuesday, Mauer said.
About 50 people have placed holds on 16 reservable copies of the book across the library's locations, including large-print and audio formats, she said. Additional copies will be available to check out only inside library branches, including 10 copies at the main branch, she said.
The library also will have e-copies available after the book's release Tuesday, and could end up buying more copies of the book based on demand.
Readers can only check out the book for two weeks at a time, and cannot renew the book if anyone has placed a hold on it or if they have one of the copies that can only be checked out inside the library, Mauer said.
Though Mauer said that means the wait list will likely move quickly, she also said she expects interest to remain high throughout the summer. Readers will likely include teenagers who recently read "To Kill a Mockingbird" in school, and older readers who have waited decades for the second part, she said.
Demand for the book so far hasn't compared to demand for new James Patterson books at the library, but it is similar to Judy Blume's recently-released novel for adults, "In the Unlikely Event," Mauer said. Blume, the well-known author of coming-of-age stories, hadn't written a book for adults in 17 years.
Scott Wojton, manager of the Barnes Noble bookstore in downtown Naperville, compared the release of "Watchman" to the arrival of the final novel in the Harry Potter series. Lee's second book coming so long after the author's first and only published work is historic, he said.
"It's a literary event most people won't see more than once in their lifetime," he said.
Barnes Nobles across the country -- including the location in Naperville -- planned to have marathon readings Monday of "To Kill a Mockingbird." The store also planned to open two hours early Tuesday, at 7 a.m., to give people the opportunity to pick up the "Watchman" copy they reserved or get a jump on grabbing the novel before regular store hours.
Anderson's Bookshop also held events related to the release of "Watchman." The bookshop planned a late-night release party in Downers Grove, which included a showing of the 1962 film "To Kill a Mockingbird," discussions, trivia and readings from "Mockingbird."
A portion of ticket sales benefited the Charleston County Public Library's Cynthia Graham Hurd Memorial Fund in memory of the South Carolina librarian who was killed when a gunman opened fire at a prayer meeting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
For those who didn't make the release party, the store was prepared to have copies of the book available when it opened Tuesday morning.
sfreishtat@tribpub.com
