Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MONROEVILLE, Ala. (CNN) — You'd probably better get cracking on that new Harper Lee novel if you haven't already.
"Go Set a Watchman" is Lee's first book in 55 years and has been eagerly awaited by fans of her classic "To Kill A Mockingbird." The sequel has drawn comparisons to the massively successful "Harry Potter" novels by J.K. Rowling, what with "Watchman's" midnight release and Amazon's report that it was the most pre-ordered book on the site since 2007's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."
In Lee's hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, a crowd gathered at a local bookstore to snag copies as the clock struck 12.
The crowd presses in. #monroeville#HarperLeepic.twitter.com/Uxf2FqP2l0 — Kim Severson (@kimseverson) July 14, 2015
Indeed, across the country, fans who could get their hands on a hard copy, audio book or e-book seemed happy to do so.
Son elated after his father finds audio version of #HarperLee at @booksamillion. Story coming @ydrcom@teresaboeckelpic.twitter.com/TcfiFThqes — Jason Plotkin (@Jasonplotkin) July 14, 2015
>
In the new novel, Jean Louise "Scout" Finch has come of age and goes home to Alabama from New York. The sequel stirred controversy even before it was published, with chatter about Scout's father, Atticus, becoming a racist.
Some readers objected to any need to add to the long-admired "Mockingbird." There was even debate as to whether Lee was truly on board with the project after an anonymous complaint of elder abuse was filed. An investigation found that the author wanted the book published.
I hope that leaked first chapter is enough to kill sales of #GoSetAWatchman. The whole thing has reeked from the jump. — Kim Masters (@kimmasters) July 11, 2015
Under the headline "I Stayed Up All Night to Read 'Go Set a Watchman,' " Kevin Nguyen writes for The Oyster that the novel "feels unfinished in places."
"There are a lot of weird interruptions and fragments in places that are unclear whether they're meant to be interior monologue or not," Nguyen said. "Also, the last act of the book is didactic and leans too heavily on dialogue."
Yet fans or even just the curious will not be denied. Much like "Potter" devotees who did not want to be left out of the conversation, expect to hear plenty about Lee's new novel on social media soon.
Am I the only person who woke up at 6am to buy Go Set A Watchman this morning? — Bry Leach (@bry_leach) July 14, 2015
> It's time! [\#HarperLee](https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarperLee?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/3auovQxUq1](http://t.co/3auovQxUq1) > > — Leah Raflik (@MissRaflik) [July 14, 2015](https://twitter.com/MissRaflik/status/620919187901427712)
> Finally! Can't wait to start reading [\#GoSetAWatchman](https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoSetAWatchman?src=hash) [\#HarperLee](https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarperLee?src=hash) [@PenguinUKBooks](https://twitter.com/PenguinUKBooks) [pic.twitter.com/0QSLKpZ36u](http://t.co/0QSLKpZ36u) > > — Abby (@abbyyjc) [July 14, 2015](https://twitter.com/abbyyjc/status/620917089692426245)
But let's be real, a "Potter" fan would have finished that book by now. So what are you waiting for?
Copyright 2015 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
