Time magazine says that Harper Lee’s soon-to-be-released blockbuster, “Go Set a Watchman,” will “realign the literary universe.” No wonder, then, that readers throughout the English speaking world, including in Lee’s home state of Alabama, are gearing up to celebrate the sequel to her acclaimed novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” when “Watchman” comes out July 14.

Here are just a few examples:

Books-A-Million is promising fans they can get “Watchman” at their stores first. The Alabama-based superstore is opening its doors (select locations) from midnight to1 a.m. on Tuesday, July 14, to make copies of the new novel available to ravenous fans. For $45, BAM customers can get a “commemorative bundle” including a hardcopy “Watchman” first edition, a hardcopy of “To Kill a Mockingbird” and other goodies. And in conjunction with AL.com, the website for The Birmingham News, the Mobile Press-Register and the Huntsville Times, BAM will present readings in Birmingham July 14, in Huntsville, July 15, and in Mobile, July 16.

“This is the publishing event of the summer and our customers cannot wait to dive into what is sure to be another American classic from Harper Lee,” said Misty Fontenot, senior vice president of operations for Books-A-Million. “We wanted to give our customers the first chance to get their copy, and these midnight openings will be a great way to celebrate the release with other fans of Lee’s American classic.”

Promotional image from Barnes & Noble, one of the book retailers excited for the latest from Alabama’s Harper Lee.

Every Barnes & Noble bookstore across the U.S. will celebrate Lee’s work the day before “Watchman” arrives, by hosting a nationwide read-a-thon of “To Kill a Mockingbird” featuring special guest readers, including local authors or celebrities. The stores open at 7 a.m. the next day so customers can get their copies of “Watchman” early, and get a free cup of coffee and a reusable “Mockingbird”-themed tote when they buy the sequel.

“Everyone at Barnes & Noble is excited for the launch of ‘Go Set a Watchman,’ which we expect to be the number one book when it’s released on July 14 and one of our top-selling books this year and beyond,” said Mary Amicucci, vice president, Adult Trade and Children’s Books at Barnes & Noble. “There’s a built-in audience for ‘Go Set a Watchman’ because ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is one of the most widely read backlist books we have, with sales doubling at Barnes & Noble this year alone. Generations of adults and teens have shared Scout’s story, and with ‘Go Set a Watchman,’ they can revisit many of their favorite characters from ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ again.”

AL.com will host a reading party beginning with “Watchman” release. The Red Clay Readers, AL.com’s book club (which launched last year to re-examine “Mockingbird”), will examine the new book in-depth for a month, comparing it to “Mockingbird,” and talking about how Alabama has changed.  You’ll find chapter summaries and features at AL.com/books.

The Alabama Booksmith in Homewood will host Kerry Madden, who wrote the biography “Up Close: Harper Lee,” from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. At 5 p.m., the artist Nall will be in the store and unveil the work he created for “Go Set a Watchman.”

If you can’t wait that long to dig into “Watchman,” on Friday, July 10, The Wall Street Journal will publish the first chapter of the book online with an audio sample of the chapter read by Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon. You can discuss chapter one with WSJ reporters and editors and the whole book later on the WSJ Book Club Facebook group.

You might not be surprised that there are also reading parties scheduled elsewhere in the world. Joseph Charlton of independent.co.uk calls the release “the publishing event of the year – nay, the decade” — and Lee’s original book has fans all over the globe.

For details on the happenings in Harper Lee’s hometown of Monroeville surrounding the release, read our story here.