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Harvard novelist says copying was unintentional
NY Times ^

Posted on 04/24/2006 8:55:19 PM PDT by The Lion Roars

Kaavya Viswanathan, the Harvard sophomore accused of plagiarizing parts of her recently published chick-lit novel, acknowledged yesterday that she had borrowed language from another writer's books, but called the copying "unintentional and unconscious."

In her e-mail message, Ms. Viswanathan said that "the central stories of my book and hers are completely different." But Ms. McCafferty's books, published by Crown, a division of Random House, are, like Ms. Viswanathan's, about a young woman from New Jersey trying to get into an Ivy League college — in her case, Columbia. (Ms. Viswanathan's character has her sights set on Harvard.) Like the heroine of "Opal," Ms. McCafferty's character, Jessica Darling, visits the campus, strives to earn good grades to get in and makes a triumphant high school graduation speech.

And the borrowings may be more extensive than have previously been reported. The Crimson cited 13 instances in which Ms. Viswanathan's book closely paralleled Ms. McCafferty's work. But there are at least 29 passages that are strikingly similar.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: books; whollycrap
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Copy Cat!!!! Meowww..


1 posted on 04/24/2006 8:55:21 PM PDT by The Lion Roars
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To: The Lion Roars

Harley Fisher!


2 posted on 04/24/2006 8:56:01 PM PDT by stocksthatgoup (http://www.busateripens.com)
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To: The Lion Roars

No substitute for talent, is there?

She's toast unless she comes right out and criticizes Bush on national TV.


3 posted on 04/24/2006 8:57:53 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: The Lion Roars

She's young and cute.....so she'll likely walk away unscathed.

4 posted on 04/24/2006 8:58:40 PM PDT by edpc
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To: The Lion Roars

"Makes ya sick" bump.


5 posted on 04/24/2006 8:58:55 PM PDT by Ciexyz (Let us always remember, the Lord is in control.)
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To: edpc

disagree on the cute part. lol. sorry. cant copy your taste there.


6 posted on 04/24/2006 9:00:39 PM PDT by The Lion Roars
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To: A CA Guy
Judging by the smirk on her face?

Deport her to the salt mines...or some similar un-Harvardian fate.

Cheers!

7 posted on 04/24/2006 9:01:16 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: The Lion Roars

Why isn't "novelist" in quotes? It really should be.


8 posted on 04/24/2006 9:01:42 PM PDT by SteveMcKing
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To: The Lion Roars
I could pick 29 instances from a John Updike novel that mirrored my own life's experiences... but of course I neglected to write them down and publish them.
9 posted on 04/24/2006 9:01:50 PM PDT by operation clinton cleanup
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To: The Lion Roars

Baloney ! She just got caught.


10 posted on 04/24/2006 9:03:53 PM PDT by Mears
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To: SteveMcKing
Why isn't "novelist" in quotes? It really should be.

along with (yeah right)

11 posted on 04/24/2006 9:04:01 PM PDT by The Lion Roars
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To: The Lion Roars

OK...mildly cute. Your pic is a little less complimentary, but she's just keeping the corner cutting/cheating tradition alive at Harvard a la Teddy Kennedy.


12 posted on 04/24/2006 9:05:53 PM PDT by edpc
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To: The Lion Roars

Send her to Me for punishment.


13 posted on 04/24/2006 9:44:59 PM PDT by John Will
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To: The Lion Roars
Like the heroine of "Opal," Ms. McCafferty's character, Jessica Darling, visits the campus, strives to earn good grades to get in and makes a triumphant high school graduation speech.

Jessica Darling?

 

Oh, wait, it's Darling with a 'g'...

My mistake...

Never mind...

14 posted on 04/24/2006 9:46:23 PM PDT by snarks_when_bored
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To: The Lion Roars

She got half a million up front as a college freshman to write some sappy romance novels.....amazing.


15 posted on 04/24/2006 9:51:18 PM PDT by NHFREE
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To: The Lion Roars
Viswanathan added, "I wasn't aware of how much I may have internalized Ms. McCafferty's words."

You've got to be joking. I would be too embarrassed to be seen on campus if I were her.
16 posted on 04/24/2006 9:53:42 PM PDT by hypocritter
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To: The Lion Roars

Legally Blond?


17 posted on 04/24/2006 9:57:34 PM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: operation clinton cleanup
I could pick 29 instances from a John Updike novel

Don't feel so bad... Updike ripped off Gunter Grass before he ripped off anyone else.

18 posted on 04/24/2006 10:01:58 PM PDT by ikka
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To: The Lion Roars
published by Crown, a division of Random House

Sorry to say so, but Random House is getting quite a reputation. They have published a number of "memoirs" which turned out to be quite false, as well.

They are not keeping up standards.

19 posted on 04/24/2006 10:03:57 PM PDT by BlackVeil
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To: The Lion Roars

Elaine/Ziggy.


20 posted on 04/24/2006 10:07:05 PM PDT by jra
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