Smart girl accused of plagiarism
So it turns out that Kaavya Viswanathan, author of the best-selling chick lit novel How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life, lifted key passages and plot elements for the book from another author's work.
Specifically, she admits to having been "unconsciously influenced" by Megan McCafferty's books Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings.
I should have posted this on Sunday, when the news of the accusations of plagiarism first came out, via the Harvard Crimson, but, to be perfectly honest, I had absolutely no idea what to say about it. In fact, I feel sort of weirdly guilty about the whole thing, since I've reviewed both authors' work and, actually, gave a slightly better review to Viswanathan than to McCafferty. (I guess the second draft of something generally is an improvement.)
So now I'm in this weird, blogging at 4 am place about the whole thing.
In a quirk of timing, I read Viswanathan's book first (I wasn't on the chick lit beat when McCafferty's first two books came out). And, though I did sort of skim over Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings in preparation for the review of Charmed Thirds, I really wasn't paying close enough attention to really pick up any of the similarities of language.
Still, it bugs me that I bought into the Viswanathan hype. I'm particularly humiliated by having written this passage:
While some of Viswanathan's prose is unimaginative -- too many preppy kids are described as looking like they've stepped off the pages of a J. Crew catalog, for example -- the book's fresh and witty premise rescues it from getting mired in typical nerd-to-cool-girl cliches. Life among New Jersey's suburban elite, with their McMansions and high-end SUVs, is chronicled with an impressive eye for detail and a wit that is smart but not scathing.
Um, yeah, what I meant to say there was "impressive eye for details that someone else already wrote down."
I do give myself some credit, however, for mentioning James Frey in the review. (Random thought: They should totally hook up!)
The fact is that I still haven't fully resolved all my James Frey issues. I actually received a promotional copy of A Million Little Pieces (free books = awesome job perk) before it was an Oprah book, but didn't write about it, or even finish reading it, because I thought it was BS.
Where, oh where, were my news-breaking instincts? Why was I unable to instantly recall this assessment when the book started getting big, national attention?
OK, well, that was sort of cathartic for me. (It would have been more satisfying if I'd been having some ice cream while writing it, but, sadly, our cupboards are bare. Still, I feel like I worked out some issues here. Thanks.)
One last thing to get off my chest, while I'm in confessional mode. On Sunday, I wrote about a guy who created a show that airs on WTTW. Ethically, I should have disclosed that I also appear on a completely different show, Chicago Tonight, which also airs on WTTW. This did not occur to me until it was pointed out to me by my unhappy bosses on Monday.
So, pretty much, I seem to support plagiarism and conflicts of interest whenever possible. Excellent.
Comments
"I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, ...."
I BELIEVE THAT DEBRA PICKETT HAS AN IDENTITY PROBLEM.
Posted by: Frank Otero | April 25, 2006 06:03 AM
As an avid reader from a very early age, and as an English major (with a photographic memory, no less), I have to say that I've done this myself (althought to a *way* lesser degree - maybe just a single turned phrase for instance). Voracious readers do internalize the writings of others - that is how you learn the craft of writing, by "feeding your brain," as it were.
I do think it's entirely possible that she had all these phrases swimming around in her head, and mistakenly believed them to be words generated by her own head. Oops.
I do also think it's possible she could be lying, but only she knows for sure.
Just my $.02.
Posted by: Jamie | April 25, 2006 11:20 AM
This is disturbingly similar to the Brad Vice case. I wonder what Harvard can do to Kaavya? Vice was ultimately denied tenure and fired for plagiarism:
http://www.nypress.com/18/48/news&columns/RobertClarkYoung.cfm
Posted by: Dave Green | April 25, 2006 12:41 PM
Re: The Harvard gal. Now I wonder where she got the rest of her book. Maybe there is a whole shelf of girly coming of age books out there that she has pillaged. I might try that one myself, who knows!
So what then about the rest of her opus? I mean, when a trial witness is found out in a lie or two then their whole testimony goes down the Swanney, doesn't it.
Posted by: P O' Donnell | April 25, 2006 01:06 PM
From the Harvard Crimson:
>>Kaavya Viswanathan worked with a book packaging company—17th Street Productions, which is owned by Alloy Entertainment—in the development of “Opal Mehta.� Alloy Entertainment and Viswanathan own the copyright to the novel, and Variety reported in February that Alloy Entertainment, along with Contrafilm, is slated to produce the film adaptation. The rights to the novel were purchased that month by DreamWorks.
“As has been previously reported, we helped Kaavya conceptualize and plot the book,� Leslie Morgenstein, the president of Alloy Entertainment, wrote in an e-mail today. “We are looking into the serious allegations detailed in the Crimson before commenting further.�
Posted by: KHenry | April 25, 2006 02:46 PM
I suggest we start looking at sources like TV and movies. For example, there is a scene in "Mean Girls" where the nerdy heroine is being inducted into the most popular cliche and they tell her she's only allowed in if she follows certain rules. The rules are quite similiar to the ones Opal Mehta must follow.
This girl is utterly shamelses. "Unconscious" borrowing. Yeah right. All her books should be burned not "revised." I cannot believe that she is getting a second chance after the stunt she pulled.
Posted by: macon | April 25, 2006 02:53 PM
Why don't you all talk about a young author who actually has something to say? Check out www.GlassEyez.com.
Posted by: abp | April 28, 2006 12:23 PM
I wonder what megan mccafferty has to say about this.. does she file a lawsuit or something? anywany I am more concerned about reading this "book" the other author wrote. I'd really like to see for myself how much the girl took from one of the most lovable books i've encountered.
Posted by: karly lariza | May 10, 2006 10:28 AM