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RE: Harper Lee - 2/5/2015 4:49:36 PM

dcnovice

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quote:

I had the misfortune to read the likes of Shakespeare and Chaucer at college, absolute torture, given a choice I'd rather have hacked indiscriminately at my bollocks with an axe.

It drives me berserk that supposed educators insist on teaching Shakespeare (whom I love) in a way almost guaranteed to instill lifelong hatred.

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RE: Harper Lee - 2/5/2015 6:53:27 PM

DesFIP

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I took a semester long course on Chaucer, great stuff.
Shakespeare, alas, was a freshman seminar, class of 300. Not the way to do it.
I recall substituting a sonnet instead of a 3 page paper, offering to do the paper the next day if he would prefer. He was delighted to miss one more freshman dreadful paper.

Although, it was not a great sonnet.

The problems with this book is that it was never professionally edited. Mockingbird was, and although the story was very powerful for the time, the writing was not. The lack of a professional editing will be problematic.

Lee did say in years past that she refused to publish anything else due to the lack of privacy and the celebrity status that she had not been prepared for.

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RE: Harper Lee - 2/5/2015 6:55:45 PM

satanscharmer

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quote:

ORIGINAL: dcnovice

quote:

I had the misfortune to read the likes of Shakespeare and Chaucer at college, absolute torture, given a choice I'd rather have hacked indiscriminately at my bollocks with an axe.

It drives me berserk that supposed educators insist on teaching Shakespeare (whom I love) in a way almost guaranteed to instill lifelong hatred.

Indeed.

In all fairness, my hatred began before Shakespeare was assigned in High School. I attempted to read them before they were required reading and I just couldn't get into any of them. So, when Romeo and Juliet was assigned I was less than thrilled. At least the teacher attempted to make it thrilling by having us watch the movie that had just been released at that time.

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RE: Harper Lee - 2/5/2015 7:06:07 PM

Blonderfluff

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It's my understandng that Ms Lee believed the manuscript lost. Her sister passed away recently, and the only existing copy of "Watchman" was found among her sisters things, in a box with a "Mockingbird" manuscript.

I always loved this Harper Lee quote. When asked why she never wrote another book, she responded in her slow drawl "I already said everything I wanted to say".

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RE: Harper Lee - 2/5/2015 7:09:08 PM

slvemike4u

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Des,couldn't this manuscript still be professionally edited albeit without the active participation of Harper herself,but surely it won't be released in it's raw manuscript form ,no?

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RE: Harper Lee - 2/6/2015 6:02:22 AM

satanscharmer

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According to an article I read, it needed "virtually no editing". So, I'm assuming that means whatever needs editing will be.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/go-set-a-watchman-concerns-that-harper-lee-was-pressured-into-publishing-new-book-10024615.html

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RE: Harper Lee - 2/6/2015 1:26:08 PM

slvemike4u

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Harper Lee was quoted,by her lawyer, as saying"I'm alive and kicking and happy as hell with the reactions to "Watchman".This was in response to the skepticism concerning the new release...and to acknowledge the excitement that has been generated.The book has already jumped to #1on Amazon while "To Kill a Mockingbird" has climbed no.3
Not bad for a book first published in 1961.

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RE: Harper Lee - 2/6/2015 4:03:30 PM

LookieNoNookie

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quote:

ORIGINAL: slvemike4u

Harper Lee,90 something and apparently incapable of handling her own affairs after suffering a debilitating stroke in 2007 is releasing a book (or more accurately those who are handling her affairs are )that was actually written before"To Kill a Mockingbird)
The book,"Go Set a Watchman" was originally offered to Harper-Collins prior to "to Kill...."....also dealt with Scout and Atticus but was set twenty years after "To Kill...".
In this book there were flashback scenes to Scout's childhood,the publisher in rejecting Watchman stated an interest in having the flashback scenes fleshed out into it's own book,thus To Kill a Mockingbird was given birth.
I'm of two minds on this,as a huge fan of the original work I am of course curious and will buy and read this book.....as a fan of Harper Lee I do hope she hasn't been taken advantage of and that this doesn't prove to be an inferior work.Harper Lee had many years in which she was healthy and of sound mind and never decided to have this released ,so I am concerned.
Opinions.....

By the way,the new book has already shot to #1 on Amazon......and that's with only pre-sales ,the book isn't due out for a few months!

She's 900 years old.

She sold 50 million of the first book which, under any %, did her well.....

Copyrights exceed the death of an author by 50 years (you can thank the Disney Corporation for that....1992)....trademarks...add another 50.

Now..."To Kill a Mockingbird" is on the best seller list again after 30+ years.

In today's market...digital/print....her estate (she's still alive) will make another 30 million or more and with curiosity about the new book....add another 35 million.....

Add another 40 years (because at least her first was remarkable) and another 75 million or more.....).

At her age (and how much she's made to date)...I doubt she's worried about "being taken advantage of".

She's gonna do okay.

(You can relax).

< Message edited by LookieNoNookie -- 2/6/2015 4:15:08 PM >

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RE: Harper Lee - 2/6/2015 4:08:31 PM

LookieNoNookie

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Moderator3

quote:

ORIGINAL: slvemike4u

Yes Mod 3 that's exactly what I meant.
Thank You...you have mail

I always have mail. I run from the mailman. I haz, a, well, I'm allergic. Just ask anybody.

Gawwwwd.....seriously....I don't know how you Mods do it....always being accused of some kind of heresy.

(I actually know what you all do....in your Cabals.....but I ain't telling....I do have video....I'm holding out for a buyer)....

(I am creating, however, an excel spreadhseet of ALL the heresy.....and....3.....let me tell you.....something about you.....well.....I....am watching.....you).

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