the buzz log
How Opal Mehta got kissed, got wild, got a life—and got exposed as a big fat fake.
That's the story now as accusations of multiple instances of plagiarism are heaped on Harvard sophomore Kaavya Viswanathan, author of the popular chick-lit novel "How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life."
As the charges in this sorry tale continue to multiply, so has the buzz. Searches have soared on the budding novelist; her literary alter ego Opal Mehta; and Megan McCafferty, whose novels "Sloppy Firsts" and "Second Helpings" were widely mimicked in "Opal."
Allegations have also surfaced that the college copycat drew heavily from Sophie Kinsella's perfectly titled work "Can You Keep a Secret?" (Answer: No, we can't.) Buzz for Kinsella promptly leapt. Even The Harvard Crimson, which has been actively on the case, spiked 259% yesterday.
Kaavya's cute, and her first apology seemed so sincere that many were inclined to give her a break. But as the extent of the possible plagiarism has deepened, sympathies have gone sour real fast. At least, we think they have. What do you think, dear readers? Leave your thoughts below...
Filed under: Books, Plagiarism
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comments
Posted by quinntheezkamo | Wed, May 03, 2006, 11:46 pm PDT
There's a big differences between resembling a classic and paraphrasing numerous passages of different novels without reference or reason.
Posted by lhpulford | Wed, May 03, 2006, 11:49 pm PDT
Maybe she is OK on this. She could have read the other books, tried the stuff out herself, and then written the book. I might have tried that when I was 17 or a college sophomore, if I had thought of it. unfortunately, I was reading physics at the time. A movie, "The Swinger", was somewhat successful back in the 1960s, based on the idea of a woman novelist copying dozens of cheap pulb books, and claiming to have done everything in her book herself. Ann-Margaret and Tony Franchiosa made the film a good lesson not to skip class in the afternoon.
Posted by sarang0689 | Thu, May 04, 2006, 12:08 am PDT
hey there r millions of authors here....who write millions of books...u cant expect a writer 2 refer all those books n then only publish his/her book..thats abosolutely dumb...and when u read a book the thought keep goin in ur mind...its natural to reproduce the same thought "unknowingly".....so i suggest we respect kaavya for atleast taking the pains to write a book....
thanks
Posted by bishop8322002 | Thu, May 04, 2006, 12:13 am PDT
While plagiarism is wrong, one has to remember one important fact - William Shakespeare was a fraud. Hamlet was originally told in the 12th century. It was the idea that he used, renaming the characters and location... but the same idea had long been in the telling throughout many cultures.
I say give the poor girl a break. So, she screwed up a little bit. Does that mean she could never write something original?
Posted by et0ile27 | Thu, May 04, 2006, 12:19 am PDT
She needs to study more! shame on her...copying once maybe we would forgive her...but she did it maybe more....thats a different story!
Posted by vibin_50345 | Thu, May 04, 2006, 12:37 am PDT
Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone elses opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation..
pls leave this poor girl.. let her write more.. still i cant understnad why some medias treating her as a terrorist?? has she dont that much???
Posted by vibin_50345 | Thu, May 04, 2006, 12:40 am PDT
has she done that much??? ***
Posted by ihatestupidclowns | Thu, May 04, 2006, 12:44 am PDT
I read the plot line to this book and it sounds like every other high school chick book. Geeky girl wants to be popular, Geeky girl becomes popular, New improved Geeky girl decides it's ok to be who you are. Touching. If she actually does get sued then so should all the writers of movies like "She's all that". Hey, I should sue her for living out MY book about an author of a popular book who gets sued for plagiarism.
Posted by potato_chip_luva | Thu, May 04, 2006, 12:46 am PDT
One thing for certain is that Kaavya Viswanathan has become the world's most infamous plagairist of the modern times.
Her parents must be proud.
Posted by neetakunder | Thu, May 04, 2006, 12:52 am PDT
As usual everyone's cashing-in , its become so typical,, getting huge amount of publicity on someones expense... big deal if she picked up a little bit or more from a writer's book she worships and idolizes,, so what!!!! and she is just a teenager.. i bet all of us have done something more stupid when we were 19...... the end of story is she apologized!! so bury the matter.. but the media does'nt seem to stop.. as usual they stoop so low.... why does'nt anyone point a finger when classic movies are made over and over again or when classic songs are sung time and again by new entrants... rings a bell??
comm'on.. Kaavya.. is a wonderful kid.. she's receiving brickbats coz she looks lovely and is intelligent and she is indian... could be racism beneath all those allegations surfing out? hmmm time to ponder...... give a kick to mcgregor brown comments really rude....
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