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Dakota Bossard's avatar

I'm relieved you also felt torn, I have been going back and forth about whether I feel comfortable reading it but also had a copy show up at my door. I do know I will read it, but I might withhold a review, that does feel like it crosses a line.

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leah beth's avatar

i am very torn, because i did ‘enjoy’ the book per say, but even that feels weird and wrong to say?? i think i just liked getting to read her writing again, but whether or not we deserve that pleasure is something i’m still battling with.

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just books's avatar

i keep thinking if the point was sharing the art it would've been made public domain

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TR McEvans's avatar

Yes, thanks for clearly expressing those feelings of being an unwelcome voyeur that I share with this posthumous publishing. I know I shall read it. But I will feel like one of those looky-loos who slow down while passing some poor motorist getting a ticket, having a bad day.

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Imie Kent-Muller's avatar

It such an interesting topic! I think with Didion specifically, I feel it shouldn’t have been published, but as it has I couldn’t resist reading it. I agree it wouldn’t be such a strong feeling if it had been essays/a novel, but as it is literally a transcript of sessions with a psychologist it made it almost uncomfortable to read. Also she stored this is a drawer of such personal items, it would seem she hadn’t planned to publish it so why has it?

I hope my essay on the subject will be as good as yours when I finally finish it 😂

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Caroline Beuley's avatar

I'm torn on Didion's, but I read Harper Lee's second novel and it was so different in terms of quality that it felt clear it's not what she wanted. Thanks for writing this! It's a very complicated question for sure.

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Thoughts And Threads (Fran)'s avatar

I’ve been intrigued to read this but I also feel so conflicted. It makes me think of when Harper Lee “published” the sequel to TKAM. THAT makes me feel icky. Similarly to this book of Joan’s sure I’ll this but I’m going to be very careful about what I say because I again feel very conflicted.

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leah beth's avatar

yes i wrote about harper lee in this piece! and another book of hers is being released this year……i think many of us feel conflicted about the whole debate

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