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Lurknomore
Member
07-07-2001
| Saturday, April 17, 2010 - 11:57 pm
Here's a question. Are there any reviews by a legit newspaper or magazine literary reviewer? Forget about the Kate lovers or haters...how about someone who reviews books professionally. I'd look but you guys are doing SUCH a good job of it (plus I don't really care that much lolol...not to mention I'm lazy and honest! hehe) But I'd be curious what the pro's who always review books said. Otherwise it's just of folks on one side or the other, as usual.
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 12:08 am
Books often share rather intimate info.. I guess Randy Pausch could have left out what he wrote to his wife and children from The Last Lecture, but luckily he did share that with us. Maya Angelou wrote Letter to My Daughter that she could have only given to her daughter and Oprah and whoever she knew more intimately, but she shared that. People write graphically about all sorts of experienced and family matters and for some people that is probably TMI.. I know my mom was of the opinion that one never aired one's dirty laundry.. I've come to disagree very much about that. Very true that only time will tell.. about all sorts of things.
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Lurknomore
Member
07-07-2001
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 2:21 am
<77> Randy never sought fame, he was a teacher in the truest sense of the word. When he did the now infamous "Last Lecture" they recorded it almost as an afterthought. By the fluke of an old friend with internet connections, it ended up on YouTube. No one was more surprised by this than Randy. People came to it, not vice versa. And as Randy made clear, while he was happy if others got anything out of the lecture, his motivation for it was something to leave for his children to know him by. I'm sorry, I fail to see any comparison with Kate. Randy was motivated by wanting to teach his children and using the only way to do it that he had left, since he woudln't be alive to do so. Everything that garnered him his fame he freely gave. He made no money from the lecture, his Oprah shows, the Diane Sawyer programs etc. Only when he was offered a book deal did he make any money. And in his case I can see where he would want to earn money for his children, since he wouldn't be around to provide for them. But even then he never ONCE, and I think I've seen and heard every appearance he made, EVER said he needed to earn money for his children, as Kate repeatedly does. He never once played the victim card or showed one tiny drop of self pity. He was a very wise man robbed of time. I could rant on, but I'll end by saying that IMHO the wisdom that a Randy Pausch or Maya Angelou has to share in a VASTLY different league than the widsom of Kate Gosselin, <77>
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 5:56 am
Randy and Maya both went on talk shows promoting their books. Someone could be equally offended that Randy 'exploited his illness' if they chose to look at it that way. One can spin it either way. The fundamental difference is you don't like Kate. Someone who likes Kate may not be as offended by the comparison.
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Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 7:04 am
I don't think Kate's book is about enlightening people, being wise, or anything of that sort. She wrote it to make money and maybe (who even cares?) as a legacy for her children. I don't care if 99% of the readers don't or didn't like the book, she made money. As a parent, she is doing what she can to secure her and her children's current lifestyle and futures. So what? Don't buy it, don't read it. Believe the negative if you can't stand Kate, support the positive if you do. Here's what Sea wrote: Books often share rather intimate info.. I guess Randy Pausch could have left out what he wrote to his wife and children from The Last Lecture, but luckily he did share that with us. Maya Angelou wrote Letter to My Daughter that she could have only given to her daughter and Oprah and whoever she knew more intimately, but she shared that. I don't see anything in that post that even remotely suggests that Kate's book compares in substance or in the reason for writing it. It's just a comparison that people write books for their children. I'm sure Randy's wife and Maya made money from the books, just like Kate. What's the difference, the motivation? Bottom line...the authors or their heirs got money.
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Moderator
Moderator
06-29-2002
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 7:52 am
Some posts have been removed. Please review the note at the top of the thread. You can not make negative comments about your fellow posters. We don't like to suspend accounts but we will if we have to. Very last warning. 
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 8:35 am
Everyone is all over Kate for being on all these news shows/DWTS and writing a book, but she didn't walk on the show in the middle of filming and start talking. she was INVITED to participate in these shows; she was given a contract to write a book by a publisher. She didn't force the publisher to publish her book. Whether she should have accepted these opportnities can be debated, but truly how many of the books published, movies made, people appearing on talk shows ect really need to be on them? The logic of 'she should be on the show cause she is leaving her kids' could very well apply to the people who go on Survivor or Amazing Race. Why are they allowed to leave their families?
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Holly
Member
07-22-2001
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 8:49 am
I don't know, Texannie, but I'd hate to think I was only invited on TV shows because I had a divisive personality and caused controversy everywhere I went, rather than for anything I had to offer. Don't you think her kids will, if not now, then one day soon, see all the writing and mocking that's done about their mother? For that reason alone I'd keep a very low profile if I were she, instead of getting my face on every channel and in every magazine. After all, they'll be seeing enough nasty stories about their dad and how they're being exploited.
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 9:39 am
I think that celebrities kids unfortunately have to develop pretty thick skins. Look at all the stuff President Obama's or President Bush's kids have heard about them. It just kind of comes with the territory (along with the fun of being famous and having lots of money and opportunity). I don't like Kate but I don't begrudge her the opportunity to make money through her celebrity status. Whether her kids will be better or worse for it only time will tell. Your life is what you make it. However, at this point, I think it would be better for her to do independent work (like DWTS), rather than work involving her kids (like her latest book).
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Lurknomore
Member
07-07-2001
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 11:20 am
<77> One last comment on topic. I still have a problem understanding putting Kate in a catagory with some of the greatest, most wisest sources of knowledge in our time. Most especially Randy Pausch, who never sought fame nor fortune. He just tried to leave a legacy for his children and it went viral, much to his surprise. To me that motivation is vastly different than someone who constantly seeks the limelight, seeks to publish and earn money and seeks to publicly speak about her children. I also have a hard time understanding the wisdom in taking advice from a woman who we have seen parent and be a spouse by ruling with an admitted sharp, harsh tongue, who has alienated nearly all those close to her, and whose own personal life is a total wreck. I'm sorry but my own personal standards of people I wish to take wisdom from and emulate is significantly higher. That said, I have agreed in the past to just stop speaking about her, as I didn't feel it was wise to put energy towards something I see no positive in. Because of her appearance on a show I love and have watched since season 1, I have ignored my own wise advice. I think I need to rethink that, as I don't believe Kate is worthy of any of the energy I have put towards her, when all I want is for her to be gone from my life. I clearly have no interest in anything she has to say, and feel that she could learn from me, not vice versa. So I'm going to do my best to go back to refusing to devote my energy in places I don't feel offer any positive in return. All that good stuff said, it's hard not to reply to a point a view that I can't wrap my head around. So I'll end with one brief comment. My problem with Kate has never been her right to earn money. To me, it's been her doing so at the expense of her kids. She has cost them their privacy, she has scolded and berated them on national TV and sold books packaking this as good parenting. I fail to understand that. Now she is on a TV show as a quasi-celeb, but is there for her controversal, newsgetting nature IMHO, not any talent or work history worthy of tht slot. Again, just not something I personally care for. Last, as I've mentioned, I have a huge problem with her repeatedly stating she must earn a living for her children when it seems she has already earned that cash and this is to promote her own fame. I just don't care for the kids being misrepresented this way and question who, if anyone, is looking out for their interests?? That is my very biggest issue with her. K...I'm now going to try REAL hard to go Kate free, except as applies to her "dancing abilities" (brief laugh break as I think "or lack thereof) on DWTS.
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Lurknomore
Member
07-07-2001
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 11:27 am
PS One last thought came to me. I'm trying to get it all out before my cleansing lol. Kate isn't a celeb who kids were then forced in a spotlight. It's a unique situation because ALL of Kate's fame stemmed from the kids! That is why I feel it's imperative that their best interests should be the number one consideration, even moreso than a celeb or politician, whose children garnered attention due to having a famous parent. After all, without the multiple births, would any of us have ever even heard of Kate or Jon, or would they have had any fame? I don't see it. Quite the unusual situation!
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Happymom
Member
01-20-2003
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 12:16 pm
Cricket Member 08-05-2002 Saturday, April 17, 2010 - 12:43 pm "Jon apologized for his remarks months ago. To date, Kate still refuses to completely acknowlege how awful she was to Jon. In the youtube video of her recent Today show appearance, she skates around it." I disagree that "Kate has refused to completely acknowledge how awful she was to Jon". I have seen her in at least two interviews state that she regrets that she spoke to Jon in an unacceptable way etc. I cannot remember verbatim what she said or exactly which interviews I have seen her say this. In an interview not included in the at least two that I just mentioned...I saw her acknowledge that she has a sharp tongue. While she and Jon were making their show, they both acknowledged that they felt they needed to communicate the way they did to not let things build up. They both said that if they didn't take care of problems with each other in the moment, and put them on a list to take care of later, that those things just never would get dealt with.
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Happymom
Member
01-20-2003
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 12:18 pm
(Lurk, since you don't have a folder: I really enjoy your posts in all threads . Even when I don't agree with you, I still enjoy them. You come across as very heartfelt, and at times entertaining in the way that you write. I almost always smile when reading what you write.)
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Brenda1966
Member
07-03-2002
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 12:31 pm
Lurk, I whole heartedly agree with your last 2 posts and in particular the last paragraph of the post (at 11:20am). That really sums it all up for me. Very well said. I can't wrap my head around it either. I'm just baffled when I hear her described as a great mom. I just don't see it. There is next to nothing about how she is with her kids that I desire to copy. I did see things that I remind myself not to do. So, I guess I did learn something from her -- how not to behave.
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 12:48 pm
I would venture to say we have seen Kate interact with her children probably less than at most 50 to 100 hours. When one thinks of the thousand upon thousands of hours that have passed since they started the show how can any of use possibly know much of anything about what kind of mother Kate really is.
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Holly
Member
07-22-2001
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 12:59 pm
Another excellent post, Lurk, and I too wholeheartedly agree with all you've posted today.
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Countrydaze
Member
11-07-2003
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 1:22 pm
Very well said Lurk, you said my thoughts exactly only you put them into much better words than I could. Thank you.
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Shenanagon
Member
07-28-2009
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 1:45 pm
Lurk that's why I'm curious what is being done for the children in related to all these moneymaking opportunities Jon and Kate (especially Kate) have and will receive because they have the 8 kids. Does anyone know?
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Brenda1966
Member
07-03-2002
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 2:13 pm
I don't believe we have any details, but he kids do have "trusts". So, I'm sure they will have opportunities to go to college, etc.
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Tntitanfan
Member
08-03-2001
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 2:13 pm
Some of our lunchtable conversation on Friday was about Kate's appearance on DWTS! The consensus was that she is being kept for her celeb value as she for SURE CANNOT DANCE!! Several people expressed their feelings that it was not fair for people who CAN dance to be eliminated before those who can't! Makes sense to me!!
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Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 2:21 pm
I think that's the concensus here too, Tnt. Even though I like Kate just fine, she can't dance to save her soul. A bit better last week, but yikes it's hard to watch!
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Shenanagon
Member
07-28-2009
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 2:22 pm
ya Tnt we've all voiced similiar thoughts. It's great she has the fanbase but they'll follow her for awhile and Kate will/and is doing great so I'm hoping enough will be enough and the better dancers don't go home due to the strong fanbase Kate has.
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Lurknomore
Member
07-07-2001
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 2:27 pm
WoW thanks all!!! I'm going on about 4 hours sleep here (for no good reason other than I couldn't shut my dang brain off) so I'm glad my posts were semi-lucid and made some sense to some of you. Also nice to know some others are seeing what I see. BTW Happy, I've had a good few folders here. They just fall off after awhile and I tend to never start one myself (probably cause I'm deep down scared no one will come and I'll feel like a TVCH loser LOL). But aw shucks thanks for the kind words. And btw I beyond fine with folks not agreeing with everything I say. IMHO that's what makes a discussion board work...when we share different points of view and maybe even sometimes make each other think and see things w/different perspectives. As always JMHO of course. But I do my best to keep my sense of humor whenever possible. Survival instincts and choices Well, I'm going to savor this group hug moment, since who knows when it's likely to happen again LOLOLOL! And Shen, I'd love to know that as well. Sadly I think Jon & Kate are the ones making all the decisions financially and emotionally for the kids. I pray they have done what they said and set money aside for their education. And if I'm not wrong, when they were first born weren't there donations for eduction and other opportunities for the kids (prior the the show?). I vaguely have a memory of that. Of course right now my own real name is a vague memory hehe. Nope just can't function too well on such little sleep anymore. ZZZZzzzzz ETA see there was posting going on....so I was right Brenda there is something set aside at least?! Sure hope so. Well off to read the rest of the posts, wanted to edit in while there was time. Do I want to? LOL
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Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-31-2000
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 3:13 pm
Yes, each of the children has a trust. That's been discussed multiple times, actually.
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Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 3:28 pm
What I found so fascinating when I was going through the Amazon reviews of the book was just how many of the haters, after reading the book, RETURNED IT! I couldn't believe how many of them were admitting to being a thief! I mean, that's the same as buying a DVD, taking it home and watching it, and then returning it because you didn't enjoy the movie! But what is even stranger is, if you already hate Kate why you would even buy the book in the first place? And for the ones that bash her and then worry about her kids reading all the bashing...um...DUH. Don't do it! Those angry reviewers were just over the top with the venom.
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