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Friday, February 10, 2012

Friday Favorite Book Bag


The words which made Melville's Bartleby the Scrivener famous. You've read it - haven't you? I haven't. I believe this was the rallying cry of the Occupy Wall Streeters.

Just saying this out loud makes me smile. Don't know why.

Read more about the bag here.

9 comments:

  1. Nice bag. I didn't know what the slogan meant, but since reading the explanation I get it.

    I want a bag that says, "I'm in the 99% -- and proud of it!"

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  2. Thanks for the link — now I'm in the know!

    The line reminds me of my favorite quote from Louis B. Mayer:

    "Include me out!"

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  3. Oh Kathy, that would be a great bag!

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  4. Mark: I thought that was Sam Goldwyn's line. Oh well, whoever said it, it's a keeper. I love it too. I'm always saying it and people look at me as though I'm strange.

    Well, I am. But that's beside the point. Ha!

    Another favorite: "In two words, Im Possible."

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  5. Yvette - Oops! You're absolutely right - I got my producers mixed up!

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  6. Yvette,

    Thanks for reminding me of a favorite work by Melville. By the way, there are two versions of the short story available on Netflix--the earlier one has Paul Scofield. I now have both in my queue. I'm curious about what they've done to the tale.

    To be honest, I'm not clear as to the relationship between the response's significance in the story and the adoption by the Occupy Protesters.

    Bartleby's response (I think it's Melville talking here about himself) suggests that he wants to do only what he wants and not be dictated to by others.

    This doesn't seem to me to be the point the Occupy Movement is trying to make--the unfairness of the present situation that favors the wealthy over the middle and lower economic classes.

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  7. I don't get it either, Fred. To me it means exactly as you've said.

    Haven't read the book, but I assumed that much. :)

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  8. Oh the shame! I haven't read Bartleby. I've read a couple of other things by Melville and had a hard time finishing them... Maybe a novella would be better.

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  9. I tried reading MOBY DICK, I really did. But gave up halfway through. I must try again.

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