Final Jeopardy: Women Authors (11-20-25)
The Final Jeopardy question (11/20/2025) in the category “Women Authors” was:
In her 2016 New York Times obituary, this author was said to have “gained a reputation as a literary Garbo”
7x champ Harrison Whitaker, a researcher orig. from Terre Haute, IN, went over the $200K mark yesterday, to the tune of $208,201. In Game 8, his opponents are: Blythe Roberson, a writer from Brooklyn, NY; and Kara Brown, a payroll manager from Seattle, WA.
Round 1 Categories: A.I. is Coming for You – Homophones – Caldecott Medal & Honor Books – Anniversaries – Goodbye, Fish & Chips – International Hoops Terms With Cleanthony Early
Harrison found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Anniversaries” under the $1,000 clue on the 13th pick of the round. He was the only one on the board with $3,600. Harrison bet $2,600 and he was RIGHT.
For the 40th anniversary of her death, she was on a 100-Zloty coin; for the 50th, a 100-Franc coin show
Harrison finished in the lead with $9,200. Kara was second with $1,400 and Blythe was last with $200. All clues were shown.
Round 2 Categories: Appropriately Named Places – Settle Down – Americana – Funny People – After U – 1929
Kara found the first Daily Double in “Settle Down” under the $1,200 clue on the 8th pick of the round. She was in second place with $5,800 now, $5,000 less than Harrison’s lead. Kara bet $3,000 and came up with Job. That was WRONG.
The first chapter of this man’s Bible book says, “So they took” him, “and cast him…into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging” show
Kara got the last Daily Double in “Appropriately Named Places” under the $2,000 clue on the 13th pick of the round. She was in second place with $2,800 now, $10,800 less than Harrison’s lead. Kara went all in and she was RIGHT.
This Down Under state is bounded by the Timor Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean & a whole lotta dessert show
Harrison finished in the lead with $16,400. Kara was in second place with $11,200 and Blythe was last with $3,000. All clues were shown.
NONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
WHO IS HARPER LEE?
Harper Lee, author of the bestselling Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” (1960), died at the age of 89 in her native Monroeville, Alabama on Feb 19, 2016 after 9 years in assisted living.
Lee wasn’t really a hermit but, uncomfortable with the trappings of fame, she consciously stayed out of the spotlight as much as possible, thus the comparison to Greta Garbo, who ‘vanted’ to be alone.
Blythe tried Alice Munro, who died in 2024. Blythe bet and lost her whole $3,000.
Kara went with Virginia Woolf, who died in 1941. That cost Kara $5,201 and left her with $5,999.
Harrison had no response to the clue. He seemed sure he was going home with his “Well, it’s been fun!” message. Instead, he had $10,399 left after losing $6,001 so Harrison survived to play another day. His 8-day total is $218,600.
2 triple stumpers from CALDECOTT MEDAL & HONOR BOOKS:
($800) This book pictured Mrs. Mallard & her kids Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack & Quack
($1000) 1970: Though “Shrek!” never made the final Calde-cut, this man got a medal for “Sylvester and the Magic Pebble”
2 years ago: TWO of the players got this FJ in “SCIENCE ETYMOLOGY”
First detected in the Sun’s atmosphere in 1868, it got its name from an old word for sun show
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I was 2/3 on DD and missed FJ. I was “in the area” in my mind, thinking of the South, but stalled there.
I don’t recall who said it yesterday, but, tonight, I did hear how Harrison’s accent seemed less UK and more US.
It’s nice to see a robust champ. Let’s see if he can complete the week. After getting his first six FJ correct, and, now, 2 misses, it is always something interesting!
Didn’t see the show. Did Kara really write “Wolfe” instead of “Woolf”? I thought of her too but knew she’d died long before 2016. I knew the first two DDs. Was not familiar with that Aussie state regardless of whether it had a lotta dessert or desert.
I’m OK with Kara’s wager, as she’d have won by $1 if Harrison bet $0. But the issue was that if she missed, she’d have fallen to 3rd if Blythe had FJ correct. But overall I think she wagered OK.
Got the soccer play, that’s it. Missed only one homophone.
Yes, she did, Howard, but I should have fixed that as she didn’t have the first name. Blythe had Alice Monroe and I fixed that.
Ugh Kara, you had to wager low there to win a double stumper. Continues to amaze me that these players are so ignorant to game theory and wagering strategy. Congrats to Harrison. 8 wins is impressive!