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« Privacy Is Everybody's Business | Main | Helping Coworkers Deal with Serious Illness »

January 25, 2006

Let’s Be Honest

Ay, poor Oprah. She starts a book club, picks a memoir she was personally moved by (after being berated by some that she doesn’t pick books by any living authors) and then learns that the story she read and heralded might not actually be, well, true.

The whole A Million Little Pieces debacle has gotten major media attention since The Smoking Gun broke the news earlier this month, proclaiming that key elements of author James Frey’s so-called autobiographical account of drug-ridden ventures were false.

But why would Frey do this? Why didn’t he just publish the book as a novel? After all, whether artifact or work of art, if it’s compelling enough to move others, why lie? Well, apparently, he did try to shop the book as a novel before he packaged it as a memoir -- just to be turned down. So then he (allegedly) lied. And his book became immensely successful.

But what’s the real harm? No one got hurt. And a writer inspired countless readers. Right? I’d venture to disagree. There’s something about honesty that is compelling within itself, which might be the reason people are more drawn to memoirs in the first place. That’s not to say novels can’t be as gripping, but both forms of literature require a certain sense of sincerity on the author’s part to really work.

If it weren’t for the thick line separating nonfiction from fiction, how would history be chronicled? How would we interpret Elie Wiesel’s epic memoir of his time in a Nazi concentration camp, Night (another Oprah book club selection), with the backdrop of widely accepted blurry conceptions of reality?

By the same token, would it be fair if someone competing for the same position you’ve worked hard to obtain simply fibbed on his resume to get the job? While this person might be able to wing it, his dishonesty probably isn’t reserved to resume paper. A few years down the line, he might be the ringleader in a big white-collar (or even political) scandal affecting the livelihood of many.

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Posted by Maya on January 25, 2006 at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (38) | TrackBack (0)

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Comments

Well said, but I still find it amusing that Frey's debacle has gotten more media attention than the Downing Street memo.

Posted by: glasskistune | Jan 31, 2006 4:16:38 PM

Honesty is best policy. Primarily we need to be honest to ourself than put it into the action. In todays world it is the real test of the life. Very few can stand by it.

Posted by: miami paradise | Feb 1, 2006 1:31:56 AM

From what I have read, James Frey DID shop it around as a fictional novel but got rejected by multiple publishing companies for his one dimensional cliched characters and situations.

Posted by: Paula | Feb 8, 2006 2:04:40 AM

Is the big story the guy lied or is it Oprah fell for it? She's not God and she didn't lie so why is her name being linked to every story?

Posted by: aileen | Feb 9, 2006 12:30:01 AM

I also read somewhere that Frey shopped it around as fiction first only to be turned away. I wish I could remember where that was.

Posted by: cbitely | Feb 10, 2006 7:35:05 AM

Finally a statement on Frey's book and behavior I agree with. It is obvious he did not learn the biggest lesson from his former life. He is still LYING, CHEATING, AND STEALING.

Just because he shopped it as a novel and got no takers does not justify lying.

Shame on him, and shame on all those who kept the book and did not return it once the offer was made.

What kind of society do we live in that we accept dishonesty and reward it?

Posted by: Melissa | Feb 10, 2006 8:38:22 AM

I, too, have my problems with several areas of the book. Being a 18 year recovering alcoholic, I found his broad and very negative generalizations about 12 Step Programs to be arrogant and NOT factual (in my experience). There are other areas as well, but one thing I did find interesting is looking on the back cover of the paperback...there, in the upper left-hand corner,appears to be a "category" designation of the book: "Memoir/Literature." Seems like there has been a lot of discussion about how it should have been presented AS a "Memoir" to the reading public originally, yes?? Even with that, he should have done more to present this differently to the reading public, the recovering community and those out there seeking a true light out of the nightmare of substance abuse.
~Don

Posted by: Don | Feb 10, 2006 11:23:02 AM

I started out reading Frey's book, unaware of the deception and the whole time, I kept thinking in the back of my mind-someone couldn't possibly do all things to themselves and still be alive. Then I finally got the message-it was a hoax. My question is was the whole thing made up or what part of the book was true-if any? I think it is ironic that addiction gives the addict a false sense of reality and so did this author.

Posted by: Roseanne | Feb 10, 2006 6:48:56 PM

Frey's a good arguement for waiting until everyone you knew is dead before you write your "memoir". Really I love memoirs but distorting the truth is no big shocker is it really? For example let's say some famous actor writes about this party where everyone was drunk but him. And someone swears it was the other way around. Who cares? It's his memory of it or the way he'd like to remember it. Generally I like Oprah but didnt she really beat Frey up? Bringing out these smug "journalists" to pontificate about honesty. Why didn't she have Dan Rather on? Did Oprah's punishment really fit the "crime"? Have I told you about the time I wrestled Ernest Hemingway in a Cuban bar?

Posted by: Rob D. | Feb 11, 2006 9:40:05 AM

The author is a liar. Publishing houses obviously did not find the book entertaining enough (or thought that it was poorly written,) otherwise they would have accepted the work as a fiction novel and published it.

People are only going to read so many books in a given time. There are many talented authors whose books did not get bought because the consumer chose Mr. Frey's supposedly groundbreaking autobiography. As a work of fiction, where the possibilities are endless, it's just not good enough.

Posted by: Ben T. | Feb 11, 2006 12:32:56 PM

It's actually really amazing that Doubleday's fact checkers (who must be in no short supply) didn't catch any of the lies, especially since TSG's article makes them seem pretty obvious. I'd love to read a story about a publisher that remarkets a shelved fiction project as a memoir to cash in the popularity of books like Running With Scissors and then lets the author take all the fallout when it turns out not to be true afterall.

Posted by: Chris D. | Feb 12, 2006 12:48:24 AM

My observations: Oprah did beat up Frey--her ego. Frey did lie--his ego. There is a spiritual truth here: The situation with both of them is both their "truth" and is "who they are" in that moment of "now." That moment is "now" gone. Because of this, we have experienced our truth as to "who we are."

Posted by: Chavela | Feb 14, 2006 7:13:10 AM

My observations: Oprah did beat up Frey--her ego. Frey did lie--his ego. There is a spiritual truth here: The situation with both of them is both their "truth" and is "who they are" in that moment of "now." That moment is "now" gone. Because of this, we have experienced our truth as to who we are.

Posted by: Chavela | Feb 14, 2006 7:14:17 AM

Note - the publisher made a big deal out of the fact that fact-checking is too expensive. They rely upon the author. They fact check books where someone prominent may sue for libel. And Oprah had grounds to be furious - being selected for her book club sold a lot of books for Random House. Apparently, Random House will take the returns, but only if you bought the book directly from it.

Posted by: Kiki | Feb 14, 2006 7:47:42 AM

Oh come on now. I read the book and loved it. His writing style, while simply put, moves you right along and I couldn't put it down. Fictionalized or not, he made you think, brought back memories of recovery issues and gave you a great book to read. If you feel cheated, return the book. Frankly we are passing it on. So there was a glitch in the system and it was published the best way he could get it out there! Big deal. If your life depends upon his method of recovery, you need more help than that book. Good luck, read on. And for the poster who says we have only so many good books to read and missed out on others because we chose this one. Baloney. Buy more, read more. Or better yet....spend your weekends in the library. Just be careful to get in the right section else you might feel cheated by your realization that you just read fiction when you thought it was history.
I read it, I loved it and I have YEARS in quality recovery! Go Frey..suck it up Oprah.

Posted by: Rusty | Feb 14, 2006 9:22:36 AM

I agree with Rusty. I am reading it now. I think it is a good book and don't really care that it is embellished. If you don't want to read it than don't. Plain and simple.

Posted by: Andrea | Feb 14, 2006 9:43:24 AM

Lets look at the fact he had been addicted to drugs for yrs. No addict can live without manipulating others-for money,trust,enabling,sympathy,ect. I think his dishonesty was a way to simply use the same fraud capabilities to achieve his goal as he has always done. His admission to misleading the public is his way of avoiding a lawsuit. The publisher is guilty of fraud as well by claiming this a memoir. No actual research,c'mon. For the publisher it may be a way to generate income as well. Afterall you always hear folks just don't read as much as they used to. The truth may set you free but its obvious dishonesty makes money. What a shame.

Posted by: michele | Feb 14, 2006 9:48:33 AM

The book was GREAT regarless, as was "My Friend Leonard".

It does however chap my backside a bit that this guy who apparently had a fairly cush and priviledged upbringing, sort of half bassed his way through life, added a few interesting details, put it down on paper, and now is multi millionaire set for life. I felt bad for him on Oprah when she was playing the "I am very disappointed in you Mother role". That show was more about her than about James Frey, the book or the inconsistencies. And while her purpose in having him back to the show was to illustrate for the world, that she does care about the truth...she accomplished little more than drawing more attention to him and the book, inevitably making him richer and rewarding him more for what ever embelishments his writing included... I still think the Publisher and the Producers of her show need to take a hefty helping of blame in this whole fiasco. Anyone can run a back ground check on-line for a whole $15 and less than a half hour of effort.

Doesn't the saying go...cheaters never prosper, but there are more examples to the contrary everyday... Sad

Posted by: Steph | Feb 14, 2006 9:52:29 AM

I haven't read the book, so I can't say much about the author or his writing style. I can say, however, that stretching the truth for dramatic effects is always asking for trouble.

At least the lies were about himself and were not meant to cause harm to others. I'd have a harder time forgiving him if this were the case. Still, he should have stuck with the truth.

Posted by: cynthia | Feb 14, 2006 10:50:33 AM

It is not that Frey lied, it is that he is not through with his addiction. I have never been addicted to any drug, but I know one when I see one. I have had friends that were former addicts and a sister that was a hardcore CRACKHEAD and a friend of hers that was a CRACKHEAD. The first thing that you do is not lie or make light of your former condition. When Frey wrote "A Million little pieces", he embellished and out right lied in his book which means he is not through with his addiction. In other words he is still using. He may even be pulling a "Rush Limbaugh" and went on to "Oxyconten". That is what all of the fuss is about over Frey, he lied, he is still using.

Posted by: Rick | Feb 14, 2006 11:32:25 AM

I read the book because it was announced on Oprah has her book club recommendation and I read it before the Author was to appear on her show. The book was a little over the top for me. Especially because I too am in recovery. However, I felt what works for one person doesn't always work for another and with that thought in mind I continued reading the book. I did enjoy the book but I will not pass it on as a memoir I will pass it on as a book about recovery that maybe someone down the line may be able to relate to the author and feel they are not in a hopeless situation. However Honesty is the best policy and that is espcecially esential in recovery above all else.

Posted by: Tara | Feb 14, 2006 11:36:34 AM

This is what gets me about this, is how people are still talking about it. You know what the guy embellished a bit in a book that was about how he remembered the things that happened in his life, so what is the big deal here then, I think there is none at all. The last poster here doesn't know what the hell she is talking about either, Tara, are you a recovering addict or alcoholic, it says you are, but you know then you are going to tell me you haven't so much as told a lie since you have been in recovery, I would think not, I have been in recovery for over a decade, I would need a calculator to add up the times I have had to lie about being in recovery, as its not something you tell a prospective employer and all now is it. Just because Frey embellished a bit of his story doesn't mean at all that he is still using or has used since he finished in rehab, so it would be wise that you looked hard at yourself before accusing others of things such as this.

Posted by: LiftNw8 | Feb 14, 2006 12:45:16 PM

I could forgive his horrible writing if it were a memoir--stream of consciousness and all. As a work of fiction, I think his book is unreadable.

Posted by: Donna | Feb 14, 2006 2:08:59 PM

What I don't understand is why a publisher thought that this poppycock was seemingly OK to publish as FACT, but not as FICTION, which of course it has since turned out to be. If it weren't for the Oprah connection, this book most likely never would have seen the light of day, anyway. As one poster so well put it, what is the REAL question in all of this, anyway? That the author LIED, or that "Queen" Oprah fell for it?

Personally, I'm SO tired of Oprah. As far as I'm concerned, she's become one of America's top publicity hounds. I find it very annoying that so many in this country seemingly take whatever she says as gospel.

As for Frey's fiasco getting more media attention than the Downing Street memo, as another poster put it, well, maybe the Downing Street memo WOULD have gotten that kind of attention if Oprah had chosen it for her book club.

Posted by: Linda A. | Feb 14, 2006 2:27:05 PM

I think Frey got a bad rap. I think his publisher did the embellishment and he is being paid to keep his mouth shut so they (the publisher) could take the high road and they left him to take the rap. You could tell by the look on the poor guys face... on the Oprah show that day, that deer in the headlights look. That was not drugs. That was not guilt. That was clearly "They have my balls, I can not answer that truthfully"
Do you think Frey can tell on those publishers and just totally come up broke? It is not that simple. Those publishers are big guns. If Frey keeps his mouth shut and feels guilty no body knows what is going on. But if he tells, would people believe him anyway? And then he would have legal trouble fighting the publishers and paying them off forever. Reminds me of those poor singers Milli-Vanilli. They went along with a profitable arrangement they did not create the mess. The people who did create it got away with it. And one of those poor guys committed suicide. It was evident to me he did not have the where-with-all to pull off that deception... anymore than Frey does. It is bigger than them. I think the poor guy deserves a break.
Frey propably wrote the story one way and they changed it... They saw he had a half way good story and they questioned him took what he said and stretched the true story. They had the motive, ability, and power. And the Smoking Gun could probably prove it if they looked into it.. But they are too busy getting patted on the back for half a story.
A long time ago a National hero, I can't think of his name but he was an Adventist (Christian) man drafted into the War. He was an objecter to the war and would not carry a gun but he saved many lives. He got the Medal of Honor. He agreed to write a story when he got back home and once his story was told they (the publishers) took it and ran with it. When he read it the poor fellow knew the story was embellished. But he had already signed and the legal team suggested he had no choice. Years later he wrote what he said was his own account of what happened. It did not sell as many copies but he is a hero to me anyhow. If you read both stories you can see how and why the publishers embellished... To make more money.
I think Frey and others like him fall into a horrible catagory. Robbed of their own merit and railroaded into a nightmare that you and me could never imagine. I am not dumb enough to think Frey will read this but I hope some body tells him there are people out here who understand.

Posted by: Dee | Feb 14, 2006 4:16:28 PM

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