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-- A Million Little Lies?
A Million Little Lies?
I don't know about you, but I've read James Frey's book "A Million Little Pieces" and questioned some of what I was reading (and felt justified when I found the follow up "My Freind Leonard" in the Fiction section).
Looks like the smoking gun has blown his cover. Not that I care... It was a great read!
Accuracy of James Frey's drug memoir questioned
Updated Wed. Jan. 11 2006 12:17 PM ET
Associated Press
NEW YORK � James Frey, whose best-selling memoir about substance abuse, "A Million Little Pieces," has come under intense scrutiny for alleged fabrications, has agreed to give his first interview since the controversy broke a few days ago.
He will appear Wednesday night on CNN's "Larry King Live."
Bridget Leininger of CNN said Tuesday that Frey, whose 2003 book became a sensation last fall after Oprah Winfrey picked it for her book club, would not be interviewed for the entire hour-long program, but offered no other details. Spokeswomen for Frey and for his publisher, Doubleday, declined comment about his reasons for doing the show.
Frey's book has sold millions of copies, making him a hero among recovering addicts. But on Sunday an investigative Web site alleged substantial inaccuracies, accusing him of making inflated claims about his criminal record and about his involvement in an accident that killed two high school students.
"Police reports, court records, interviews with law enforcement personnel, and other sources have put the lie to many key sections of Frey's book," according to an article that appeared on http://www.thesmokinggun.com.
Frey did acknowledge some embellishments to The Smoking Gun but his only comments since the story came out have been in a posting on his Web site, defending his work. "I stand by my book, and my life," he wrote.
Also Tuesday, Doubleday issued a statement of support:
"In publishing Mr. Frey, we decided `A Million Little Pieces' was his story, told in his own way, and he represented to us that his version of events was true to his recollections.
"Recent accusations against him notwithstanding, the power of the overall reading experience is such that the book remains a deeply inspiring and redemptive story for millions of readers."
Doubleday spokeswoman Alison Rich acknowledged that the publisher is in "constant communication" with Frey, but declined to discuss the content of those conversations or any specific allegations about his work.
"We don't deem the allegations necessary to investigate," she said.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNe...b=Entertainment
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archiv...jamesfrey1.html
follow up...apparently Oprah called in to Larry's show to defend him while the author was there?
I'm curious...was it to still show that he was still an inspiration...or to protect her book biz 
meh...if it's a good read, it's a good read...just take it with a grain of salt now, I guess.
Frey admits to alterations in written statement
Updated Wed. Feb. 1 2006 11:35 PM ET
Associated Press
NEW YORK � In a rare and dramatic author's note, James Frey acknowledges alterations and embellishments throughout "A Million Little Pieces," writing that narrative mattered more than truth in his admittedly fictionalized story of addiction and recovery.
"I wanted the stories in the book to ebb and flow, to have dramatic arcs, to have the tension that all great stories require," writes Frey, whose three-page note will be included in future editions of the book, to be shipped later this month, and was posted Wednesday on the website of his publisher, Doubleday, an imprint of Random House, Inc.
Memoirs have traditionally included brief disclaimers warning that names and events have been changed, often to protect identities. But Frey's book, which until now carried no note of any kind, is unlike other memoirs: It is a million-selling story enshrined, then eviscerated by Oprah Winfrey, who had initially supported him against reports of alleged fabrications.
Frey's note, itself a story of suffering and redemption, confirms much of what The Smoking Gun published in early January and builds upon his admission to Winfrey last week that he had lied: He invented a three-month jail term, exaggerated other run-ins with law officials and distorted his role in a train crash that killed a high school classmate. He also acknowledges making himself appear "tougher and more daring and more aggressive than in reality I was, or I am."
"People cope with adversity in many different ways, ways that are deeply personal," he writes in his author's note, offering a similar explanation to what he gave Winfrey on her talk show. "My mistake, and it is one I deeply regret, is writing about the person I created in my mind to help me cope, and not the person who went through the experience."
A Winfrey book club pick last fall, "A Million Little Pieces" was released in 2003 and its origins remain unclear. Frey has said the manuscript was offered to publishers as both a novel and as a memoir. His literary agent, Kassie Evashevski, has said there was only brief discussion of shopping the book as fiction, out of respect for his family's privacy.
In his author's note, Frey says that when he began writing the book, he didn't think of it as fiction or nonfiction, but as an inspirational guide for overcoming drug and alcohol addiction. In interviews before The Smoking Gun story came out, Frey often called the book a true story, even recalling how he had read "War and Peace" and other literary classics while in jail.
He describes the past few weeks as "shocking for me, incredibly humbling, and at times terrifying." However, as he told Winfrey, Frey believes that "A Million Little Pieces" remains of value and its "central message" intact. Although he says he made use of "medical records, therapists' notes and personal journals," he defends relying upon "memory," as opposed to documented fact, as his primary resource.
"I believe, and I understand others strongly disagree, that memoir allows the writer to work from memory instead of from a strict journalistic or historical standard," he writes.
"A Million Little Pieces" is "a subjective truth, altered by the mind of a recovering drug addict and alcoholic. Ultimately, it's a story, and one I could not have written without having lived the life I've lived."
One of Frey's toughest critics, author Mary Karr, said Wednesday that Frey's note was self-serving and evasive. "He's sticking to his talking points," said Karr, whose books include the memoirs "The Liars' Club" and "Cherry."
"He keeps saying there's a great debate about fact and fiction in memoirs. But the only debate is in his mind. It's not really that hard; you just don't make stuff up."
Despite Frey's humiliation on Winfrey's TV talk show last week, when she called him a liar and said he betrayed both her and his readers, "A Million Little Pieces" remained Wednesday in the top 10 on Amazon.com. and Barnes & Noble.com.
His future appears less promising. His literary agent has dropped him and his current publisher, Riverhead Books, is reconsidering a recent two-book deal. The first book, about contemporary Los Angeles, is scheduled to come out in 2007.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNe...b=Entertainment
This poor bugger had to sit and face Oprah so she could maintain her "holier than thou" status and got ripped apart for embellishing his memoir (which nobody would even carry as an work of fiction, hence, his peddling it as a memoir). Oprah backed him until someone pointed the finger at her and said that Frey lied and it was unacceptable to support liers, and then she changed her tune. I admit I watched Oprah before, but now I'm tired of her on her high-horse.
Old news! Once oprah found out she was duped, she called Frey back on her show, where she proceeded to tear into him. I think she did herself more harm than good on this one...she should have just issued a statement saying she was disappointed and angry that she was lied to. The way she tore into him on the show was completely unnecessary and made her look ridiculous.
I DESPISE Oprah.
The fact is, her and her producers didn't do enough homework before putting her stamp of approval on the book.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Skipper Old news! |
His response was just issued today? That's lame...he was on Oprah's show responding last week or maybe even the week before that. He should have issued his official response before he went on her show.
The publisher got duped too, but the biggest thing they care about is sales, fact OR fiction - and the truth is that the publicity this is getting (mostly due to Oprah) is just making people interested in the book. I'm definitely going to pick it up. (mostly just to spite Oprah)
The show has no one to blame but itself for endorsing the book though. they should have done more homework.
It's a good read! You'll enjoy it. His style is very "in your face" emotional. I loved the fictional follow-up "My Friend Leonard" too.
I'm halfway through this book, and I have to say "who gives a shit". I've heard better drugs stories on this board. lol
Anthony Kiedis > James Frey
Personally i think the only reason this is a big deal is because Oprah makes it that way. I don't think its right that his life is being ruined. Worse lies get told everyday.How many movies have you seen that say based on a true story and have the same sort of sensationalism?
the funny part is that he tried to pitch it as a work of fiction when he first wrote it, and no one was interested. So he changed the context and said it was an autobiography. Props to him for being resourceful.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by jon jon I'm halfway through this book, and I have to say "who gives a shit". I've heard better drugs stories on this board. lol |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by jon jon I'm halfway through this book, and I have to say "who gives a shit". I've heard better drugs stories on this board. lol Anthony Kiedis > James Frey |
lol...AS IF the Oprah ripping wasn't pre-planned on both sides.
do you really think this guy would go on the show thinking that it would be a love-in, only to get ambushed? He HAD to have been in on it...or at least knew it was coming.
it protects her "integrity" and he and the publisher still benefit immensely from the publicity. Even people who are angry at the situation (either at him or at Oprah) are going out and buying the book.
this is a marketing coup...buying the book to spite him or her...that's exactly what all parties involved want 
btw...he was on Larry King (before her show) addressing the lies...SHE CALLED IN TO DEFEND HIM...so now she suddenly recants and rips him? YEAH RIGHT, lol.
If only Americans would be HALF as angry at George Bush for his million little lies.....
Kinda ironic how they're treating Frey like he killed someone's baby, and the guy who's running the country (into the ground) is getting off scott-free.
People need to prioritize a little better.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by tatgirl If only Americans would be HALF as angry at George Bush for his million little lies..... Kinda ironic how they're treating Frey like he killed someone's baby, and the guy who's running the country (into the ground) is getting off scott-free. People need to prioritize a little better. |
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