Random House will refund readers who bought James Frey's drug and alcohol memoir "A Million Little Pieces" directly from the publisher, a move believed to be unprecedented, after the author was accused of exaggerating his story.
Was the book entertaining? Well-written? Enjoyable? Yes?
Great. Now just move it from the non-fiction to the fiction side of your shelf.
Posted by binky at January 11, 2006 02:13 PM | TrackBack | Posted to BooksYeah, this latest variation on a theme of Go Ask Alice, is so utterly uninteresting. I mean, seriously. Are people so whiny that publishers now have to guarantee their books? Really? Frankly, if you're among the 80% of readers of this book who take your book-buying cues from Oprah to begin with, you ought get stuck with whatever schlock she recommends (to be fair, among the occasional excellent book that she selects).
So some sappy memoirist lied. So did the president and everyone around him. Maybe Halliburton will give us our money back?
Posted by: Moon at January 12, 2006 10:17 AM | PERMALINKWhy not take the refund AND move the book?
(I admit my enjoyment of the book is lessened slightly by knowing that it wasn't straight truth, but I wasn't contemplating demanding a refund.)
Posted by: jacflash at January 25, 2006 08:11 AM | PERMALINKBinky,
The scary part is, we had clients for gambling treatment who left with the intention of following this guy's example, despite us telling them the way he described it would be about a million to one shot at recovery.
I can't help but hear the "ba dum bum CHING!" in my head. Of course addicted gamblers wouldnot be deterred by long odds on recovery.
Posted by: binky at January 25, 2006 11:34 AM | PERMALINKBinky,
Of course the therapist talking to this guy didn't actually put it in those words, just described how he'd never heard about that approach working as opposed to the successes with other methods. But you are right in that's probably what this guy heard in his head. Have you seen the update:
"All the way through the book I altered details about every one of the characters," Frey said "Every one of the characters was altered," including himself.
or that oprah's shocked, shocked, that someone who looked and sounded like her actually said the spirit of the book was more important than its veracity.
i can't believe this whole fiasco is getting any coverage at all. what a waste of time.
Posted by: moon at January 26, 2006 02:11 PM | PERMALINK