A Million Little Dollar $igns
By Keith Boykin, in books
Wednesday, January 11 2006, 10:14PM
As far as live drama goes, it doesn't get any better than this. First, Oprah Winfrey selects James Frey's book, A Million Little Pieces, for her book club, and the book sales climb through the roof. Then the Smoking Gun website runs an investigative article that challenges the facts in the book, accusing its author of fraud for fabricating his story. After several days of controversy, Frey remains fairly quiet until Larry King announces on Tuesday night during an interview with controversial author Star Jones-Reynolds that Frey will be his guest the following night. That's the set up.
While the controversy builds, Oprah remains silent but Frey's book hits number one on the Amazon.com sales list the day of the Larry King appearance. Frey appears on the show, admits errors in his book, but stands by the "essential truth" of the story. Later, his mother joins him in the studio and defends her son without apology. Then, in the last minute of the show, Oprah Winfrey herself calls in to express her support for Frey, forcing the show to run late into the designated start time for "Anderson Cooper 360." Millions of people are watching as Oprah finally breaks her silence to Larry King. And Frey's mom is watching with a smile. Now that's how you sell a damn book!
Comments conceal
Texas76132
January 12 2006, 12:11AM
Shame, shame, shame. That publishing company knew it was a fraud the whole time. They admitted the he tried to publish the book as fiction. The book only sold after he said it was non fiction. At least they are going to refund the money to people who bought the book. Oh well.
What a mother won't do to protect her son. A parent as close to a child as she is to him, knows if something is wrong. I'm just wondering about her. I'm not saying she was without a clue, but I find it had to believe that she didn't suspect his story at some point during all of this.
Qusan
January 12 2006, 12:56AM
It's not like the whole book was false. He "remembered" a few things differently (hello! he was a crack head) and The Smoking Gun only disputes a few pages, out of hundreds, regarding his arrest records. Either way, the true story is about his addiction and his rehab. He could have/should have marketed it as fiction. I'll bet it would have been just as compelling.
Frank
January 12 2006, 1:10AM
My God, he's gonna get away with it. He no doubt spent the day with the spinmeisters having "memoir is not autobiography" and "essential emotional truth" drilled into his head. They and the Big O watched Larry pitch his usual softballs, and when they were satisified they could weather the storm, Oprah made the phone call. The rubes will be eating it up, and Mr. Frey can make a few more millions with his pathetically poor writing.
Kola Boof
January 12 2006, 1:15AM
This is ESPECIALLY daunting for me, KOLA...as my autobiography drops in just 3 weeks....
To show how this rocking the industry....
My publisher sent the following letter to [PEOPLE MAGAZINE] today regarding my book:
...
[Comment Truncated]
Kola Boof
January 12 2006, 1:19AM
Frank,
No matter what anyone says--"TO ME"---memoir and autobiography are the same thing.
Both are NON-FICTION; meaning they're supposed to be "true" life stories.
I do side with James Frey, only because I'm about to be in his position. I do know, as an author, how impossible it is to NOT "embellish" or add dramatic/emotional effects to real events.
I'm not saying I would outright lie---as he's being accused. But I know how it is to...TELL A STORY more excitingly and alluring than it actually felt in "real time".
Kola Boof
January 12 2006, 1:25AM
Well I have to defend DOUBLEDAY.
Many of the most honorable and talented (especially black people) work at that publishing house. Janet Hill, who's a legend and a woman of true integrity is an editor there, and many great artists--Marita Golden, J. California Cooper----name a "black woman writer", they're on DOUBLEDAY or RANDOM HOUSE.
And because 2007 is coming up (LOL)...I feel compelled to defend their reputation.
KOLA
Keith Boykin
January 12 2006, 1:52AM
Dear Kola,
Remember we have a new policy on this site about length and relevance of comments. I have edited your first post to delete the text of the letter from your publisher about your book. I am trying to keep the discussions on topic this year. Thanks for your help in doing that.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me offline.
Keith
mr
January 12 2006, 10:04AM
There is a difference between being more descriptive of a true story and embellishing the facts. A real writer can use words to describe what has happened to make it interesting. Frey just made shit up. Frey straight out lied. When he couldn't sell his work as fiction he lied and said it was his life and non fiction. He lied about the police beating him. He lied about the time he spent in jail. He lied about being with one of the people killed by the train on the night it happened. When we start allowing non fiction to be fiction then expect more hell. As for Oprah, when (again)choiced with doing the right thing and coming out against someone who has made things up, she stands by the liar instead of doing the right thing. First JL. King and now James Frey. I guess saying "I made a mistake" is too much for the mighty Oprah.
Now excuse me while I finish my autobiography about saving the galaxy from my evil father Darth Vader.
Carrie Bradshaw
January 12 2006, 10:33AM
Now excuse me while I finish my autobiography about saving the galaxy from my evil father Darth Vader.
FUNNY!
James
January 12 2006, 10:47AM
For the first time ever, I completely disagree with Oprah. Even if hundreds of thousands of people were inspired by Frey's story, what proof do with have that even the incidents in rehab are truth and not fabrications? Do we foresake ethics and integrity just because some people got inspired? I spoke to a former professor of mine about this last night, and he lamented on how pitiful the society is in which we live where you would defend a liar simply because you got change. You rely on people like Frey and Dr. Phill for inspiration instead of yourself. I am completely disappointed in Oprah. If he were willing to first sell this book as a novel, then what was his intention in writing it in the first place? ENTERTAINMENT for the readers, NOT to help.
Kola Boof
January 12 2006, 2:05PM
Oprah's not his book publishers, she's a talk show host with a book club.
She pointed that out last night and I agree with her.
SHE DID HER JOB.
I don't see how it's OPRAH's responsiblity to know what is true or not in a book published by the nation's largest publisher.
That's was RANDOM HOUSE's responsibility.
I never understood how the media tried to give HER a black eye----but notice nobody attacked the publisher; the one who really IS responsible for the contents of their books.
Even though Oprah did take precautions.....HOW could she have known anything was remiss anyway?
She trusted the FILE sent over by Random House---why wouldn't she?
KOLA