Review Literary Hoaxes......

[Doctor Omega]

There's been a few of these over the years....

The above book covered some of them and was very entertaining.

Now whatever did happen to those diaries Hitler wrote?

 

[Doctor Omega]

A Million Little Pieces is a book by James Frey, originally sold as a memoir and later marketed as a semi-fictional novel following accusations of literary forgery.

It tells the story of a 23-year-old alcoholic and drug abuser and how he copes with rehabilitation in a twelve steps-oriented treatment center.

In September 2005, the book was picked as an Oprah's Book Club selection, and shortly thereafter became the number one paperback non-fiction book on Amazon.com, and topped the New York Times Best Seller list for fifteen straight weeks.

By January 28, 2006, it had fallen to number four on the Amazon.com list with Winfrey's following selection, Night by Elie Wiesel, taking over the top position.

The book garnered international attention in January 2006 after it was reported that it contained fabrications and was not, as originally represented by the author and publisher, a completely factual memoir.

While initially promoted as a memoir, it was later discovered that many of the events described in the book never happened.

Oprah then confronted James Frey on her show....

Was she angry, as she claimed, on behalf of the audience, who had bought the book after Oprah promoted it on her Book Club?

Or on behalf of herself, for being fooled on her own show?


And what of James Frey?

A novelist who made a foolish mistake in publishing fiction as fact?

Or a cunning liar?


Where do your sympathies lie in this controversy?

Here is James Frey discussing the whole thing in retrospect....

 

[duzit]

I remember this fiasco. She was mad for herself, not the audience. She had been made a fool of by this writer. No one ever was to cross the all powerful & knowing "O". He could care less, he already had the money from the book and will continue getting money from future sales. I think the ruckus also helped more books to be sold. Poor "O"...