I'm not overly concerned that James Frey's memoir has made up parts. Maybe I should be. Mary Karr says that you have to be vigilant about your facts when you write a
memoir. She says, "Even when you think (your memories) are true, you have to peck and push and nudge yourself...Is that right? Could it have really happened that way?"
Frey probably should have added a disclaimer. That wouldn't have bothered me at all. Or just written a novel. It seems kind of rude to get huffy now about a book that brought me pleasure and much needed leisure. I hope
Frey can stay strong during this rough patch and avoid his former demons. You can do it James. Just say no.
I'm not overly concerned that James Frey's memoir has made up parts. Maybe I should be. Mary Karr says that you have to be vigilant about your facts when you write a memoir. She says, "Even when you think (your memories) are true, you have to peck and push and nudge yourself...Is that right? Could it have really happened that way?" Frey probably should have added a disclaimer. That wouldn't have bothered me at all. Or just written a novel. It seems kind of rude to get huffy now about a book that brought me pleasure and much needed leisure. I hope Frey can stay strong during this rough patch and avoid his former demons. You can do it James. Just say no.
Comments
Bob
I still think it's a great book.
I'm starting to care about it just because i think if you say it's a memoir, the reading experience is different than if it's a novel. plus, he exploited that girl's death by the train wreck for his story which I thought strayed into the inappropriate zone. i do like this talk tho. and one smart sixer who just moved here from a twin city suburb asked, "how do we know what's true? How can you know?" (I could be distorting her quote.) but i thought those were pretty good questions. i still like the book.
Hey if nothing else you have to hand it to this book if it makes sixers question the subjectivity of truth.
He lied and continues to lie every time he asserts that the incidents in this book are true.
That bothers me, but if it doesn't bother anyone else, so be it: you can call it a "novel", "memnovel" or "Fred the Wonder Dog" for that matter. Just don't call it "True."
Mary
mary