TVSquad

It would be interesting to see how the demographic of posters here corresponds with their religious and/or party affiliations. Who thinks lying is no big deal and who thinks it's wrong?

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I think it is ridiculous that he is facing so much outrage over this book. What this book does is tell about addiction if it is a "memoir" is beside the point. As someone who is currently struggling with addiction this book has given me hope. I could relate to many of things he said and it gives me hope that I can conquer these things to. Frey is a very brave and nobel man. The people who are belitteling him have no idea what addiction is like and what he is trying to say. I don't care if it is exactly true or not it sends a very powerful message and gives hope to those who are addicted that they can too overcome their addiction

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i read this book and i am an heroin dependant, the book gave me the will and believe to beat my addiction.
if this book is true to its word or polished up for sales, i for one know that it has had a major impact upon my own life and my families lives. they now understand some of what ive been through and i now am on the ment. thank you james you gave me a ray of light when i were stuck in the dark corner of addiction.

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On Larry King, it struck me that she was parsing her words very carefully, probably after consulting with numerous lawyers. I didn't consider her remarks to be unqualified support and praise for Frey's appalling lies, but he and his mother and Larry King sure took it that way.

That said, I'm glad she hammered him, because the little wannabe deserves it.

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The problem with what James Frey did not only affects Oprah, but all of us out there who are working on are memoirs. Those of us who have indeed been through hell and survived. I think people may just think twice before reading future life stories like that, and that is too bad because an autobiography from someone who has struggled, be it from abuse to addiction, can often time help others in need.
I don't want to be second guessed when I try to publish my book-but thanks to him, I probably will be.

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I love that now that Oprah changed her tune, everyone turns around and badmouths the guy. Before it was all "oh, well every memoir has embellishments and altered detail... artistic liscense... etc.."

It's absolutely astounding to me that some people in this world live or die by what Oprah decrees (visions of a certain conversation between Stewie and Brian on Family Guy...).

Oprah defends and "hey, get off his back, he's just doing what anybody writing a memoir does." Oprah attacks and, "oh, he's a pathological liar." Not using your words to make a personal attack or anything, Anna, I'm just making a point.

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Oh for god's sake, it's a BOOK. Books are lies. Yes, even non-fiction books are filled with half-truths, BS and all out fiction. Anybody who reads a non-fiction book and thinks it's gospel truth, needs serious freaking counseling. They're reading a book written by a human: humans have agendas, themes, poor memories and certain tastes/goals.

Frey did exactly what all non-fiction writers do: he wrote some truth, mixed in some tall tales and told some outright lies. He had a story to tell but needed to sex it up, so he did so. And people embraced the story then.

No big deal.

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Ok, so now this book will be filed in the Fiction department instead of the non-fiction department.

Read the book for the enjoyment of reading. If the book made you think, made you laugh, made you smile, made you scared, then the writer did their job... whether its true or not.

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BGDC: Let me guess. You're a journalist.

/dramaboost

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I've only watched a couple of minutes here and there, forgive the lapses, but I liked what the journalist said: (in paraphrse and with embellishments) if you said "this is my beautiful wife" and the woman you introduce is really horrible looking, that's an embellishment, but if you say "this is my beautiful wife" and the woman is in fact your escort for the night and had never previously met you before, then you are telling a lie.

If you call your book a memoir and enhance the story you are making a better story, but if you make up parts of your story out of thin air, you are deceiving people. Deception is never right.

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I don't agree that fiction and non-fiction are equal today. I think anyone can manipulate information to fit their agenda and still call it nonfiction. Reality shows on TV are a good example of manipulating facts. What the cast members say and do is real, but the opinion we form of them typically comes from how the editor cuts and compiles the video. I think that still can be considered a non-fiction show.

However, Frey originally told Oprah that he used legal, criminal, and rehab records to reconstruct his battle for his book. But then some statements, like claiming he broke a state record of the highest blood alcohol level with a .36 reading when his reading actually was .21, obviously did not come from such records. That, to me, goes beyond what can be considered non-fiction.

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not a journalist, just a guy who is sick to death of the obsequiousness of most Americans. They see "Based on a true story" and actually believe the book/show/film is an accurate retelling of an event. It's not, it can't be and it never will be. The story is told from a point of view. Its slant will forver color the truth. You can never know the truth via a book/film/etc.

Memoirs, like documentaries, are stories compiled, edited and cast with an eye toward a theme. They offer no more verisimilitude than straight fiction.

Again, if one reads any non-fiction account and believes it to be fact, one needs to take a step back and examine the origin of the story. Who wrote it? What is their background? What are they trying to convey? Why? Who edited the work? What's that person's background? What's the significance of the words chosen, the typeface, the paper, etc? All this, along with the reader's background/mood/views, will color the interpretation of the themes the author/editor created.

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Give the guy a break. Don't you think he has gone through enough. Struggling with addictions is bad enough. So he stretched the story a little. You have to give him credit for staying sober.

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I've worked in the substance abuse field for over 10 years now and the thing that you have to remember is that lying is a way of life for those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. Lying is used as a coping mechanism for these folks, even after they become sober. Based on working in several different treatment programs, I can tell you that most people's stints in rehab are much more uneventful than the stories told by James Frey.

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Honestly, I don't see what all the fuss is about. So there are ficticious parts in the book. Probably closer to my life than his own. That is besides the point. It's a great book. Several of my friends, have also read the book, and we all enjoyed reading it. People usually need something to believe in, something to inspire deep within themselves, and that is what one would get from the book. I'm certainly not disappointed in Oprah for backing James Frey, more so that she retracted everything....thanx,

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If the book kept you entertained and busy who cares? Whether the stories are true or not have no impact on anyone.

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Although I am disappointed that James felt he had to lie, I did like the book because it gave me a better understanding about what its like to be an addict. Had parts not been embellished it would not have been as interesting or compelling. He did lie to Oprah on her first show about different parts that she questioned, he should have been more truthful on the first show. I would still recommend the book to others to help undrstand addictions.

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You say Opra tears James Frey apart? Yep she did. Only one thing.....I've lost a great deal of respect for her and will never see her in the same light again.

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I'm proud of Oprah for admitting that she was wrong. Trying to support someone who has been through a terrible ordeal (addiction) is honorable. When it is discovered that the person has outright lied about EVERY character and scenario in the storyline, you have to side with honesty and admit that you were wrong. Oprah has done the right thing.

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What in the heck is wrong with you people??? So he fudged in his book. SO WHAT. It was still fascinating reading. And James Frey is being persecuted because he called it a memoir. SO WHAT. Who cares if it was or not. It was still a very good book!

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