(If you haven’t read yesterday’s blog, A Million Little Lies, start here.)
A Million Little Pieces author James Frey appeared on Larry King Live Wednesday evening, 1-11-06, to answer questions raised about the authenticity of his memoir. Most strikingly, he was not at all like Trudeau, who in defense of challenges against his book, ‘Natural Cures,’ came across to me like a used car salesman. Frey was subdued and somewhat anxious appearing. He spent most of the interview looking down at the table.
He readily admitted to changing some of the "facts" in his life story but defended it saying only 18 of 432 pages have information being disputed and that a memoir is supposed to be a "subjective" recollection of one’s life.
He said several times that the book reflects the essential truth of his life and that it’s supposed to be the story of his intensive rehab treatment of alcohol and drug addiction, which he says no one disputes.
The most enlightening information that came out of the interview is that he had originally sent his book to several publishing companies as fiction, and it was rejected. It was the eventual publisher (Random House) that made the decision to publish it as a memoir. In the interview, he came across as a person who got in over his head – especially after he received a call from Oprah that forever changed his life and propelled him into the limelight.
In a dramatic finale, just as the program was ending, Larry King announced that they were going past their time limit because Oprah was on the phone. She had not yet made any public comments about all the controversy. She was supportive of the author and his story. She described the controversy as "much ado about nothing." She only took issue with the publisher who she relies on to "define the category the book falls into and the authenticity."
Would the book have been No. 1 if it had been published as fiction? My guess is no. ‘Pieces’ has sold over 3.5 million copies and the sequel, My Life as Leonard, is already up to No. 6. Ironically, Memoirs of a Geisha, currently No. 2, is fiction.
You do the math – millions of books at $20 each, a movie produced by Brad Pitt – we’re talking big bucks.
Frey seemed shaken by all the controversy. He said that they added a disclaimer to his second book – mainly about his supposed time in prison. He seemed sincere when he said he would never again write about himself, less convincing that he had no negative feelings or ill will toward TheSmokingGun.com.
I ended up not feeling negatively toward him but again at the mercy of big business – the publishing house. I believe Oprah is sincere in her support of the author, and the book offers hope. But I wonder about her closing description of a 10-year-old boy already tormented by drugs, alcohol and alienation. According to numerous reports on TheSmokingGun.com, he seemed like a normal teenager. Was his addictive illness really so severe that his recovery was heroic? To patients with severe addiction, 6 weeks in rehab rarely leads to a normal life. Relapses are the rule. (more on addictions)
Addiction is about denial and lack of control. A Million Little Pieces seems to be about, "where’s the money?".
