tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-488757155668840939.post8233871850140174360..comments2023-11-13T15:58:31.220-08:00Comments on HOLLYE DEXTER: The Crucifixion of James FreyHollye Dexterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10184998678584429429noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-488757155668840939.post-37561261869918023292011-05-27T06:50:02.236-07:002011-05-27T06:50:02.236-07:00James Frey lied. He didn't reassemble facts in...James Frey lied. He didn't reassemble facts in an unusual way, he didn't remember something differently than others might have. He lied. He lied about facts that could verified as lies by examination of public records. He lied about the central narrative of his story. He brought disgrace and shame upon many, many talented writers who work in the fields of memoir and creative non-fiction, several of whom are my friends. <br /><br />Read The Smoking Gun. They burned his lying ass. And in a just world, that ass will continue to burn, in hell and beyond.<br /><br />http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/celebrity/million-little-liesMitch Sommershttp://www.mitchellsommers.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-488757155668840939.post-50532319519893921672011-05-25T12:10:39.781-07:002011-05-25T12:10:39.781-07:00My sister and my memories growing up in the same h...My sister and my memories growing up in the same house are totally different. She remembers everything and I barely remember her:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-488757155668840939.post-51306785012007618862011-05-25T09:20:04.379-07:002011-05-25T09:20:04.379-07:00I'm left wondering what truth really is!? My o...I'm left wondering what truth really is!? My own memories of almost every shared event in my life differ wildly from others' memories of the same event. My inner experience of these events have, by necessity, been embellished as I've struggled to unearth archetypal patterns and thus my own universal truths. And yes, if I have toyed with the idea of doing this or that but haven't quite manifested it, why yes yes yes, it is my truth, part of my memoir. The mind has a life of its own and if I've imagined an event, if I've plotted and played it out in the complicated corners of my mind, then yes yes yes, it has really happened...Cathyhttp://cathykozak.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-488757155668840939.post-54752312495385276002011-05-18T09:33:08.142-07:002011-05-18T09:33:08.142-07:00I just love this conversation, and the fact that I...I just love this conversation, and the fact that I have such brilliant friends each with their own thoughtful perspectives. I thank you all so much for sharing your views- this is a multi-faceted issue, and you are all contributing to the "whole" picture. <br />To Amy and Amy- I know you both had personal experiences with him, and he may be a jerk. I haven't- have only seen him in interviews where he seemed authentic to me. But ....you never know.<br />Keep the comments coming, people! Let's work this out.Hollye Dexterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10184998678584429429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-488757155668840939.post-83955653577980327052011-05-18T08:04:36.144-07:002011-05-18T08:04:36.144-07:00I interviewed Frey a year or so after the brouhaha...I interviewed Frey a year or so after the brouhaha on Oprah. I was teaching an undergraduate course on memoir (not writing memoir, but studying it), and the students were brutal with him. Have to say he was gracious about agreeing to talk to the kids, but there were a few fascinating elements, some of which are touched upon here, some not. He did say that it was his editor, Nan Talese, who told him that memoir had to be only 85% true (huh!?), and that he believed her. Likely disingenuous, but I'm not surprised in the least. Memoirs were selling; publishers want to make money (thus all the celebrity memoirs...) But he also told the students, "I'm laughing all the way to the bank." <br /><br />He also made a great big deal about how he was creating a new language, that he was this great new creative being. <br /><br />I wasn't particularly moved by the book, but that's what makes horse races.<br /><br />I think some of the conversation needs to be about that "what will sell" question. In essence I think the whole idea of memoir is merely an invention--quality fiction can touch us in all those same places quality memoir can, and had the publishers had any balls, Frey's book would simply have been called, as it should have been, a novel. It would either have touched you, Hollye (and others) or it would not have.Amy Friedmanhttp://www.amyfriedman.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-488757155668840939.post-27147264247678121362011-05-18T07:49:13.049-07:002011-05-18T07:49:13.049-07:00I didn't see any of the Oprah stuff and I didn...I didn't see any of the Oprah stuff and I didn't read Million Pieces, but I did read his follow-up, My Friend Leonard. And of course I read and saw a lot of press debating both sides of the argument -- kinda like we're doing here now. <br /><br />First off, Hollye, I applaud you for leaping into the fray (lol). I think you are very brave for opening this dialogue and encouraging it. Second, I will come "out" and say I agree with you. I hated all the excoriation at the time and still shrug my shoulders at it now. I loved his 2nd book and loved his voice. I also think that a first time writer is very vulnerable -- anyone who has struggled to get their voice heard (either through publication or getting it onto the screen) knows how much hand-wringing and desperation can affect your judgment. Not to say it's okay to make deals with the devil, but let's put it into context. His gaffe did NOT have a long term affect on the publishing industry in general or on writers in particular. It wasn't a manufactured expose in a newspaper (I don't agree with making stuff up and selling it as news -- where the repercussions can be devastating). There simply were no dire repercussions to anyone but himself (and maybe Oprah's ego) that are worth the anger, the vitriol, the skewering. The lie didn't last very long and his writing style is still going to be a "matter of taste". And Frey certainly isn't the first talented artist to be egotistical, self-absorbed and one-track-minded. <br /><br />It makes for interesting dialogue, but I still would rather have read his work, then for it to have languished unpublished in his drawer... And I would rather be receptive to creative work, be exposed to it, question it, debate it, than to "throw stones". <br /><br />BDeb and Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04444390852070865517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-488757155668840939.post-70090352466768350722011-05-17T21:59:22.517-07:002011-05-17T21:59:22.517-07:00Definitely a heated subject. And while Frey made a...Definitely a heated subject. And while Frey made a huge mistake, I still think he is a fabulous writer whose book touched many lives. <br />I'm wondering if you all watched the very real, very touching confrontation and healing between he and Oprah on part 2 of her interview with him. She actually cried and apologized for skewering him, and admitted she was defending her ego. She found compassion for him and felt great regret for the way she had treated him. I'm not sure if you watched that show in 2006, but I felt like i was watching a bully beat on someone who was already lying on the floor bleeding. It made me feel physically sick. And I LOVE Oprah. LOVE. <br />but you know, we all had something to learn in this conflict. People make mistakes, and forgiveness is possible. And healing....well, that is BEAUTIFUL to see, and I saw that today between them.Hollye Dexterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10184998678584429429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-488757155668840939.post-39367585093440019592011-05-17T21:53:32.652-07:002011-05-17T21:53:32.652-07:00I get that he lied and is ultimately responsible f...I get that he lied and is ultimately responsible for his own actions, why he apologized, but also that new writers are often vulnerable to the self-serving interests of publishers, becoming like worried mothers sending their first child to kindergarten, thinking teacher knows best after twenty kids a year for twelve years rather than trust their own wellspring. It's hard to know sometimes. We all make mistakes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-488757155668840939.post-13518331369599633962011-05-17T21:07:55.589-07:002011-05-17T21:07:55.589-07:00Interesting post. I remember vividly picking up J...Interesting post. I remember vividly picking up James Frey's book years ago off the shelves in a bookstore. I remember thinking, you know I lived a story like this, but this one does not feel real to me. I had (have) two brothers who were addicts, now recovered, and the story in the book was too in your face, too demanding, not real to me. I thought to myself, I don't need to read this, nope, I lived the real deal.<br /><br />And as for his being revealed for what was true compared to what he claimed? Um, I don't have any qualms with that. I think you can't say this is what happened and then reveal that that was just a made up pile of lies. If it isn't the truth, then call it fiction...or call it something besides a non-fiction piece of writing. <br /><br />As for Oprah, .... I'd take her stance over James Frey's any day. She may have erred some in this or in other ways, perhaps, but her track record speaks volumes at least in my view....there's really no contest here. A Million Little Pieces....ironic title.... I still haven't read the book ...and won't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-488757155668840939.post-47868104824931806722011-05-17T21:07:43.857-07:002011-05-17T21:07:43.857-07:00Good one, Hollye. I totally agree! I too still lo...Good one, Hollye. I totally agree! I too still love the book, no matter what ... <br /><br />Thank you for this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-488757155668840939.post-88932661024333980222011-05-17T20:48:20.291-07:002011-05-17T20:48:20.291-07:00I agree Amy. Not sure he is even a good writer.I agree Amy. Not sure he is even a good writer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-488757155668840939.post-8791292380197985532011-05-17T20:41:26.782-07:002011-05-17T20:41:26.782-07:00i'm not sure i understand your point, hollye. ...i'm not sure i understand your point, hollye. the guy wrote a book, tried to sell it - at first as a piece of fiction - it didn't sell, his publisher said, let's try and sell it as 'a memoir,' - FOLKS LOVE LOVE drama and intensity and dark & nasty. so, he sold it for a million bucks plus. a huge amount of money.<br />he didn't sell it as a piece of fiction, but sold it as memoir. and that was a lie.<br />it's REALITY TV AT BEST. it's the bullshit of the media. it's selling people of bunch of lies. <br />i can't honor mr. frey. i think he got caught with this tail between his legs, and now he is apologizing for not being straight forward to begin with. <br />not a fan of his.<br />not one bit.<br />and yeah, he's a decent writer. but he's now made it painfully difficult for other writers to be read and taken seriously.amy ferrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15903450064085735423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-488757155668840939.post-28544288654557765062011-05-17T20:14:41.667-07:002011-05-17T20:14:41.667-07:00I watched him on Oprah and I read the book. I was ...I watched him on Oprah and I read the book. I was not impressed. It was a story I had heard many times over from people in person who lived the life or their kids did. He was smug and I think blamed everyone but himself. He was arrogant and said he didn't like memoirs and would not change much of anything. I was not impressed and his use of the English language with dems and doe's made him sound like a self serving, not well bred individual. His apologies were not real to me. I am glad his book helped others but he said he didn't want a self help book. I think he is not an honest person. Whether what he did was honest or not he still is not taking responsibility. A novel is a novel and when you can't sell you don't then make it a memoir. It denigrates writers and memoirs in particular.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com