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27 January, 2006A Million Little Falsehoods
So yesterday, Oprah got all pissed and laid into James Frey for lying to a million little people, including her. If I were Oprah, I’d be pretty pissed as well. Not only did she help propel his book, A Million Little Pieces to #1 Bestseller status and stamp her logo on it, she called Larry King Live to defend Frey after The Smoking Gun basically laid him bare as a big fat liar.
I forgot this was going to be on, or I would have DVR’d it so I only got to see clips on the Today show this morning, and I’ve been reading the blog coverage this morning, but from what I hear it was basically the best television ever. The clips I saw, Oprah looked like she wanted to eat Frey for lunch. Frey and his publisher, Nan Talese both looked exasperated. Frey admitted to lying about how his girlfriend Lilly committed suicide (she didn’t hang herself), being in jail for 87 days (it was a mere few hours) and basically admitted that he blew himself up to be some big bad “Alcoholic and a Drug Addict and a Criminal” because he wanted to see himself that way. Oh, and because it would make for a better book.
Random House issued a formal apology before Oprah was even off the air, and will be adding a publisher’s note and an author’s note to all future editions. They are also adding a line to the cover announcing the presence of the notes, and they won’t print any more copies until the notes and announcement have been added. Dang that woman has some power.
From my perspective, I see two unfortunate things about all this. Okay, three.
- It totally ruined the book for me. I had some skepticism about it initially (I KNEW the part about a root canal without novocaine was a lie… having previously worked for a dentist, that would NOT happen. Also, a lot of it just seemed really grandiose), but overall I believed it. I, along with a million other little readers, championed Frey on through his struggles. I was amazed at his ability to just LET GO, which I have never known a true addict to be able to do. It is more complicated than just quitting cold turkey with no relapses. Addiction doesn’t work that way, if you are TRULY addicted.
- Which brings us to point number two. Frey lied to other addicts. One of the reasons the book was so popular was that he was able to come to a point of no return, make a decision, and stick to it all alone. He didn’t need no steeenkin rehab, or God, or 12 steps. He just decided to quit, and did it. When he admitted to lying about that fact, he admits to lying about thousands of fellow addicts about the real truth of recovery. Who knows how many lives he’s put in jeopardy by others in recovery rejecting their support systems and trying to be big bad cowboys just like Frey allegedly did. How low of him.
- The third and most unfortunate thing that will happen out of all this, is that it’s going to sell more books. Now everyone who didn’t hear about the book the first time around will be running out to buy it, read it and snicker over his egotistical claims that he’s outright admitted were just made up. It’s #7 on the bestseller list right now. I wouldn’t be surprised if it went right back up to #1.
I guess Oprah took away some of Frey’s fans and some of his big, bad, ex-crack-addict status; too bad she can’t take away his millions of little dollars.
Comments
No shit! He kept sitting there and he said like all he had left was to try to move on, and I thought all you've got is millions of our dollars cause you lied biatch! I want my stinkin' refund you fucking liar. :)
Oh, one of the best parts was Oprah kept asking him again and again about the root canals, and finally he said "As far as I know, there wasn't any novacaine." And she is like, "Then why did you say there WAS NO novacaine if you didn't know??"
It was great. I loved every minute of it. They had all these clips at the commercials breaks from journalists who were like "Frey is a lying coward..etc etc." It was like jerry springer.
And it sucks that this will just sell more books. Dammit.
Dude, my mother has had all sorts of dental work done with no Novocaine, including a root canal. She has severe panic attacks when injected with novocaine. I don't know how she does it. It's insane.
I had caught most of it...and even the lady representing Random House said she had dental work without the novocain. Anywhoo...
Not that I agree with anything Frey said or did. But I do think he was ditched by the publishing company... who unless are complete dumb idiots, would know to research any book. Also, since they were considering publishing it under fiction initially...THEY HAD to know!
Another problem I had was with Oprah. She had called in on Larry King to support Frey...saying at least the integrity of the story still remains and that people should keep that in mind.
As some analysts were discussing....her ratings probably still dipped and thats why she did her show. One minute she is supporting him and the next minute attacking him.
I read the book too and just knew it wasn't honest....and I think he got what was coming...but I do think the others around him are not being very honest either.
(wow sorry about the length of this!=))
I had caught most of it...and even the lady representing Random House said she had dental work without the novocain. Anywhoo...
Not that I agree with anything Frey said or did. But I do think he was ditched by the publishing company... who unless are complete dumb idiots, would know to research any book. Also, since they were considering publishing it under fiction initially...THEY HAD to know!
Another problem I had was with Oprah. She had called in on Larry King to support Frey...saying at least the integrity of the story still remains and that people should keep that in mind.
As some analysts were discussing....her ratings probably still dipped and thats why she did her show. One minute she is supporting him and the next minute attacking him.
I read the book too and just knew it wasn't honest....and I think he got what was coming...but I do think the others around him are not being very honest either.
(wow sorry about the length of this!=))
I haven't really been paying attention to all of this. But rest assured I am not going to buy the book and add to his money.
And take heart- since he has all the money, we are talking about the US here- some junkie is going to sue him for taking his advice and having it fail. Or for some other reason. And they will probably win, too.
I agree that Frey is not the only one who's responsible... the publishing company is definitely at fault. Why no fact checkers? And there are rumors circling that Oprah knew what was up BEFORE she even stamped the seal of approval on his book, and now she's all "YOU MADE ME LIE TO MY DENTAL PROVIDER!"
Everything just smells like a lot of money, which doesn't surprise me.
I know of dentists who have done fillings and stuff without novocaine... but they usually give the patient a valium first or something. But two root canals and four crowns (which is what would have been done to his front teeth)? No way. Novocaine isn't an addictive drug, it doesn't even get you high. It's about as strong as the stuff you rub on babies' gums when they're teething. There would be no reason to not give it to him. And now he says he got it anyway.
Boo on all liars.
TOLD YOU & I TOLD YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
