Books News

Another yawner from James Frey

By M&C News May 14, 2008, 12:27 GMT

It’s not so much that he lied, but James Frey isn’t a good writer. Yet, that does not stop him from getting his novel published.

USA Today describes the “writer” as: “He has been an alcoholic and a crack addict, an acclaimed memoirist, a disgraced memoirist and now a novelist. And he's only 38.”The reviewer summarizes the whole hoopla involving Oprah and all his memoir junk, yet of course, nothing is said about the writing itself. Bad writers like to call themselves “memoirists” because they think it gives them permission to write their “tell all” even if what they’re saying isn’t true, or more importantly, isn’t well written. Need proof? Another memoir favorite is Augusten Burroughs, the author of five—yes five memoirs, who is quoted in the article saying: "It changes how you read the book. Running With Scissors would be a terrible novel. What makes it powerful is because it's true."Well, no. “Powerful” does not mean “good”. After all, one can read a diary entry and find it “powerful” and “true”, yet that does not mean it is great art. The next paragraph from the article states: “But Burroughs' credibility also has been questioned. Last year, a defamation lawsuit against him by the family he lived with as a teenager was settled out of court. Burroughs added a note to new editions of his book that says the family's memories of events he describes are ‘different from my own’.”Yawn. Click here to read the article.

View blog reactions

Latest Headlines in Books

Talkback

Add your comment (no registration required)

page: 1

ALEXMay 17th, 2008 - 16:46:48

you are stupid i read both of his books and liked them, who are you to say they suck,... you suck i read them and enjoyed them what difference does it make if it was 'fiction' you watch tv and 90% of that is lies but yet you say nothing instead you look down on a man thats jus trying to entertain people .....YOU ALL SUCK!...ITS JUST A BOOK.

Report this comment

page: 1

Add your comment (no registration required)