I found this article
online that discusses fake memoirs and how they should be not be shunned and
not stir up such an outrage because they contain merits of great fiction. Fake
memoirs like those mentioned in the article are deem as great works of literature
but lost its worth when the truth was reveal these books where made up.
Fans and those
purchased fake memoirs have the right to be outraged. The reasons these people may want to read memoirs
is for the mere fact that they are nonfiction and they may like to read stories
based on real life experiences. It’s upsetting that later on, they would find
out that these stories are not true. When I hear about these type of stories, I
get upset. Readers believe in these life stories and finds inspiration for
their own lives and to later on tell them that it’s all a lie is so upsetting for me
to hear this.
In all cases
where its revealed that someone’s memoir is fake, they should not be moved to
the fiction section because it interferes with the genre of fiction itself.
Those who want to fiction do not want to see a book there that was once being
marketed as nonfiction. Fiction is about
fictitious characters with fictitious names, so these books to me; do not
really qualify to be catalog as fiction. If these books are being continuous
printed and cataloged they need to remain in the nonfiction section and catalog
as fake memoirs. Hopefully celebrity life stories will not be dominating the fiction
shelves in the near future.
Keeping fake memoirs in the nonfiction section is an interesting concept. My library has 'A Million Little Pieces' in the Fiction section now, and I've heard that most other libraries have done the same. But reading what you've said here made me think: there is some kernel of truth to Frey's book (even if that kernel is really, really small). Is psedo-nonfiction still nonfiction? I know that much of the book was completely fabricated, but some of the things in it were just exaggerated. Maybe this book should still be in Nonfiction sections. That makes sense to me.
ReplyDeleteI think part of why it is so upsetting to find out that a book you love was fabricated is because we often feel a bond with the author. Reading a book telling about the story of someone’s life makes you feel like they have let you in and confided their personal story with you. To later find out that their story was fabricated it is almost like being lied to by a close friend who confides in you. As with Frey’s book A Million Little Pieces so many people read his words and found the strength to deal with their own substance abuse issues or the issues of a loved one. Many people seem to have forgiven Frey since he was so inspirational to others but I do not think I would have been that forgiving if I had read the book.
ReplyDeleteThere is no reason to remove a book from the collection when it is discovered that the author was creative with the facts. People may want to read the book.
ReplyDeleteI think the library could capitalize on the moment and create a fake memoirs week where the memoirs that are factually challenged are put on display. We do banned books week, why not lying authors too?
The nice thing about a strong weeding policy is that once interest in the book wanes, it can be removed so that another book may take its place.
A creative cataloger would find a way to keep the book and not have it with either fiction or memoirs. Some libraries place memoirs in the 360s, and some place them in the 920s. One could even make an argument the book should be in the 800s. With so many options, Frey could stay in the "nonfiction" and not be integrated with solid fact-based memoirs (as much memoirs have unreliable narrators who revise their personal histories anyway).
ReplyDeleteHi Bri ~ I so thoroughly agree with you in regards to not completing disregarding an author's work for the sole reason that the tale was entirely true. Some of my favorite readings have been biographies that I learned later were not true biographies; such as Papillon (I loved the movie with Steve McQueen; the autobiography of Howard Hughes (another made into a movie); and Go Ask Alice which I believed for decades was a true story. Great post ~
ReplyDeleteSorry ~ that should say to not disregard the work just because some or all of it is not true ~
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