[Not Afraid]

This is what happened on the Anarchy board. I thought the discussion continues to be interesting and wanted to make sure all of the information was contained here in case further discussion was warranted.

Originally Posted by SusieP

I think Oprah didn't realize how much of a hole she had dug herself into when she called Larry King, and how big this really was. She ripped him a new one yesterday during the show and he just sat there like a little kid and knew he was in big fat trouble.

So her next book is Night, by Elie Weisel, a holocaust "memoir", and there is already controversy around that too!

Originally Posted by NA

The LA TImes had an article about the Oprah show yesterday. Frey couldn't even confirm that the root canal story was factual.

For those who haven't read the book, I use tags:
Spoiler:
I have NEVER heard from any doctor or recovering addict that anestesia for dental work is out of the question. It is locally applied and doesn't effect the addict in a way that would cause cravings - at least not in my experience.




What a dolt.

And Oprah just upped his book sales, TYVM. Negative publicity is better than no publicity.

Originally Posted by Ponine

Quote:
Originally Posted by SusieP.
So her next book is Night, by Elie Weisel, a holocaust "memoir", and there is already controversy around that too!

It's different though isnt it?
Something about it having been used as fiction for years, and "NOW" because of all this hoopla they are cinsidering moving the book into non-fiction?
Or is it the other way around.

I think that Night is widely known to be a book based in fact, that was then extrapolated on in order to tell the story.
Please if I am wrong, straighten me out.

Originally Posted by €

Actually I have to say after reading the posted link I'm sympathetic with Oprah on this one. My first reaction to the bruhaha - was, 'It's a memoir - who expects truth in those things anyway."

This continued as I tried to find out what all the "embellishments were and whether or not they really mattered - this involved pestering Not Afraid with a thousand questions since I didn't read the book or the Smoking Gun Article. The results of that inquiry left me like Oprah, "who cares, the bulk of the book really doesn't turn on these events."

But yeah, as you dig deeper to find the book was unsuccessfully shopped as a novel and then repackaged as a memior, it clearly should have born the "Based on a True Stroy" disclaimer statement and I think Oprah was right to return to this to clear up notions that she thought "lying was okay" - and other such media simplifications.

An unfortunate set of events, but one easily avoided - and in the end, I'm not sure that anything was really settled other than the birth of more disclaimer statements.