I’ve been reading about the continued controversy over James Frey’s memoir A Million Little Pieces over the last few days. Some of you may remember that the book got the Oprah seal of approval when she made it part of her book club. However, inconsistencies about his story eventually surfaced, leading Oprah to bring him back on the show to question him and, eventually, stripped the book of her endorsement. (BTW, I saw that episode and she didn’t hold anything back – girl was pissed).
The saga continues as Frey’s publisher, Nan Talese of Doubleday (who it turns out, could be equivalent to Oprah in the publishing world) has repeatedly criticized Oprah’s handling of the issue, particularly on Oprah’s claims that she felt “betrayed” by Frey’s fabricated events in what was presented as a true story. As Talese put it, Frey described himself as a liar, a cheat, and an addict when he submitted his manuscript; consequently, she did not believe she was reading “the New Testament.”
All of this back-and-forth over Frey’s book raised some questions. I’d say feeling betrayed is valid; for example, I think we’d all be pretty upset if we found out that parts of The Diary of Anne Frank were made up. You purchase a book and become invested in the story, possible *because* you believe it to be true. You want facts that can be held up against historical record and proved correct, thereby verifying the author’s experience…maybe.
I have to wonder if we can realistically expect that of a memoir. Memoirs tend to be looked at a subclass of the autobiography – erroneously so, I think – typically giving an account of one’s own life during one specific period or in reference to an overarching theme, rather than a history from childhood to adulthood. The word “memoir” refers to “memory” or “mind,” to personal observations made by the author. I’m not sure solid facts are as important to a memoir as they are to an autobiography. It would be one thing if I published an autobiography stating that I grew up Minnesota and was the first Native American President of the United States – those things are blatantly untrue. But it’s quite another thing if I were to write a memoir now at age 25 and then come back to read it in 30 years – I would probably have a very different perception of what was true.
I realize that my memoir scenario differs from Frey’s situation as he knowingly altered situations in his memoir, but I’m not sure if it matters all that much with all memoirs. There seems to be an emotional truth to what Frey wrote, regardless of what he made up.
Thoughts?
On Monday August 13 and 10:00 I will be doing one thing: watching the premiere of Season 3 of The Hills. I would call this show documenting LC (“famous” for being on Laguna Beach) and her friends as they bump around L.A. a guilty pleasure, but I don’t feel guilty about loving it. I don’t feel guilty in any way whatsoever. I used to think I liked these shows because they made me feel better about myself and what I do with my life, but that’s not it at all. I love these shows (The Hills, specifically) because they represent a life so completely foreign to me that I find it incredibly fascinating. That, and they wear really cute clothes.
Friday: Went to Comfort with MattWhite and Mariah. Back to our house to play Trivial Pursuit. Got beat. Read and then off to bed.
Saturday: Up somewhat late. Lunch with Ross’s parents. Walked around the canal walk. Did some minorish repairs on things around the house (well, I personally watched as these repairs were made). Gym. Target for various home purchases that were overdue. Picked up dinner. Home to putter. Read and then bed.
Sunday: Gym. Brunch with siblings and spouses. Home for a bit to read before going to church. Church. Watched last week’s episode of Big Love. Delicious dinner that used 4 of our tomatoes! Bed early to read and then sleep because I have a 7:00am dentist appointment! I’m going to be tired tomorrow.
I know you all know about Zappos, but seriously, I have to talk about their amazing customer service.
I placed an order this evening, but entered the wrong expiration date for my credit card. After realizing my mistake, I sent an email to customer service letting them know what happened and asking them what I should do. My email was sent at 7:07. They responded by 7:17, telling me that they had corrected the mistake AND APOLOGIZING FOR THE “DELAY” IN THEIR RESPONSE.
Seriously. Go there. Order something. Shipping is free and you have 365 days to return something.
Our lovely and intelligent friend Allison (who actually is a doctor but for some reason she doesn’t want people to call her that – you all know that if *I* were a doctor I would not respond to anything but “Dr. Smarty Pants) left for Belize to provide physical therapy services to people in the local villages. Be sure to check out her blog and read about another one of my friends out making a difference.
And the winner is…..
ERIC with 9 out of 10 correct. He will be getting his FABULOUS prize via the US postal service shortly.
And now for the answers. I’m saving #1 for last because that was the hardest one.
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“Love is an illusion created by lawyer-types like yourself to perpetuate by another illusion called marriage which creates a reality of divorce and the illusionary need for divorce lawyers.” – St. Elmo’s Fire
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“Look up idiot in the dictionary. You know what you’ll find?”
“A picture of me?”
“No! The definition of idiot. Which you fucking are!” – Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
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“If you were a Broadway musical, people would be humming your face.” – The Goodbye Girl
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“Natalie! I was wondering, if you were driving 55 miles per hour and you collided with a runaway train, would it make ANY improvement on your face?” – License to Drive
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“Oh, I forgot – you were sick the day they taught law at law school.” – A Few Good Men
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“The HOT DOG is singing. You need quiet while a hot dog is singing?” – You’ve Got Mail
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“I am gonna march you over to the zoo and feed you to the yak.” – Breakfast at Tiffany’s
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“Neighbors bring food with death, and flowers with sickness, and little things in between.” – To Kill a Mockingbird
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“Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby!” – Walk the Line
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And for #1…
“I love army humor.” – Biloxi Blues
Thanks for playing, everyone!
Welcome to the first-ever Made in Richmond contest!
I have listed 10 of my most favorite movie quotes of all time. The first person to email me with the source of each quote correctly identified (just the movie, not the speaker) will get a FABULOUS prize!
Send responses to madeinrichmond@gmail.com.
Here we go, here we go now:
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“I love army humor.”
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“Love is an illusion created by lawyer-types like yourself to perpetuate by another illusion called marriage which creates a reality of divorce and the illusionary need for divorce lawyers.”
—
“Look up idiot in the dictionary. You know what you’ll find?”
“A picture of me?”
“No! The definition of idiot. Which you fucking are!”
—
“If you were a Broadway musical, people would be humming your face.”
—
“Natalie! I was wondering, if you were driving 55 miles per hour and you collided with a runaway train, would it make ANY improvement on your face?”
—
“Oh, I forgot – you were sick the day they taught law at law school.”
—
“The HOT DOG is singing. You need quiet while a hot dog is singing?”
—
“I am gonna march you over to the zoo and feed you to the yak.”
—
“Neighbors bring food with death, and flowers with sickness, and little things in between.”
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“Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby!”
—
Ready?……..GO!
Each night I wash my face, brush my teeth, and go to the bathroom before getting into bed. In that order. Otherwise it won’t work.
When I get in the car in the summertime, I put on my seat belt, set the air conditioner so it won’t blow in my face, turn it on high, start the ignition, open my window, and *then* shut the door.
I give Shooter his epilepsy medicine every morning and every evening, except on Saturdays when I only have to do the morning and Sundays when I only have to do the evening.
I spend most of the day touching my eyebrows as I work, subconsciously searching for stray hairs that I will forget to pluck once I get home.
I fold pages over in books, rather than using a bookmark.
I say my last name as “Valerie Catrow. C-A-T-R-O-W. Looks like ‘cat row,’” whenever I have to give it to someone who’s never heard it before. My maiden name was Harris. Sigh.
I read the wedding/engagements every Sunday to see if anyone I kind of know is newly/getting married.
Every morning before I leave for work, I turn off my light, put on my shoes, and kiss an asleep Ross goodbye for the day. I always say, “I love you” and he always wakes right up and says “I love you” – never “I love you, too.” He then tells me to drive safe and have a good day and I tell him “you too.” It’s my favorite part of the day.
You’re it, following people:
Janet
Jane
Terra
Daniel
Alicia
Robin
Andi
Anna
I have had a case of LOLs and ROFLMAOs for the last week. Seriously. I think EVERYTHING is hilariously funny, especially me. But, my comedy is suffering, Internets.
I currently have Quene Helene’s Mint Julep mask on (great for treating those problem areas, like my whole face). Ross always tells me that he can’t take me seriously when I have it on. So I like to walk around, trying to initiate intelligent conversations just for the sake of doing it. But, yeah with the giggling at myself kind of ruins it. For example, I just turned to Ross, the green goo smeared all over my chin, and said:
“Let’s talk about *giggle**giggle* poli- *giggle* politics *giggle**giggle**giggle.*”
Yeah, not so much funny – it’s almost as bad as explaining a joke.
