Oprah on James Frey: "I Feel Duped"- Page 2

[Plum]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 5:12pm

I think that if you're already an avid reader with your own idea of what you like, Oprah's Book Club can seem silly and redundant. But then you're not exactly the target audience for it, either.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 5:27pm

Anyone see the Oprah?

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 5:28pm

I'll watch it tonight.

Posted: 1/26/06 at 5:35pm

I heard where someone in Illinois (Maybe Indiana) is suing him for fraud. Maybe it's a class action. I can't really remember.

If he loses, there goes his millions.

I also remember hearing that 18 pages are fake. How big is the book? If it's 20, okay, but if it's like 200+, what's the big deal?

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 5:35pm

Yea, I just watched it and my mom taped it. It will probably be a rerun tonight...it usually reruns at 1:30 here.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 5:40pm

So what did you make of it, SweetQ?

C_O, it's a little more complicated than 18 pages out of 400. Don't hurt yourself thinking too hard.

[RachLaura]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 5:40pm

I watched it, i couldn't even look at his face, he looked so so so upset.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 5:43pm

Just curious, did he appear on the show thinking that Oprah was going to be supportive (i.e., her phone call to Larry King), or was he taken by surprise?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 5:46pm

RachLaura--give me $15 million dollars and I'll look that upset for you.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 5:46pm

Oprah lets her emotions get in the way of a good interview. She often asks questions and then cuts people off before they have fully answered them. She also says things that beg for audience applause and the audience is always willing to oblidge. It's kind of annoying.
Updated On: 1/26/06 at 05:46 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 5:51pm

I totally agree with Evelyn.

To all reading this, go out and buy A MILLION LITTLE PIECES. It's an astonishingly well-written, powerful book.

[Kringas]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 6:19pm

I think there's a difference, though, when writing a memoir between your memory clouding something and fudging facts that clearly be substantiated. This is what I think that Frey-defenders keep missing.

This is the first post-bombshell Frey interview I've seen where he wasn't treated with kid gloves. Good for Oprah.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 6:25pm

I didn't watch it that carefully so I will have to watch it again when I get the tape from my mom.

I'm not sure if Frey went in knowing that Oprah was upset with him but it seemed like he kind of knew.

Frey did seem embaressed and upet (which is understandable.) Oprah was very calm- she even seemed a bit too leniant. I know she doesn't get 'mad' but I thought she would be a bit more angry and up front with her feelings; I think she may have been holding some anger in. It was a big turn around for her as what she had said on Larry King. It is quite understandable on Oprah's behalf because in a way, Frey kind of ruined Oprah's book club reputation.

[Luscious]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 6:50pm

Did the show end with Frey getting down on his knees and kissing Oprah's ass?

[Kringas]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 6:54pm

Yes. They did.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 7:01pm

And tomorrow on Oprah: Brokeback Mountain!

Watching it this evening. We love our Tivo!

[wexy]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 7:07pm

I was in Borders this afternoon and the book is in nonfiction
I said move it to the fiction section two shelves over.

[LaVieHilary]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 7:08pm

Well i must say about a million little pieces i love it im on page 280 and its great. I seriouly dont give sh** if he made up that he had a huge criminal record. Its a good book and I like it. You don't come across those so often

[Kringas]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 7:11pm

Good books?

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 7:20pm

I am trying to look online to find the information but on World News Tonight, they mentioned that Frey is offering money back to compensate for his deceitfulness.

They didn't mention if all the money would be retuned or part of it.

I am not going to return it but in case anyone is interested...

[Anakela]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 7:30pm

watching this right now, Nan just joined them on stage... Oprah doesn't strike me as 'mad' exactly, moreso like- you know how when your mom says "I'm not mad, I'm just so disappointed," and makes you feel twice as bad as if she were just yelling and mad? That's what she sounds like.

And I totally agree with whoever it was that mentioned that her audience is like...trained...to know exactly where they're supposed to clap or boo or whatever- that's one of the reasons why I stopped watching her. And her sticker on a book means nothing to me either. Although I do like to watch the "Oprah's favorite things" episodes and watch grown people jump and scream over getting free stuff. :)

I think I'll wait until they put out that new version with the disclaimers (http://www.randomhouse.com/trade/publicity/pdfs/AMLP012606.pdf) and then I'll pick this up.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 7:57pm

"And I totally agree with whoever it was that mentioned that her audience is like...trained...to know exactly where they're supposed to clap or boo or whatever"

That is true and I find that very superficial and shallow. It's like telling someone to laugh at a joke when they don't find it funny. Most shows do that. My mom went to see my neighbor speak on Montel Williams about his computer software and they had people standing all over giving the signals to the audience when to clap...etc..

Even though I don't think it's particularly needed or appropriate, there are reaons for it.


Sorry- minor threadjack- continue with Mr. Frey

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 8:12pm

I think that it's sort of sad that this book wouldn't have sold as fiction. I mean, marketing it as a novel written by someone who had experienced similar things himself would've gotten me personally to read it, but I guess that people feel that there has to be some sort of "true story" hook involved.

Anyway, the guy clearly lied. There's a difference between stretching the truth and flat-out fabrication, and furher using that fabricated reality to give advice to other people. I'm sure that Frey's real-life story, while obviously not as sensational, could still have made for an inspriational memoir. I saw part of the Oprah interview today, and was pleasantly surrpised that she drilled him for it. I don't feel that the book is less powerful because it is largely fictional, but I do have a major problem with the false advertising.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/26/06 at 9:35pm

First off, it was riveting television. Secondly, it was GREAT to see Frank Rich on the panel.

BUT. The major problem as I saw it was the fact that nobody addressed Frey telling readers, "I quit cold turkey, this is how I did it, I am a bronze god, arrrrrgh, 12 steps are for sissies...." and suggesting that if he could do it they should be able to as well. I mean, listening to him go on and on about the two fake root canals with no novacaine that never happened, "well, I thought that was what happened, gee, I dunno, maybe not" was just SOOOOOOO pathetic.

Meanwhile I recall just a couple of weeks ago many people on this very board saying "it didn't matter" about the fabrication because the book "was so good." But given what the journalists quoted had to say about that I do hope that those readers who "needed to believe" understand why truth DOES matter in a culture and how this little scandal reflects what a sad state ours is in.

Correct me if I'm wrong, SweetQ, but were you not the one who told me just a couple weeks ago that I couldn't have such strong feelings against Frey's fabrications if I hadn't read the book? I do believe it was you. Of course, back then Frey was still denying what a liar he is. Today to hear him finally say that The Smoking Gun was "pretty accurate" when just a couple weeks ago on Larry King he had that entitled frat boy smirk as he kept saying over and over that only 6 of the four hundred and who gives a crap how many pages are "in dispute." It's about damn time. He deserves the shunning he's getting.

Finally, the other problem I had with the show is that Oprah HAD to tie it up with her stupid personal growth BS lines that I knew were coming but had hoped they wouldn't. I was practically able to say it along with her as she talked about James "finally" being truthful and now he could get better. At LEAST she didn't say the healing could begin, but it was still just the usual blather.

Updated On: 1/26/06 at 09:35 PM

Posted: 1/26/06 at 9:37pm

yeah Kringas! Haven't you heard? Good books are hard to come by....


edit: and how is turning 3hrs into 80 days anything but a lie?

edit2: and does anyone believe the publisher had no idea about the lies? Updated On: 1/26/06 at 09:37 PM