Who the heck is James Frye?

So if you have not heard about James Frye, author of "A Million Little Pieces", you will. Because stories of him are everywhere. And the nation is divided!!

Mr. Frye wrote a book which he subsequently published as a memoir. The book narrates Frye's turbulent youth, his alcoholism, drug addiction and his recovery at a Center. He makes it through, after being at the lowest of lows, and does it without the 12 step program. He is a Survivor.

A memoir, according to American Heritage, is "An account of the personal experiences of an author." Low and behold, after Frye got his book published, Oprah picked it to be her book club book. (The first one since an author REFUSED to be on her show, and submit his book and himself to the zoo of "Oprah's pick".) The smoking gun, which regularly posts mugshots of famous people on it's website, decided to add Frye's mugshots to it's collection. Low and behold, the website had a tought time finding the arrests that Frye so vividly describes in his book. They dug further.. now they come to find out that not only do some of those seem fabricated, but other details of his story cannot be verified. There are many, many, many articles, shows and commentaries devoted to the real/fictional story of Mr. Frye.

There are two camps sitting on opposite sides of these million little pieces. One, the one that Oprah has most recently decided to desert, says that this book is entertainment. That it has given inspiration to people. That it has allowed people to try to discuss addiction and alcoholism. That it is a story and that each person is able to take away from it something. The other camp is of folks that think it is wrong for Frey to lie and make up stories in this type of forum. That it does make a difference to the reader whether or not pieces of a story are actually true. And that the difference inded has an effect. That it is a disservice to those who thought they were taking something away to now know that it might all have been fabricated.

Me? I pose this question... If you look at a Van Gough painting and are inspired... If you notice the brush strokes of the artist, the detail of the composition, the vividness of the paint color.... If you walk away and feel good about yourself, and resolve to buy your mother flowers, because you have been inspired. If you later find out that the painting is a reproduction, do you think your Mom appreciates the flowers any less?

(This book was a book club pick for our book club before Oprah announced her backing.)