The argument whether autobiographies and memoirs should depict the writer's life with accuracy or include a touch of exaggeration did not entirely heat up until recent years.
James Frey's A Million Little Pieces, which I read some time back, had taken the literary world by storm.
It was a boldly written account of a young man struggling with various addictions and his inner demons.
His description of the time spent in rehab is filled with intense characters and violent encounters as he battled to become sober.
Oprah's obsession
The book was the The New York Times No 1 bestseller for months and sold millions of copies, thanks to Oprah Winfrey, who chose the title for her book club and claimed it was one of the few reads that kept her up at night.
However, some readers took objection to the book being called a “memoir''.
They challenged its authenticity, arguing that the writer's accounts were obviously exaggerated and fictitious.
Some readers even claimed to have spent time at the rehab (Hazelden) Frey mentions in his book.
They say it's nothing like what the writer describes — neither in terms of the layout nor the treatment or the events he detailed.
The Smoking Gun website carried a six-week investigation and uncovered major discrepancies in the memoir.
The findings were revealed in A Million Little Lies, mocking the author's title.
Interviews with law enforcement officers and information obtained from police reports and court records indicated that Frey had entirely fabricated or, at least, embellished major details of his criminal life.
Shortly after, Frey admitted to embellishing parts of his memoir, prompting a national attack led by Oprah herself.
Frey was once again invited by Oprah on her show, where she admitted to feeling conned by the author and asked him why he had “lied'' about his life in the book.
Personal reconstruction
Although Frey admitted that some parts were fictitious, he maintained that a memoir is about how the writer makes sense of his memories.
He said he saw himself as a tough guy and that was his way of dealing with what happened. And that is how he depicted himself in the book.
Frey also maintains that all the characters mentioned in the book did, in fact, exist but some details were altered to protect their identities.
Some saw it as Oprah's way of nursing her pride by unfairly making an example of Frey while others felt he was bound to explain his actions to the world.
The irony behind all this is that Frey had originally tried to sell the book to publishers as a “fiction''. A publisher's note was later added to his book.
So if a memoir, by definition, is how an author makes sense of his past, are Frey's actions justified?
Should memoirs stick to absolute facts or is it OK to add a touch of exaggeration? Should memoirs and autobiographies be verified page-by-page?
That would surely mean a lot of work, with leaders, sports figures, health specialists and Hollywood stars all waiting in line to tell their stories to the world.
No clear answers
With endless accounts of shocking confessions, tales of survival, inspiration, love and heartache, readers seem to be hooked.
Are we reading these books with complete trust in the author or do our instincts tell us that there is obvious added drama for effect?
We spoke to a few enthusiasts on the subject. Some said as long as the writer is not hurting anyone, it's OK to dramatise the truth to grab the reader's attention. Others said they would be offended.
Autobiographies
- Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
- Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
- Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton
- My Life by Bill Clinton
- Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama
- The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner
- Losing My Virginity by Sir Richard Branson
- The Making of a World Leader by Tony Blair
- In the Line of Fire by Pervez Musharraf
- Audition: A Memoir by Barbara Walters
Famous fakes
- In Love and Consequences by Margaret Selzter
- Misha: A Memoir of the Holocaust Years by Misha Defonesca
- Autobiography of Howard Hughes by Clifford Irving
Pedro Blanco
I find autobiographies and memoirs quite interesting, particularly the ones about contemporary personalities who have had an impact on history and the events of the day.
So I believe they should be factual and accurate. But literary licence adorns their narration to enhance the writing experience, which is, sometimes, acceptable — but facts should remain facts.
Adel Sharif
I believe it depends on the event that has been exaggerated. If the writer wants to sell the book, it's OK to add a little bit of flavour.
If the picture is clear to the readers and as long as it does not hurt anybody, why not? For me, if I read an autobiography which is later found to be partially exaggerated, it would not bother me because I would not be affected by it.
This, of course, holds true so long as the author does not lie.
Hilda Fernandes
Autobiographies and memoirs should not exaggerate because they are about the writer's personal experiences.
If I read an autobiography believing it to be true and later come to know the details were exaggerated, I would feel very bad.
This kind of writing should be factual.
Bobby Agha
I think memoirs and autobiographies should be based on facts because, at the end of the day, what you are reading reflects the author's integrity.
The last autobiography I read was about Sir Richard Branson.
If after reading the book I found out that the details were changed, it would probably not make me want to buy another book by the same author, as it is unethical.
Mrs Agha
I do not read many autobiographies but I think it would be very hard to distinguish between truth and exaggeration.
As long as the book grabs my interest and inspires me, I do not mind if the writer exaggerates a few events to make the book more appealing.
It would not affect me if it is worth the read.
Ken Atkinson
I do not remember the last autobiography I read but that's because I have been reading a lot of management journals over the last years.
An autobiography certainly needs to be based on truth. Sometimes, marketing requires exaggeration but that's different from lying.
Of course, it depends on the events and details in question but lying is lying.
The writer's job at the end of the day is to sell a book but there is a very fine line between exaggeration and a blatant lie.
Mosum Lawal
I know writers sometimes lie in their autobiographies and memoirs but it's not a good thing and I don't think it's OK for the author to exaggerate details.
They should approach the subject with honesty and be truthful about what they are telling their readers.
If it is a work of fiction, it's OK to change events. They should remember to keep the two genres separate.
Gboye Lawal
Generally, if the writer exaggerates in this type of writing, it is not fair since it is being deceitful to the readers.
Web quotes:
I think autobiographies are all fake things that people write. Also, they are not so original.
No point reading them and I would advise everyone against it. People, learn to enjoy your time better — go for films, the non-biographical ones, of course.
— Erica, UAE
I think it is very inspiring to read memoirs/autobiographies since one can learn from the experiences and struggles of others.
Often, we don't realise the challenges people have faced on their way to fame and fortune. I think they should be written accurately without exaggeration, otherwise they would just be fiction.
— Sabiha Quidwai, USA
Exaggeration should not be allowed if the storyline is moving away from the reality.
— Zafarullah Q, Saudi Arabia
Yes, I love reading autobiographies, particularly success stories of businessmen and great leaders such as Gandhi.
These stories should be written with utmost passion and much research. They must not be exaggerated and should not be written with the intention of gaining empathy.
Rather, these books should inspire and enhance readers' perception of life and society.
— Mariatoni, Philippines
I like to read autobiographies. For me, it's not the details of a person's life which interest me but the little details surrounding him/her that captivate me.
For example, Paul Burrell's description of life inside Buckingham Palace or Queen Noor of Jordan's observations about other political figures.
— Maritta Hamida, the UAE
I read books to kill time. I have gone through some autobiographies.
The books that interested me are The Wings of Fire and Straight from the Gut. These books have been successful because they have maintained accuracy and limited exaggeration.
The first one is focused on Indians while the second has an international appeal.
Both are good for management students. Unlimited exaggeration can also lead to boredom.
— Abdul Manzoor, the UAE
The most recent autobiography I read was of Phoolan Devi, the notorious Bandit Queen who turned into a politician in India.
I was very moved by the details of her life and how the injustices she was subjected to forced her into a life of banditry.
I have read that the accuracy of the accounts have been disputed by many, including some of her relatives.
However, I believe even if she did exaggerate the events or fabricate any, it would not have changed the overall impression her life has made on me and many other readers.
While I would prefer autobiographies to be as close to reality as possible, I do realise when strong emotions are involved, personal bias is unavoidable. It all depends on the author's perspective.
It is also important to know what sort of audience the author wishes to create an impact on and for what reasons.
If the exaggerated or fabricated events are believable and can pass the discerning eyes of the readers as truth, I would have to commend the author for having such a brilliant imagination.
— Mira Al Hussein, the UAE
I don't think anyone can be completely honest about disclosing the facts of their life to the world. Autobiographies are a way of earning publicity.
— Tarannum, the UAE
I'm not much interested in autobiographies of film stars but those of real-life heroes inspire me.
— Bhavana, the UAE
Next fortnight:
Have you read Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus? Or He's just not that into you? Or any non-fiction that deals with the man-woman relationship? Did it strike a chord when you read it? Join the discussion on our website www.gulfnews.com or by emailing your response and a photo to unwind@gulfnews.com
