A Million Little Problems

It would appear that even Oprah Winfrey is being affected by the ongoing scandal of writers selling fiction as fact. Her noted endorsement of James Frey's memoir on overcoming addiction, "A Million Little Pieces," may have tainted the reputation of her "book club" because it now turns out that parts of this book may have been fabricated. Frey has defended his work as fact from cover to cover, admitting that same names may have been changed and some situations may have been a little exaggerated for extra dramatic effect, but the book is more or less true. Which, I guess, means it's kind of not entirely factual, but really is. Whatever.

Anyway, this semifactual semifictional memoir has been a strong seller since it was first published in 2003 and was actually the bestselling nonfiction work of last year, thanks to Oprah's thumbs-up. Mademoiselle Winfrey herself is, like the publishers, standing by the book. But the alleged embellishments, and the strong possibility that they are in fact embellishments (Frey insisted he served three months in prison for his addiction problems, a story that could easily be disproved if false) may have given her literary seal of approval an indelible stain.

One thing I can't understand is this: Even if Frey altered a few small details, something Frey himself has never denied doing, the central point of his memoir - he was an addict, and he got through it - is true. By contrast, Rush Limbaugh's first two books - both sold as nonfiction - were riddled with historical and scientific inaccuracies, falsehoods, and outright lies, as proven by various liberal media watchdog groups.

How did he get away with it?