Blog #8

I personally believe that it depends on what you are attempting to market the book as. For example, I feel that it’s ok to change, embellish, or omit certain details in a story… if its title has the tagline “Based on a True Story”.  If it doesn’t, then I feel that while the author does have “creative license” to the degree of how their memory serves them, or how they felt during an event, that they should stick to the facts and the reality of what happened.

Laila Lalami stated how “fact is different than fiction, and the two are not the same”

She argues that there is room for differentiation based on the author’s memory and their individual interpretation of an event. However, there is no room for entirely “made-up” events created by the author in order to only “liven” the publication. She feels that there is a sort o9f unspoken “contract” between a reader and a writer based on whether or not the publication is fiction or nonfiction. As readers, we often feel hurt or cheated to know that our emotions we experienced while reading a supposedly “true account” were toyed with when we learn that these events we opened up to and experienced things about, were in reality, not REAL.

Paul Mandelbaum stated that if the author owns up to the fact that sections of their book are indeed fictitious, that that is ok and doesn’t violate their contract with the readers. I must say that I agree to a degree: so long as it is made clear EARLY ON of the semi-fictitious-ness of the work, then by all means, go ahead. You have established what needs to be, and that is fine as long as you whole heartedly admit this ahead of time. That was not the case in the instance of A Million Little Pieces and Frey’s “apology/acknowledgement” that was hastily added to soothe the dwindling fan base.