Refund to Readers of "A Million Little Pieces"

(MSN News) Readers who bought author James Frey's fabrication-filled memoir, "A Million Little Pieces," may get a refund following a judge's tentative approval of a settlement in the case.

The agreement calls for the defendants, Random House Inc. and James Frey, to spend $2.35 million to fully refund readers who bought the best-seller before Jan. 26, 2006, the day Frey and his publisher acknowledged that he had made up parts of the book. Claims would have to be filed by Oct. 1.

Once the Web site is in place, readers will be able to obtain claim forms by visiting http://www.amlpsettlement.com. They can also call (866)459-3651.

I own a copy of the book but won't be asking for a refund. Yeah he lied but so did George Bush (boys will be boys). Besides I'm not going to dig around to locate it, hell it might even become some kind of collector's item in the far future - being that it will be a rare find. Who knows . . .

Regardless of the hoopla, I stopped reading it long before the truth was revealed. I had my own reasons:

1. it lacked suspense (for someone caught up in drug addiction). I guess that's why he was driven to sensationalize and fabricate events which is even sadder because it still fell short


2. the description of his mother was so overbearingly stereotypical of a woman (crying, breaking down, etc.) - that I kept getting angry at the author's description of her -- thinking, does your mother speak at all!


3. i couldn't understand how someone could end up on an airplane, covered in blood and vomit without suspicion or questions from the crew but even still


4. i continued reading until boredom got the best of me.

Another Author Passes On . . .

Elizabeth Bebe Moore Campbell Gordon, best selling author and mental advocate, died on Monday, November 27, due to complications related to brain cancer (read the press release). After learning of this, and even though -- if you've visited her site you knew of her illness -- still, I realized how quietly some people slip away.

Your Blues Ain't Like Mine was the first book I read by Bebe Moore Campbell, it was a gift to me from a friend and I enjoyed it. So much so that I went on to read the many other novels that she wrote but Your Blues, along with What You Owe Me and Sweet Summer, Growing Up With and Without My Dad, were my favorites.

This is what she had to say on becoming a writer:

I was constantly rejected for five years. By attending very supportive writers' workshops I learned that when the world is telling me no I must surround myself with people who are telling me yes. I don't think I would have ever been published if I hadn't found the friendship and support I needed in the workshops.

Deborah Tannen, author of the New York Times bestseller (for over 3 years) You Just Don't Understand, will speak at Emory University, Tuesday, March 21 @ 4:30pm (480 Kilgo Circle, White Hall, Room 208). Afterwards, she will sign copies of her current bestseller: You're Wearing THAT?: Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation.