tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post8043792528808976506..comments2023-11-18T03:15:19.102-06:00Comments on Straight From Hel: Books, Lies and DuplicityHelen Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-607973672499384562008-03-13T08:44:00.000-05:002008-03-13T08:44:00.000-05:00Hi Elysabeth! There are some who argue that memoir...Hi Elysabeth! There are some who argue that memoirs are nonfiction and some who argue that memoirs are creative nonfiction. Either way, most agree that memoirs should be as close to nonfiction as the author can manage. They may have to make up some things, such as conversations, but they keep them to as close to the facts or truth as they can or as close to reality as they remember. The problem with these recent books is that the authors presented them as memoirs, even had false evidence t back them up, when they knew they were flat-out lies.<BR/><BR/>And you're right ... memoirs have to be entertaining. Who would buy them if they weren't? Nowadays, we (authors, readers, agents, editors, etc.) are scrutinizing memoirs more carefully than in the past.<BR/><BR/>You hit the nail right on the head.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-23350253418734517642008-03-12T20:20:00.000-05:002008-03-12T20:20:00.000-05:00I agree with Ms. Talese - no way to fact-check eve...I agree with Ms. Talese - no way to fact-check every piece of writing that comes along. What about creative license on the author's part? Does that not account for anything? Creative nonfiction uses real events or knowledge of things and allows the writer to have the creative license to fictionalize some of the info. <BR/><BR/>Memoirs are no different - they are what the person perceives happened to him in the past. Some of it is right out lies and others are stretched truths. <BR/><BR/>Guess one reason I don't read nonfiction is because at least with fiction you know that everything is made up. No worries - those who read the memoirs at least should be entertained - that's my take on it<BR/><BR/>Good posting - E :)elysabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07052446855668120700noreply@blogger.com