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Jan. 12--Either Twin Cities area readers are too polite to ask for their money back, or they don't care if James Frey stretched the truth in his controversial memoir, "A Million Little Pieces."
Random House, the best-seller's publisher, announced Wednesday it will give refunds to customers who bought the book directly from them. If a copy was purchased at a bookstore, Random House asked that it be returned to that store.
Local chain and independent booksellers said Wednesday that none of their customers has asked for a refund for Frey's book, which is still selling well. Some said that the debate surrounding "A Million Little Pieces" has piqued their customers' interest in memoir as a genre.
"I was fascinated by Frey's book," said Maurrie Salenger, community relations manager at Barnes & Noble in Har Mar Mall, Roseville.
"Whether he outright lied or not, I don't know. I don't think it matters in terms of the power of the book and the experience he was portraying. It's the closest I'll ever get to being inside the head of an addict."
Jocie Tilsen, co-owner of Valley Bookseller in Stillwater, feels the same way. "I think people are buying stories, even though it's a memoir," she said.
"I haven't heard much buzz from customers, but our employees are sure getting a kick out of the controversy," said Jay Peterson, store manager at Magers & Quinn in Minneapolis. "Frey's book was one of our big sellers during the holiday season and his new book ('My Friend Leonard") is doing quite well, too."
Tom Bielenberg, co-owner of Micawber's Books in St. Paul, said his customers are curious about Frey's memoir and about what booksellers think memoir should be and how much latitude a memoir-writer should be given.
"I had a customer an hour ago who said he enjoyed Frey's book. He thought the writing was poetic, and it didn't matter to him if the story was factual," Bielenberg said.
"This is not a new controversy," he points out. "Truman Capote made up some dialogue in 'In Cold Blood.' It has occurred to me that Mary Karr's 'The Liars' Club' was the start of the confessional memoir. Maybe some writers think they have to be more and more 'out there' to get attention."
Mary Ann Grossmann can be reached at mgrossmann@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5574.
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