>Caveat Empty-headed

by Roger Sutton
Sep 07, 2006 | Filed in Articles & Opinion
>I can't decide who is more embarrassed by the tentative settlement of the James Frey case: the readers, for thinking they deserved a refund, or Random House, for caving in. Personally, I think $23.95 is dirt cheap for a lesson in skepticism.

And now I want a refund for those Sea Monkeys.
Roger Sutton
Roger Sutton

Editor Emeritus Roger Sutton was editor in chief of The Horn Book, Inc., from 1996-2021. He was previously editor of The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books and a children's and young adult librarian. He received his MA in library science from the University of Chicago in 1982 and a BA from Pitzer College in 1978.

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Craig Elliott Hanna

>I think it's much about nothing. I read the book and was thinking it was a bit much to be true but I went along for the ride. I admit I had the wool pulled down over my eyes, but it didn't make me enjoy the book any less and I'm not asking for my money back. I read the second book and enjoyed it almost as much.

Posted : Mar 06, 2008 10:19

Anonymous

>I think I have read every word of every comment above - is it possible that I missed a reference to OPRAH? Surely most of the indignation and desire for a refund came from those who felt that she as well as Frey had conned them?

Posted : Sep 14, 2006 07:11

Anonymous

>Gregory, you still haven't said anything. I would love to hear what you have to say on the matter but you don't say anything.

Posted : Sep 11, 2006 08:19

Gregory K.

>Anon -- I'll let this go, too, in part because no matter what I say, you make it "me" specific as opposed to speaking to the broader point I'm attempting (and perhaps failing) to make.

I am not angry. I never said I was angry, much as I never said I knew anyone who used the book as a path to salvation. I've been attempting to show where I think anger comes from by using specifics, yes, but to illustrate a broader point about how non-fiction impacts people and/or why they seek out non-fiction

I'm also not trying to convince you of anything. I was offering up ideas about where the anger comes from. You can happily reject them. They may be incorrect. But continuing to ask why we have a different reaction about fiction being revealed as non-fiction is a second step that can't be answered until the conversation about why there's anger in the first place is finished. Jumping into the second part makes it impossible (particularly in a comments thread!) to make any sort of progress, imo.

Fun, though.

Posted : Sep 11, 2006 06:24

rindamybyers

>Where's my Sea Monkeys thingie whingie...I can't decide what to do here about this discussion..let's see...do I need the Magical Robo-Diver Compression Tank Top...or the Everyday Aero-vent tank cover with magnifer instead...oh, I know, I know the Aqua-Leash TM and the Calibrated Feeding Spoon....

Posted : Sep 11, 2006 06:11

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