Addicted to book sales

Re “Truisms of publishing,” editorial, Jan. 12

The problem with James Frey’s book, “A Million Little Pieces,” is that it has been marketed as nonfiction, which is a lie. Random House bears full responsibility for fraudulently marketing the book as such, and it should be punished.

DANIEL KOTIN

Los Angeles

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The editorial got it right in asserting that Frey’s book was deceptively categorized as a memoir when it is really an autobiographic novel. In new autobiography, like new journalism, it has become acceptable to shape the story so that it has a dramatic arc, evocative descriptions and dialogue scenes, and authors employ other novelistic devices to evoke the emotional truth.

However, when an author makes up events, he is no longer writing a memoir. I even question the emotional truthfulness of a writer who exaggerates and presents fabricated events as nonfiction.

TRISTINE RAINER

Adjunct Professor

USC Master of Professional

Writing Program