Prompt: Fake Memoirs

My reading tastes and interests do not follow the majority of people. Anything endorsed by Oprah is to me a sign to avoid it usually. So I had never heard of the controversy surrounding "A Million Lies". I had never even heard of the book or author. But by the description of it in The Smoking Gun's article, I find it hard to believe that people read it and actually thought it really was non fiction. It sounds completely implausible  that one person could live such a horrible life and live to tell about it. I don't blame the author completely for being untruthful. He did write it as fiction, and his publisher decided to sell it as non fiction. He just cooperated with the falsehood.  Like the article said, probably many books sold as non fiction have been fabricated to one degree or another. But, at what degree of falsehood is it considered a travesty? The thing that struck me was they didn't even put a disclaimer of  "some names have been changed". I guess they knew pretty much the whole thing was false so why even bother!

As a librarian, it's good to know what it going on in the book world. But if a patron wanted to get into a discussion with me about this book or any controversy, I think it is important to not get too personal about what I think, even if they are agreeing with my point of view. It's not easy to do always, but I try to listen and be honest without coming across as judgmental or condemning of another point of view. And if we have the same opinion it's still a good idea to maintain an air of professionalism. I've seen colleagues get too close and personal with patrons and have it come back to bite them.  I also try to remember my job is to help people find what they are looking for, not criticize them for reading something I find utterly unappealing or even ridiculous. I don't have to read "Fifty Shades of Grey". I just have to help them find it and smile when they squeal with delight.

On a happier note, the controversy surrounding the Harry Potter series when it came out is why I started the books in the first place. As a teacher and a new mother, I got the first one just to see what the fuss was about and to have an opinion if a parent ever asked me what I thought. I read the first one in two days and went the very next day to buy Chamber and Azkaban, and pre-ordered Goblet. I never had a parent ask me if they thought it was OK for their child to read Harry Potter, but I have always been glad I picked up that first volume!