Quote:
Originally Posted by RickyMaveety
Now, see, I would disagree with that. My view is that Oprah Winfrey is nothing more or less than a person who, having read a book and enjoyed it, recommends it to someone else. And, that person is not responsible for what is written in the book, whether it is fact or fiction. That person is only responsible for forming their own opinion of the book.
When Ms. Winfrey recommends a book, she is not "selling" the book. I really doubt that she is making a profit off of every book sold, as are the author and the publisher.
The fact that she has a lot of clout because she has a large audience (I'm not one of them, but I understand her audience is HUGE) does not alter her responsibility regarding the contents of any book she might enjoy and recommend.
I think what got her incredibly upset (and rightly so), was that the author came on to her show and lied to her and her audience. The book is probably a good read whether it is entirely true or not.
But, in the end, it really is the responsibility of the publisher to verify the facts in a work of non-fiction. Certainly not that of the bookseller, and absolutely not of the reader ... whether or not the reader is Oprah Winfrey.
|
According post #94, "she interviewed them twice over the years".
Would you not think, with a subject as important to history as this, a book written as
non-fiction, no less, she would just once wonder "Am I hearing the absolute truth here?"
Especially knowing, as she does, that people will believe what she says, and believe what is written in the book.
Or did she feel that it was (and I quote) "
the single greatest love story ... we've ever told on the air." not worry about silly things like facts, because it was such a wonderful story?
Especially after the James Frey fiasco, you would think she would understand not everything written as non-fiction, is.
If the neither the producers nor publishers take time to check the facts, why would anyone bother to buy their books?