it’s got all the ingredients of a successful memoir: drama, scandal and intrigue. just one thing stood in the way - a supportive quote on the cover from an author who had fallen from grace.
the original cover for josh kilmer-purcell’s new book, i am not myself these days, featured a quote from james frey, the now-notorious “man who conned oprah.”
after frey’s credibility was shattered, the publishers of kilmer-purcell’s book quickly changed the cover (which said “a wonderful book, a ridiculous book, a sad and beautiful book, a book i’ll read again, a book i highly recommend”). frey’s adulation has since been replaced and a photo of that first cover is now virtually impossible to find (i searched for an hour to find this one!). i guess now even james frey’s opinions are suspect.
i find it hard to overlook the irony of this situation. frey revitalized the memoir genre, and when he initially endorsed kilmer-purcell, the publisher allegedly upped the printing from 20 to 100 thousand.
on a final note, this controversy has served its purpose by piquing my interest in not myself these days, which tells the story of a drag queen’s rocky romance with a crackhead (hell yeah!). maybe it’ll be my next choice for book club.
brian | 24-Feb-06 at 6:19 pm | Permalink
the book is really a good read….even the version i read, which has the frey quote on front.
josh | 24-Feb-06 at 6:22 pm | Permalink
“frey’s adulation has since been replaced and a photo of that first cover is now virtually impossible to find”
there’s still some copies of the book in stores with the quote….they’re goddamn collector’s items. if i were you i’d rush out and buy one today! (of course, i’m the author, so my motives may not be so pure.)
thanks so much for the mention. love the blog.
josh kilmer-purcell