Prompt 7 Response - Book Controversies

Menand's article, "Literary Hoaxes and the Ethics of Authorship" is both enlightening and frustrating - enlightening inasmuch as it highlights the myriad of hoaxes and scandals in the publishing industry but frustrating to the degree that it fails to actually establish one clear ethical course for his readers. Upon reading the article, I still hold no clear stance regarding whose side I would take in the the controversy of literary hoaxes, at least not completely. I might skew to one side, but still empathize with the other.

Menand dissects Christopher L Miller's book "Imposters: Literary Hoaxes and Cultural Authenticity," in his article. Miller's study examines three types of "literary hoaxes," including, "literary impersonations," "hoaxes designed to insinuate a subversive message through a benign-seeming work...[which he] calls Trojan Horses" and "hoaxes aimed at exposing the poor judgment of editors, critics, or readers (2018, para. 20). Even while these hoaxes dupe and frustrate readers, they are still arguably justifiable to some extent. The first hoax, that of "literary impersonations" is perhaps the most frustrating to the common reader.

In what he refers to as an "intercultural hoax" an author assumes the pseudonym of a cultural minority. Daniel James assumed the Mexican pseudonym of Santiago and detailed the life of a young Chicano growing up in East Los Angeles. The book, "Famous All Over Town" garnered tremendous praise until it was discovered that the author was actually an older white male. While it seems duplicitous that an author would take on an alternative cultural identity, the point might also be argued in James' favor. He simply couldn't get published under his Anglo name. By taking on a a false identity, readership and interest in his novel soared. The literary value of his work speaks for itself, so was it so bad that he used a pseudonym? Arguments can be made for both sides.

One point I will make on a personal level is the issue I take when memoirs are falsified. The above example is a piece of fiction, but a memoir, being nonfiction, should be just that. I have read several autobiographies and memoirs, and I am often struck by the degree to which the author recalls childhood details and reproduces dialog. I often wonder about their accuracy. For example, in the book "Educated" by Tara Westover, the author makes claims that have caused her family (to whom they were directed) deep consternation. They disagreed with several of her recollections, and knowing this makes me questions the authenticity of what she says despite the appeal of her book. I'm currently reading "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls, and I'm often struck by the amount of detail she recalls.  One book I read about a year ago called "My Mother's Keeper" was written by the daughter of the famous actress Bette Davis. I thought it would be great fun to learn about the actress from her daughter's perspective, but after reading about half the book, I had to close it for good. It just wasn't readable, and it was one-sided to the extreme. After researching a bit and reading other peoples' reviews, I learned that they felt the same way, and that the author had ulterior motives for writing the book. Many argue that her representation was completely unfair to her mother. I tend to agree.

As readers and librarians who advise readers, we have to be aware of the agendas of authors and the truthfulness of their words and of who they claim to be. The readings this week taught me this: "Reader Beware," but if you enjoy the book, maybe the "hoaxes" aren't really that big of a deal.

Menand, L. (2020, December 7). Literary hoaxes and the ethics of authorship. New Yorker.