I based my observation on this portion of the review. Obviously, as you point out, this may or may not mean the memoir is entirely truthful. And, as you say, it is the trend that is troubling.

Growing up, memoirs (such as those by the Mitfords) were my most beloved reads, and it hurts my heart to see the genre crumbling. So I will admit I am overly sensitive on the subject!

(By the way, good work, again, on this. Wish I could somehow find time to keep up with all of your highlighted projects and recommendations.)

GG: In this case, we don’t know if he’s fictionalized anything. Rothman has just said that he uses comic hyperbole. But I agree that many aspects of the trend are troubling. I’m not sure I’d have read this book if I’d know about the flap with the New Yorker beforehand. (I learned about it after I’d finished the book.)

Jan

I mean, even outright fiction springs from some kernel of experience in the mind of the author. Calling it a ‘memoir’ in order to maximize sales while fictionalizing portions of the work is just sleazy. And it’s getting tiresome.

A haze of suspicion will no doubt linger over any and all memoirs if this trend continues.