Do You Want Your Money Back?

Alrighty! Let's get some perspective here before this spirals out of control into something much deeper than it really is. Random House is offering refunds to people who bought the book directly from them? Why would anyone want a refund? I don't know why most people read (not counting students) but I read for entertainment. From the number of copies sold, it appears that many people were duly entertained. What could anyone possibly have invested in whether this guy was really as big of a drug abusing criminal as he claimed to be? Was the book better because it was a memoir? How sick are people if they need this to be true in order for the book to remain a best seller.

Random House is offering refunds to readers who bought James Frey's drug and alcohol memoir 'A Million Little Pieces' directly from the publisher, following accusations the author exaggerated his story."

Readers calling Random House's customer service line to complain Wednesday were told that if the book was bought directly from the publisher it could be returned for a full refund. Those who bought the book at a bookstore were told to try and return it to the store where it was bought.

"If the book was bought directly from us we will refund the purchase price in full," one Random House customer service told Reuters, adding that readers would have to return the book with the original invoice. "If you bought it at a book store, we ask that you return the book to the book store."

Only a small portion of consumers buy books directly from publishers. However, the agent said Random House normally sells books to consumers as nonrefundable but is offering refunds on Frey's book "because of the controversy surrounding it."

Random House subsequently issued a statement saying it was standard procedure to offer refunds. Bookseller Barnes & Noble Inc. also said it is standard practice to offer refunds for returned books.

Frey's memoir of alcohol and drug-induced mayhem sold 1.77 million copies last year after being chosen by Oprah Winfrey's book club in September, making it the best-selling nonfiction book in 2005. Only Harry Potter sold more copies.

Part of the reason I never bought it was because I really didn't care to read about someone with that much of a tortured and troubled life. Now that there is the possibility that much of it is false, maybe I will grab a copy.

Update: Random House denies giving refunds.