I think that book does not have to be completely true to be
considered non-fiction. But, it should be mostly true. Of course, some small
details will not be remembered so the author may have to budge them. I hardly
remember what I had for breakfast yesterday so I don’t think I would remember
the exact dialog I had with someone or sensory details like how the warm air caressed
my face or something like that. In regard to being labeled as a memoir, as long
as it isn’t a major flat-out lie that was totally made up and holds some
element of truth, then I think half-truths are ok. I don’t mind that Frey bent
the truth in his story because it was still a good and uplifting story. What I do
mind, is when the completely white, private school attending, never been in a
gang girl writes about how hard her life was as a half Native American who was
involved in gangs and drugs. It could be
labeled as non-fiction and in first person, but ifs he budges the truth too
much then it is a flat out lie. For example, Mortenson said something about 60
schools being built when in reality I guess it was only about 20. That is a
huge difference and I am annoyed that he felt it necessary to triple the
amount.
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