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Get Breaking News on your cellNan A. Talese: Touching a nerve
12:50 PM Sun, Aug 05, 2007 | Permalink
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As we wrap up what has become Nan A. Talese week here on the blog, here's one final link -- to all the comments non-blog readers left about the dust-up. (Follow the link and click "view results.") On the one hand, it seems silly that with all the great books and ideas floating around out there, this is the topic that consumed people for the moment. On the other hand, it's nice to know that what is at its core a literary debate about the meaning of truth can get people so riled up, a year and a half after most of us thought it had been settled. |
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Comments
Posted by T.D. @ 1:28 PM Sun, Aug 05, 2007
Several references to the Oprah-Frey affair as a "dust-up" piqued my curiosity. The term's apparent reference to the dust raised by a fight or commotion seems odd in our virtually dust-free environment. It's a term that would seem more relevant to the past, before cement and pavement covered everything. The O.E.D., surprisingly, doesn't list the term but one of its definitions for "dust" derives from the German word "dunst" meaning "vapor," or the finest of particles. A lot of people, including Oprah, seemed to have had the vapors over the affair.
Posted by Chris @ 6:58 PM Sun, Aug 05, 2007
Perhaps before Queen Oprah touts a book on her mass-hypnotic Book Club, she should use some of her millions to pay someone to do some Due Diligence. She has a responsibility, but apparently has the lack of character to rather choose to blame someone else for her own mistakes.
Posted by Donna Johnson @ 5:24 PM Mon, Aug 06, 2007
Chris, it's ridiculous to suggest that Oprah should investigate the veracity of a book before she touts it on her show. I'm not a big Oprah fan, but she's done quite a bit for the publishing industry--and for writers. I think the publishers could use some of the profits that come their way as a result of Oprah and hire fact checkers. Or to at least take the time to ask a few questions of the author before a work is published.