Book Review - James Frey Tackles Oprah Winfrey in It Takes a Village to Abuse a Child
Published November 04, 2007
James Frey is well known for his book, A Million Little Pieces, which Oprah Winfrey originally blushed about. Mr. Frey has just released his latest novel, It Takes a Village to Abuse a Child. It’s about a woman, named Oprah, who becomes a multimillionaire television personality. At first, she is a great television hostess who has a warm sense of humor, great guests, and covers a variety of interesting topics.
As the years go by, Oprah begins to change once the money hits her head. She engages in philanthropy projects that seem to be more about Oprah than the cause she is trying to help. Oprah then creates a cult of middle-aged housewives who can’t seem to think for themselves. Oprah is their God! She pushes products on them like a prostitute pushes sex and creates her own “book club” where she recommends pathetic books, then unprofessionally berates the author of a particular book when her audience discovers that not everything in the book is true. The Oprah character in this book seems very similar to Oprah Winfrey, the talk show millionaire who recently berated James Frey on her show. The book starts off with Oprah telling people, at a dinner party, how bad her past was and how she had to rise above it all to become who she is today. The guests don’t seem particularly touched by the story because it seems like Oprah’s purpose in telling it was just to brag about herself. James Frey’s writing style seems a little bit personal at the beginning, although he lets go as the novel goes on.
Then, we see Oprah getting on a plane to go to South Africa. She hugs and kisses (multiple times) her assistant, Gayle. “I’m off to save the world,” Oprah says. Another assistant reminds Oprah that she received a call about donating money to inner city schools in America. “Will this get me on magazine covers?” Oprah questions. When the assistant shakes her head “no,” Oprah tells the assistant to stop bothering her. I wish James Frey could have elaborated more on the character development in this part of the novel. We then see Oprah in a South African village. She has a bunch of photographers, web camera specialists, audio recording specialists, and high definition video experts that she brought a long with her. She then says, “Hey, I think I’ll open up a school for girls!” She then jumps up and down and stops after she realizes that nobody on her staff is as excited as she is. The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy is announced by Oprah on several media outlets. It is at this point where the major trouble starts and Oprah, along with the readers, learn a valuable lesson. James Frey is able to put the reader in Oprah’s shoes so they can understand how a simple act of philanthropy can turn into a disaster if the purpose of the philanthropic act was nothing but self-serving in the first place.
Daryl, who thinks that both Democrats and Republicans are ruining our country, is a freelance writer who writes articles on politics, technology, and entertainment. If you want to send him feedback on any of his articles (good or bad) don't hesitate to email him at report345@yahoo.com.
- Book Review - James Frey Tackles Oprah Winfrey in It Takes a Village to Abuse a Child
- Published: November 04, 2007
- Type: Review
- Section: Books
- Filed Under: Video: Talk Show, Culture: Media, Culture: Humor and Satire, Culture: Celebrity, Books: The Writing Life, Books: Humor
- Writer: Daryl D
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Daryl D's personal weblogComments
Dear Darryl. Why are you attacking Oprah when according to Business Week she's given over $300 million of her own money to charity (more than any other black in U.S. history)? Lots of celebrities talk the talk, and lots of celebrities raise money, but Oprah backs it up by actually giving her OWN money. You have every right to attack or mock Oprah, but criticizing anyone for giving that much of their own money to charity is extremely distasteful.
I am not attacking Oprah. James Fry is!
Thank you for the most hilarious thing I've read in ages! OPRAH SUCKS!
the stedman part was the best.
Another Oprah hater. Nothing new. It is amazing what people who are jelous will say and do. Meanwhile, Oprah continues with her life and her mission to make this earth a better place. Only she truly knows what is in her heart and her mind. Many respect and admire her choices. We all fall down, but she gets back up -- a testimony to her resiliance and intelligence. So, write a million satires about her. It won't make a bit of difference in the end. She is still one of the riches human beings in the world -- and self made at that. Oh, I have an idea. What about a satire about a little-known blogger named Daryl D., entitled, "I wanna be. I wish I could be Oprah"? I bet that would be a funny story too -- or maybe not so much. As for Oprah, I just want to say to her keep up the good work and "AMANDLA!!!"
oprah is a fraud its just unfortunate that the exploitation and mistreatment of kids had to happen to expose the type of person she really is
I see a warning above the comments box "Personal attacks are not allowed...".
How hypocritical. The article rips Oprah (er- wait, that was James ((snicker, snicker))Your "writing" exudes the (lack of) talent and imagination of an 8th grader.
It scares me when I read others' comments describing coffee-snorting, on the floor laughter.... well, at least I know that the internet is reaching trailer parks across the country.
Why is it that the most successful African-American/Black woman in the history of television must continue to be attacked/abused for simply trying to do the right thing?!
I would think that all this energy and effort spent attacking Oprah would be better spent on doing something to bring greater attention to the men and women dying each day in _________ (you can fill in the blank).
This is hands down the most hilarious thing I've read on the Internet. The author should get a writing prize for this, possibly even the Nobel Peace Prize.
This is typical of small mindedness and really dosen't deserve a response. But becuase I absolutley love, admire and respect this woman I am compelled to say something to this person who is wasting a potentially brilliant God given talent to write. Mr. Daryl D, I just find it remarkable that you would so shamelessly allow yourself, your smaller self, to be goaded into something like this. Ms. Winfrey might not have earned your praise but what could she have possibly done to elicit from you such hostility? It takes a very small mind to latch onto someone else's diatribe as you did with Mr. Frey. I am going to ask Ms. Winfrey to find it in her heart to pray for you son, you are in a world of trouble-and don't even realize it! If I had the level of writing ability with which you have obviously been blessed and I were in your position I would write Ms. Winfery and the public who supports her, a well deserved apology. You could not have been more wrong in supporting Mr. Frey's characterization of this woman.
I don't know how this was published, a silly rant against Oprah, published as a book review? And what is the book exactly? Doesn't actually seem to exist.
I kept looking for the "Satire" disclaimer - didn't see one, even tho even as Satire, this piece is lacking.
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OH MY F**** GOSH! THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY MORNING! I literally spit up my coffee when reading this. My husband laughed so hard that he cried. God Bless your website for putting a smile on our faces during difficult times!