Issuing a Half-Apology Is Like Publishing a Half-Truth.

A statement from Random House/Doubleday (which also published the Da Vinci Code), said in part:

"The controversy over James Frey's A MILLION LITTLE PIECES has caused serious concern at Doubleday and Anchor Books. Recent interpretations of our previous statement notwithstanding, it is not the policy or stance of this company that it doesn't matter whether a book sold as nonfiction is true. A nonfiction book should adhere to the facts as the author knows them....."

"We bear a responsibility for what we publish, and apologize to the reading public for any unintentional confusion surrounding the publication of A MILLION LITTLE PIECES."

Given that the same sort of author biographical fabrications and marketing of fiction as fact by Random House/Doubleday were key to its success, the apology and refunds to readers needs to be extended to Code.

Issuing a half-apology is like publishing a half-truth.

Further, it's clear that Frey is being made the fall guy, a way for the corporate types to throw a sacrificial offering to the masses and and distance itself from its own misconduct.

Dan Brown could end up in the same boiling pot if he continues to let RH pull his strings.

My previous offer to let Dan off the hook still stands.