NY Observer Picks Up On Random House "Lying for Dollars" Marketing Pattern

Mark has brought yet another article to my attention, this one from the N.Y. Observer which connects the lies in A Million Little Pieces to those of The Da Vinci Code.

Other posters on this blog (notably D.L. Stewart) have expressed the opinion that there seems to be a pattern of dishonesty for the sake of marketing and sales.

Mark brought the following part of the N.Y. Observer article to my attention:

"The disclaimer in Leonard [another book by Frey] serves roughly the same role as the author’s note at the front of The Da Vinci Code—which says “All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.” It’s a false certificate, a stamp of limited authenticity on a work of no authenticity at all. The Da Vinci Code is actually built around spurious texts and bald-faced inventions, but the conflict becomes publicity. Factual truth, or the appearance of it, is another tool to make the sale. In the end, there comes the Da Vinci Code movie trailer, using the language of inquiry to forestall inquiry: “Whatever you’ve read …. Whatever you believe …. ” Whatever.

The excerpt above can be found here.