Thursday, December 18, 2008

What Did Jesus Ever Do To James Frey?

Just when I was hopeful that James Frey would finally disappear from the literary scene forever, yesterday's Publishers Weekly had to report that James Frey plans to write about Jesus performing gay marriages. Here's an excerpt:
"Talking to online magazine The Rumpus.net, Frey said he had just finished an outline for the book, and was about to start writing it. 'It's the third book of the Bible, called The Final Testament of the Holy Bible,' he told interviewer and fellow author Stephen Elliott. 'My idea of what the Messiah would be like if he were walking the streets of New York today. What would he believe? What
would he preach? How would he live? With who?'

"Frey said his version would see Jesus living with a prostitute. 'It doesn't matter how or who you love. I don't believe the messiah would condemn gay men and women,' he said. Judas, meanwhile, would be the same as he was two thousand years ago,' a 'selfish man who thinks of himself before the good of humanity, who values money more than love'."
Gag me with a spoon. This guy could set back the gay rights movement twenty years. It was bad enough when Anne Rice wrote Jesus' autobiography. Now this. Why pick on Jesus during the Christmas Season?

If you are fortunate enough to not remember James Frey, go here or here

6 comments:

Mitch said...

I've got to say that this seems like an interesting idea for a book. I'll probably pick it up.

I read James Frey's Bright Shiny Morning a few months back and really enjoyed it. He definitely has a seedy literary past but there's no doubting he's a good writer.

I have a review of his last book on my blog if you want to check it out. Oh, and I think I found your site through a few other writers' blogs in my bookmarks. I've been lurking here for a while, so I think it's time I said hi!

Kaz Augustin said...

Judas, meanwhile, would be the same as he was two thousand years ago,' a 'selfish man who thinks of himself before the good of humanity, who values money more than love'.

Ah, so he's not going to do any research at all for this book then?

The figure of Judas is an exceedingly interesting one and not as clear-cut as it would first appear. In fact, there are gospels that cast Judas as the only disciple that Christ could count on to have the strength of will to "betray" him. Because if Christ wasn't betrayed, there'd be no Resurrection, right?

Based on his comments, I think I'll give this one a miss. When it comes to treatments like this, considering the amount of utterly fascinating scholarly work backing it, I'm looking for subtlety, not sound bites.

(And a big hey from another lurker as well, Maya! Best wishes of the season.)

Peter L. Winkler said...

The mind vomits, to paraphrase Robert Heinlein.

Maya Reynolds said...

Welcome, Mitch.

Hi, Kaz. I have seen you before

Thank you, Peter [grin].

Peter L. Winkler said...

Before I forget. Happy Holiday greetings to all. Turn off your computer, plug in the colored lights and contemplate good things.

Maya Reynolds said...

Thank you, Peter, for the good wishes. Happy holidays to you and yours. Wishing you much happiness, health and success in the New Year.