The (Publishing) House That Blair Helped Close
May 13, 2004 10:04 AM   Subscribe

"Burning Down My Masters' House" Indeed!
Jayson Blair, noted fraud and liar, is about to be liquidated along with all of the other titles in New Millenium's catalog. The publisher of such quality books as "Nicole Brown Simpson: The Private Diary of a Life Interrupted" by Faye Resnick and "Burning Down My Master's House" by Jayson "Truth? We Don't Need No Stinking Truth" Blair.
Its not known if Blair's memoir had a specific hand in the demise of the publishing house but it couldn't have helped. Selling a whopping 1,386 copies through March 18th.
Is there such a thing as the Anti-Midas Touch? Wherein, everything you touch turns from gold to lead or dust?
Continuing these threads to their karmic conclusion.
posted by fenriq (13 comments total)
 
I read in TIME (in the "numbers" section) that they printed like 80,000 copies of Burning Down my Master's House and sold like 800 in the first month.
posted by abcde at 10:29 AM on May 13, 2004


King Midas in Reverse.
posted by raysmj at 10:31 AM on May 13, 2004


I took it out of the library (where they had bought two copies), but haven't read it yet. I'm still fascinated, though, because I can't imagine how he justifies his stupidity.

Stephen Glass's novel didn't do too well, either, did it?
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:44 AM on May 13, 2004


I heard in an interview that he received a $625,000 advance for it.
posted by bshort at 11:00 AM on May 13, 2004


I can't say I feel much sympathy for the publisher.
posted by orange swan at 11:06 AM on May 13, 2004


not to derail, but isn't Bush proof positive of the anti-midas property?
posted by kaibutsu at 11:10 AM on May 13, 2004


Did you not like the book or something?
posted by jonson at 12:30 PM on May 13, 2004


I'm tempted to start a collection to buy the rights to Jayson Blair's book and ensure that it is never published or distributed again in any form. Anyone with me?
posted by rcade at 12:43 PM on May 13, 2004


Schadenfreude!
posted by tippiedog at 12:52 PM on May 13, 2004


Continuing these threads to their karmic conclusion.

Don't forget this one.

posted by soyjoy at 2:46 PM on May 13, 2004


kaibutsu, thanks for saying in the comments what I wanted oh so badly to say in the FPP!

Sidhedevil, the review or two I've read of it basically say that Blair was a liar before and he's gotten worse. The "memoir" is filled with lies, exagerrations and other ways to say the guy still has no idea what truth is.

rcade, I'd be in but only if we can gaurantee that Blair gets not a single red cent from it. Ever. In fact, I'd be happy to join in if everyone who takes part can kick him in the nuts.
posted by fenriq at 4:37 PM on May 13, 2004


I'm in, rcade. Possibly according to fenriq's terms. Depends on how much Blair would get.
posted by Vidiot at 3:30 PM on May 14, 2004


Unfortunately he's already gotten some 600K. It ought to keep him in coke for a little while.

I work in publishing, and whenever I hear about different things coming out I like to test my editor's instincts by predicting what will sell and what won't. I predicted this one wouldn't sell, because there would be no demand for it and the quality would be poor. I'd read an article written about Blair and it was evident from the quoted material that he simply was not capable of writing a good, honest book. Even the title sucks ass, an attempt to play the racism card to excuse his behaviour.

Enjoy your coke binge, Jayson. The next stop for you is washing cars or dishes for other people.
posted by orange swan at 7:46 PM on May 14, 2004


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