We’ve all known for months that JT LeRoy never existed. Following much speculation, the “writer” of The Heart is Deceiptful Above All Things – which was based on “his” experiences as a homeless teen hooker – and Sarah, was revealved to be Laura Albert. The person we saw as JT LeRoy was Albert’s estranged hubbies half-sister, Savannah Knoop.
Though Albert previously denied that she, in fact, wrote as JT LeRoy , she’s finally coming clean in the fall edition of The Paris Review. In it, Albert admits that she created the character of Leroy after her therapist encouraged her to write. Still, she says:
I’m proud of the work. JT saved my life and JT saved many other lives. People talk about the authenticity of the books. Those are my experiences.
She also says: “If knowing that I’m 15 years older than (LeRoy) devalues the work, then I’m sorry they feel that way.”
Um, that and the fact that LeRoy is/was a boy. But, still, we suppose only the message matters. You know, that lying’s okay.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Nick
So while hundreds of readers are offended and slighted because they feel Albert appropriated and thus belittled the experience of gay teenagers, sex workers, HIV positive people, and transgendered people, you’re claiming her great crime is that she pretended to be a boy? Oooookay.
Not that I care one way or the other. Her stories were very well plotted, although the writing itself fell a bit short. How much a reader wants to get emotionally invested in a stranger whose book they’re reading, well, that’s up to the reader.
Ahh, I love a good literary hoax.
mr. magoo
JESUS, GET OVER IT! LeRoy’s (or Albert’s) books were never described as memoirs and are you really stupid enough to believe that everything you read is factual? so james frey lied and fucked it up for everyone, get over the drama. the books are good, well–written and actually cover something new. stop acting she lied to you because she used a pen name and created a fictional character for the books; which section of the book store did you get it out of, cause I’m sure it wasn’t autobiographies. we don’t even know if Shakespeare’s plays were even written by Shakespeare, this isn’t anything new.
gwyneth cornrow
Um..that and the fact that the writing stunk?
Nick
Magoo, I’m on your side. It’s literature, for chrissakes. What annoyed me was that the Queerty editor had his panties in a wad because “she pretended to be a boy.” So frickin’ what? It’s far from the first time.
Leroy’s writing style kind of sucks. But the stories were still compelling. Heck, I don’t mind having spent my money on those books–they were a damn sight better than Frey’s sophomoric macho chest-beating.
Kai F.
Readers,
I just had to comment on this. I’m way past blame and incrimination. Life goes on.
For 5 years I was the moderator of JT’s yahoogroups list “Terminator2.” I deleted the list once the truth became known but not out of anger at Laura. It had become a place to bash JT and Laura. One of the most difficult decisions of my life was to press that “delete” button.
The list (Terminator2) became a real, living community of some of the most wonderful people I’ve met on the internet and it’s all due to Laura/JT. People from all over the world. The community still exists under a different name thanks to one of the former members who pulled out his jumper cables. We still share our experiences of nature, literature, travel, etc. We owe it all to Laura, I guess.
I do miss JT, his pretty face. “He” was a good friend who’s writings helped me come to grips with some things in my life. So, I owe a debt of gratitude to Laura. Laura, the Godiva teddy bear is still on the mantlepiece as a memory of times past. I can’t bear to take it down.
Sincerely,
~Kai