True Crime Mistakes

I recently finished reading Jim Schutze's "Bully: A True Story Of High School Revenge", which is sort of a momentous occassion since I haven't read a book in months. (Although it was before the Hott Denn media log.) Inevitably I found out about this story through the medium of film, in this case, Larry Clark's unflinching 2001 film BULLY, in which a bunch of aimless teenagers in south Florida decide to murder their antagonistic friend.

Reading the first few chapters gave me a greater appreciation for Clark's attention to detail, as scenes and dialogue were lifted straight from Schutze's book. I suppose you could make the argument that the author interpreted the accounts in order to make a compelling narrative, and Clark was just carrying out what Schutze had already pieced together, but I initially assumed Clark would have altered events to fit his bleak worldview.

Although it was a compelling read, I would be remiss to not mention the obvious typos and errors in the book. When you're engrossed in a book that advertises itself as a "true story" mistakes stick out a bit more. For instance:

On page 107 the author is describing a scene involving only Bobby (the subsequent victim), Lisa and Ali driving to a secluded location where Lisa and Ali had planned to shoot Bobby. Bobby is driving, but his best friend (and Brutus to his Julius) Marty's name is used. Huh?! How did Marty end up in the car I thought? Oh, it's a mistake. Weird.

Another mistake appears on page 168, when the car that Bobby had been driving mysteriously changes from a Mustang to a Camaro. I realize they are similar American sports cars, but I initially thought I hadn't been paying attention, and another car had appeared on the scene. Then, on the very next page it's a Mustang again, only this time it appears as "the mustang", without capitalization.

Granted, I can't remember other mistakes in the book, and at 300 pages thats a pretty good ratio, but it does amaze me that an editor wouldn't have caught clear errors like those mentioned above. Reminds me of my old freelance copyediting entry.