Neighbour asked me to read their self published memoir, now what?

[Merlinthewhale]

Would you read a book if a neighbour asked you to? It’s their self published book about a difficult period in their life. I started reading it, now I know more about them than I ever wanted or needed to. I have never regretted reading a book so much and can’t see them in the same light knowing how they view and have treated other people. Do I lie and say I haven’t had time yet? I don’t feel I can tell the truth now and I don’t wish to feature in the next book.
I’ve name changed for this just in case it becomes a bestseller and I’m tracked down to play the nosey neighbour in the movie.

Is it well written? Give feedback on the writing.
Is it badly written? Say it's not really your thing and you struggled to read it.
It's probably unlikely to be published, it's incredibly hard to get published, very few writers get there.

Oh I just saw they self published sorry. It's not likely to be a success. Unless it's amazing.

Are they a former gangster?

‘It was interesting. Well done for writing it, it’s a lot of work to get all that down on paper. Hey, did you see that van come down the road the other day….etc. etc.’

Post it back through the door. Say nothing. If they ask say ‘I dont know what you’re talking about’. Baffle and confuse.

If they ask if you read it just say you're not going to as you don't feel comfortable reading a personal account of someone you know. Offer to either give the book back or donate it to charity.

Move

its the only option.

Thanks for sharing something so personal. Writing a book is a huge achievement, you must be really proud of yourself. Well done”

And then erase it from your memory and never mention it again!

We’re obviously very different people as I would be absolutely thrilled to have such an insight into someone’s deep dark secrets and wouldn’t hesitate to grill them about it. But I am an incredibly nosy former journalist.

This is the answer do this?

I'd tell my neighbour I couldn't read before agreeing to read their self-published memoir.

So if you've actually started to read it you now know they used to be a swinger/arms dealer/Cilla Black impersonator and you can never unknow this information.

What's done is done.
Just say no if they offer you an invite/discount/personal performance.

This is really made me laugh.

I think you have to go with one of the gentle platitudes that pp have posted 'how brave to be so honest' or 'you've had such an interesting life' or something along those lines.

Then visit a hypnotist and have the memory erased.

Is it too late to pretend you don’t speak English?

In all seriousness it would depend on the content Was it something they did (robbery murder, abused someone, theft) or something that was done TO them (DV SA)

Aside from the content was it well written?

Yeah that's a pretty good option!!

Odd thing for them to do. Depending on the issues in the book would depend on how I would respond.

From a personal perspective I hate memoirs
so I’d have just said fiction is my thing
sorry

You have to emigrate to Antarctica OP. There’s no other way.

Pretend you don't know it's a memoir and say something like "The main character seems lame". They'll never bother you again. Or start a feud I guess.....

Thank you for letting me read that, Mildred. I thought you’d said it was a memoir but you’re obviously not that spiteful and judgemental. What a marvellous work of fiction. I hope it does well.

“It’s a big achievement, I’ve honestly never read anything like it!”

The standard comment to self-indulgent writers is, ‘it must’ve been very cathartic to get all that down on paper’.

I would say something that's factually correct without passing judgement on it either way.

"That must have been a lot of work for you, I bet you feel very proud."

Either that or resign yourself to wearing a disguise every time you leave the house.

'Wow, thanks for letting me read that, it's quite an achievement. Well done! Look forward to hearing how it goes now you have published.'