According to O'Brien, what responsibilities does—or should—the storyteller bear? Do you agree with him?

According to O'Brien, what responsibilities does—or should—the storyteller bear? Do you agree with him? Do you think a storyteller writing about real-life events has an obligation to tell the truth? Why or why not?

A storyteller is "telling a story". A reader reads for various reasons - for enjoyment, to learn about a subject, to learn about the author, etc. If the storyteller is upfront about the story - is it fiction, is it fact, is it a combination (as this book seems to be), is it true? - then the reader must respect the story and the author's intention and read with that in mind.

I have just read a part of the book so far and I found one thing very interesting, what each man carried seemed to relate to their lives before so now I am really anxious to get in and find out some more.

I will add more after I read some more.

The author has no responsibility but to tell the story he wants to tell...fiction, nonfiction or "faction". I agree with Bobbie7 "we all read for various reasons"...and the author writes with his own intent and the "reader must respect the story and the author's intent".

This is an interesting question as I am reading American Dirt right now which is somewhat controversial in that a non Mexican is writing about Mexicans. I have also read The Bookwomen of Troublesome Creek and The Giver of Stars, same topic, different slant.

I believe a great storyteller has to add some details that did not, strictly speaking, occur.

I was a teacher for many years, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that many students loved my "stories." All I was doing was relating some tales about my life. What I didn't actually think about was that I was playing a bit with the actual details.

My two sons loved pointing out these "errors." My sons enjoyed my versions, even though they were not completely accurate.

I think a good storyteller needs to do this! I don't recall adding anything too major--maybe just a detail that happened later (or never). I just enjoyed telling the story in a certain way.

And evidently students liked them that way as well.

The story must contain essential facts; then one can decorate it a bit.

I think the storytellers responsibility, is to engage the reader. If that includes adding details that make the story more interesting, then go ahead and add them, but I think the storyteller must also be honest and let the reader know that there have been some interesting details added to the story that may or may not be true...let the reader figure out what is fact and what is fiction,