snark and counter-snark.
May 2, 2008 by lozenge
On the subject of what has been called creative non-fiction. here’s a fascinating profile of Augusten Burroughs from New York magazine. First comes a meta-disclaimer:
NOTE: This profile of the allegedly fake memoirist Augusten Burroughs is based on real events. Dialogue has been compressed, and chronology has been changed for dramatic effect.
Then there is the following piece of ‘reportage’:
“As I watch Burroughs react, my polygraph needle begins to tremble again. Outraged denial is, of course, a reasonable response for an honest writer accused of lying. But is it even remotely possible that, after a well-publicized two-year trial in which his career and reputation hung in the balance, these allegations would come as a surprise to him? Can he possibly be “flabbergasted” by anything I’ve said? I ask him if these accusations came up in court. He says he doesn’t remember. A minute later he says he thinks they probably did. Soon he is borderline shouting about how ridiculous it would be for a writer seeking mainstream fame to describe not only a gay sexual relationship between a man and a young boy but “anal penetration!” The new diners at the table next to us, a pair of quiet young gentlemen in nice sweaters, pause momentarily from their conversation about a Paris Review party.”
Then in the comments section, “guiser” compares the journalist to the writer:
“You’re in the Grammercy Tavern, the person you’re interviewing is very nearly screaming at you in response to a question you had asked, presumably from notes he laters mention you straightening with one hand or the other, and you can recall that two people at a table distinct from yours were discussing a Paris Review party? I’m surprised that you were so dubious of Augusten’s power of observation and retention.” BY GUISER on 04/28/2008 at 1:22pm
Okay. Can everyone just button it? Everything is true* and it’s a bank holiday. Let’s all descend from the information treadmill and give our tender hamstrings a break.
Hasta Tuesday.
* that’s a lie.
