Memoirs

I'm struggling with the blurry line between fiction and non-fiction when it comes to memoirs.

I just read "Running with Scissors." Overall the book was an easy read. I knew the basic plot so the first fifty pages were gripping because I wanted to understand how and why his mother's psychiatrist became his legal guardian. Of course there was plenty of shock value in some of the circumstances but after awhile (perhaps 2/3 of the way into the book) the ridiculousness of his childhood seemed almost mundane. Throwing the hotel bed and tv out the window? Not surprising. Showering with a whole turkey defrosting in bathtub? Mind-numbingly normal.

Today I googled the author. Apparently he's being sued by the Finch family with whom he spent a large part of his childhood. The lawsuit is a bit reminiscent of James Frey, but probably not nearly as controversial or fictitious, I guess.

In my writers group we've talked about writing from personal experience and that fine line with "storying up" life experiences into something more interesting.

I suppose Burroughs did this exact same thing. However he's getting sued and some items, such as the frequent references to how roach-infested filthy the Finch household was (or wasn't) are in contention. Apparently a journalist who visited the Finch home said it wasn't disgustingly dirty. And of course there are bigger allegations that are being scrutinized. Just think it's fascinating. Click here to read an article on the lawsuit.

What I also find interesting is that some of the details in our writing, which stick out like sore thumbs in how ludicrous and unrealistic they seem, are the true, real-life tidbits which were dropped in, as is. Just reinforces the adage that truth is stranger than fiction.

Anyway, I welcome input and comments on fiction vs. non-fiction, and just how accurate memoirs should be. After all, memoire (the French word) means memory, and if it's as you remember it, it can be a helluva lot different than another's recollection...

And in the dictionary, memoir is defined as:
1 - An account of the personal experiences of an author.
2 - An autobiography. Often used in the plural.
3 - A biography or biographical sketch.