Memoir Writing's Rough Edges Story aired: Friday, October 07, 2005
Augusten Burroughs, author of the smash bestseller "Running With Scissors", was recently served with a lawsuit by his foster family. In the book he says that he was taken in by a psychiatrist whose family engaged in all manner of bizarre behavior, and the family is now saying they were libeled.
Mary Karr has been there. Her bestseller, 1995's "The Liar's Club" has been called the catalyst of a recent memoir explosion in America. It's a darkly funny tale of an east Texas childhood, filled with revelations of sexual abuse, alcoholism and mental illness.
Karr discusses the questions that surround the writing of memoirs and looks at Burroughs memoir as well.
Guests:
Mary Karr, teacher of creative writing at Syracuse University
