David Sedaris: 97% True + 3% Fake = Non-Fiction

David Sedaris' latest book, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, came out earlier this week and he was the subject of this week's "Ten Questions" in Time. Given previous debate over how heavily Sedaris embellishes his stories (a good roundup of links on that topic can be found here), a Time reader asked whether Sedaris' books should be shelved in the fiction or the non-fiction section.

His answer:

Non-fiction. I've always been a huge exaggerator, but when I write something, I put it on a scale. And if it's 97% true, I think that's true enough. I'm not going to call it fiction because 3% of it isn't true.

Read all of Time's ten questions here, or read the AP review of When You Are Engulfed in Flames here.

Comments

[GBartrem]

01:26 AM on 06/10/2008

Terri Gross the host of "Fresh Air" did a great interview with David Sedaris today, it was on NPR :)

[thegaygardener]

11:33 AM on 06/09/2008

David Sedaris is not James Frey! Sedaris is a brilliant story teller. I'm not going to run his works through fact checkers (hell even Vanity Fair doesn't do that with their stories)
If you have not read Sedaris, do yourself a favor & grab any of his books. They are all funny & ring true emotionall­y.
I remember being with my partner & reading BARREL FEVER. I was laughing out loud so hard I was crying. My ex said: "It cannot be THAT Funny!" I handed the book over to him & in about 10 minutes he was crying too!!
I realize everyone's a "Genius" these days, but Sedaris truly is!

[xpresv]

09:18 AM on 06/09/2008

Lighten up, People!
David Sedaris is a great STORY-TELL­ER. Who among us has not embellishe­d a story for the sake of a laugh (or say, votes? Hillary's sniper-fir­e comes to mind...)

Sedaris, like his also-talen­ted sister Amy, is an artist. And I enjoy life a little more as a result of their contributi­ons. I don't see the big deal here...it'­s not like "A Million Little Pieces (of BS)."

I say keep doin' what you're doin' David!

[OfficialA]

09:06 AM on 06/09/2008

http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=YBdymtyXt­8Y

[LiamR]

12:18 AM on 06/09/2008

I am a David Sedarus fan, but I bristle at his attitude towards nonfiction vs. fiction. We would probably be lucky if 97 percent of all reporting and nonfiction writing were true, but writers writing in those genres should strive for factual accuracy.

Naturally, we all have different takes on the facts and even the most objective of writers can't help but slant every story with their word choices. But even if "truth" is subjective­, accuracy in facts is still the standard to which every journalist and nonfiction writer aspires. BTW isn't this argument moot regarding Sedarus since he's not so much a nonfiction writer as a satirist?

[AdultFilmLegend]

11:31 PM on 06/08/2008

sounds a lot like the NYT

[leftcoastliberal]

11:25 PM on 06/08/2008

We need to do another mount Rushmore-t­ype cliff/moun­tain sculpture to honor Dorothy Parker, Fran Lebowitz, Mark Twain, and of course... David Sedaris.

[xpresv]

09:19 AM on 06/09/2008

I love the idea of Twain and Sedaris forever-im­mortalized is the American landscape.­..

[ToddG]

10:59 PM on 06/08/2008

True or not true, they are absolutely hilarious. Also, as one reader pointed out, the only thing better than reading David Sedaris, is listening to him. However I would add that you only have to hear him read one story and then when you read the rest of them, you can't get his somewhat whiney, but quite funny voice and pacing out of yoru head.

[davidb37026]

06:27 AM on 06/09/2008

If you guys are truely interested in reading a good non-fictio­n author go with David Samuels! He has two new titles out which include "The Runner" and "Only Love Will Break Your Heart." The guys a genius he can write about anything from 80's music to American Foreign Policy.

[brooklyncitizen]

09:12 PM on 06/08/2008

He is absolutely funny and original.

[shades3]

01:49 PM on 06/08/2008

When I read Sedaris' books, I try to read them slowly. They are, all of them, slender volumes full of chuckles, clearly written by a shrewd observer of the human condition.
I read them slowly, much as I eat good chocolate slowly, hoping to extend the pleasure as long as possible.
Although I'm sure that David writes as many books as humanly possible, for me they can't come quickly enough.
In short, I'm addicted. Luckily David Sedaris' talent is not illegal, though you never know these days if it could be.
For sheer joy, read everything this wonderful man has written. He is an American Treasure.

[brooklyncitizen]

09:08 PM on 06/08/2008

Yes indeed...f­unny that this American treasure chooses to live abroad- France and England...­sigh quite envious.

[Durango]

01:13 PM on 06/08/2008

Wasn't it Mark Twain who said something to the effect that you should never let the truth interfere with a good story?

[TimeJumper]

06:26 PM on 06/08/2008

“Familiari­ty breeds contempt. How accurate that is. The reason we hold truth in such respect is because we have so little opportunit­y to get familiar with it.”- Mark Twain, 1898

[Dakotadem]

10:40 AM on 06/08/2008

I think the only critics of Sedaris's books are those who have never read them. Actually, to really, truly enjoy his stories, I recommend the audio books. The only thing funnier than reading him, is listening to him tell his stories. I don't care if they are 100% accurate - it doesn't matter with the kinds of stories he tells. He's not trying to portray himself as a serious journalist or recovered drug user, or portray the gritty truth about some seedy element of life. He's just telling funny stories about his experience­s. For all you sourpusses out there, I suspect more envious of his success than worried about literative accuracy, just listen to his story about the Santa in the Netherland­s. Whether the circumstan­ces of how he learned the story are totally true or not make no difference - it is actually the true Santa myth there, which by itself if pretty disturbing­. That Sedaris can make it so hysterical is pure genius! Keep writing, David!

[HeevenSteven]

07:36 AM on 06/08/2008

Sound like a Republican­...lite...

[Jinxykb]

08:19 AM on 06/08/2008

Maybe take a break from politics and enjoy a HILARIOUS David Sedaris book. If you had ever read one you would know that equating him with politics, especially Republican­s, does not work on any level.

[HeevenSteven]

07:45 AM on 06/09/2008

Ironic that you appreciate HIS humor.

[Hirnlego]

05:56 AM on 06/09/2008

As for the neocons the numbers are close to the opposite. 97% lies and three percent truth

[raker]

09:23 PM on 06/07/2008

I have to know - is the story about people pooping all over Target stores part of the 3% that's fake? It's got to be. For cripes sake, the toilets are right over there near the cash registers.

[MaybeAFatGuy]

09:46 PM on 06/07/2008

I have no idea what your referring to, but I've heard more than a few anecdotes about people pooping on the floors of my local Target.

[Sardonica]

08:32 PM on 06/07/2008

All this talk of The Rooster made me remember the "Fuck-it bucket". lol "When shit brings you down, just say 'Fuck it' and eat yourself some motherfuck­ing candy."

I never ever want this man to quit writing.

[xpresv]

09:20 AM on 06/09/2008

LOL