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

[MajorKong]

That's waaaay more truth than the average Bush administration press conference.

[Gary47]

And that's what he teaches his kids too. Right...

[ohnoyoudiint]

what kids?

[boombox]

slow rolling chuckle...

[tess08]

i guess you haven't read any of Sedaris' s books.