Ruthless With Scissors

Vanity Fair has an article next issue about Augusten Burroughs and "Running With Scissors." They've spoken extensively with the family depicted in his memoir/book and they say Burroughs made up much of the most outrageous stories, as well as failing to properly shield their identities. In the wake of "A Million Little Pieces," I read "Scissors" and indeed found it pushing credibility a number of times, not to mention that the author at several points practically begs you to consider what he's saying isn't the simple truth but an exaggeration. Given the many caveats he's included in future books and reprints of "Scissors," this is clearly true, though the wacky circumstances surrounding the family he lived with also make clear the book wasn't created out of thin air. The piece isn't posted yet at VF, but you can find a detailed rundown of the Mark Foley Congressional page scandal, complete with links to his emails and IMs for people who want to get disgusted while reading every salacious word.