Ken asked Joseph Sciuto:

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Joseph Sciuto Hi Ken: Honestly, I really do not know, but what I do know is that both types of writing are usually going to be portrayals that to the reader are going to seem brutally honest like a mother yearning for a lost child. A few examples of such writing, in which the author has admitted that the subject matter was taken from true life experiences, was Truman Capote's short story a "A Christmas Memory" and his amazing novel, "The Grass Harp." Both deal with his southern roots, and both are undeniable portraits of honesty. Other examples would be "All Quiet on the Western Front," Dostovesky's "Notes From the Underground, " Hemingways, "A Farewell to Arms," and Doris Kerns Goodwins "Wait Until Next Year" which are her reflections about growing up as a Brooklyn Dodger fan.

Switching to the cinema for a moment, I will give you what is in my opinion two contrasting pictures dealing with the same subject matter. Oliver Stones' "Platoon" which is based on his true life experiences in Vietnam and it is so brutally honest that it is scary. And on the other hand, Michael Cimino's "The Deer Hunter" that also deals with Vietnam, but is in my opinion laughable. Cimino spent his service in the army mostly in Dallas, Texas, and the movie reflects that naivete.

Hopefully, that helps a little bit.

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