In a recently published interview with Bookslut , Shalom Auslander is asked if writing has stopped being a catharsis for him--if the publication of his new memoir, Foreskin's Lament , signals an end to his experience of writing as an act of purging--to which he replies, "You know, it’s been a bit upsetting actually because it hasn’t been as cathartic as I thought it would be. I pictured writing, 'blah blah blah blah blah' and then 'The End' and then just standing up with my arms open. You know? Cured! I’m done with this issue! Now I can write the next Harry Potter. But it doesn’t work that way. It helped, and it did what it had to do, but if I purged everything I don’t think I’d write anymore. Because I don’t have a lot of fun coming up with stories. I’m not that kind of guy." (Click here to read the entire interview.) Mr. Auslander will be appearing at the Central Library's Montgomery Auditorium this Thursday, November 8, at 7:00 p.m. (This event is free; no tickets required.)