Our story begins...

February 2, 2005 6:03 PM

The Abounding Gutter. Cintra Wilson's new seven part serial begins today in USAToday. Enjoy/Discuss
posted by garethspor (11 comments total)

Holy sh*t. I'd like to take this moment to apologize for all those times I used USA Today as a knee-jerk rhetorical symbol for everything that's wrong with mainstream American journalism. Not that USA Today doesn't have many problems, but painting with too broad a brush is equally wrong.

And I of all people should have known, cause alone among my so-smart peers I really dig Reader's Digest.
posted by Coherence Panda at 6:19 PM on February 2, 2005

Interesting story, I suppose but just being an extremely short "episode" makes it hard for me to enjoy. Maybe I'm not ADD enough?
posted by melt away at 6:03 AM on February 3, 2005

Why, why, why did ya sell out Cintra? ((a fan weeps))
posted by rainbaby at 6:16 AM on February 3, 2005

Who says she sold out? Earning money by publishing your writing isn't selling out, contrary to popular belief. If USA Today told her, "We won't publish or pay you until you remove every reference to 'cunts' and 'fisting'," and she made the changes, then that's selling out. But why assume?
posted by sninky-chan at 7:46 AM on February 3, 2005

I've read all her other stuff, and this just sounds different. So, yes, I'm assuming that's because it's in USA Today.
posted by rainbaby at 8:25 AM on February 3, 2005

USAToday has been really improving--i don't knock it anymore--they've been taking chances and doing more investigative pieces (and it's good to know, given my disappointment with NYT and WP). They have a real opportunity to reach the vast middle of the country--people who don't read the papers i mentioned.

I'll be reading this--thanks gareth
posted by amberglow at 8:29 AM on February 3, 2005

Chapter One ..

More like page 1.
posted by Ayn Marx at 8:44 AM on February 3, 2005

Terrible. The non-word "and/or" in the first sentence. Awkward repetition of "therefore" in the second. "From a shoplifting a phase." This woman badly needs an editor.
posted by kindall at 8:50 AM on February 3, 2005

Glad to hear it wasn't just me. I'm a fan - but I had to read - and reread that first paragraph 4 times and it still doesn't make a bunch of sense. I'm intrigued, though, and will keep reading.
I loan out my copy of "A Massive Swelling" to anyone who will take it. Totally reframed the way I think about "famous people".
posted by Wolfie at 9:31 AM on February 3, 2005

I loan out my copy of "A Massive Swelling" to anyone who will take it
Me too, if you know what I mean.
posted by sonofsamiam at 9:57 AM on February 3, 2005

Do not click on the cute kitty on her page.

(I know, I know, now you're gonna click it.)
posted by euphorb at 10:05 AM on February 3, 2005