Take a Look, It's in a Book

I'm recovering today from a late night Augusten Burroughs bender. You see, this week I finished Dry, his memoir about his experiences battling alcoholism. It was so good I couldn't stop there. I had to run out to the bookstore and get Running with Scissors, his memoir about his, um, eccentric childhood.

As promised, my corresponding book reports...

Running with Scissors

• Somehow makes living with your mother's psychologist, to whom she's given you away, having a 33 year old boyfriend and not going to school past middle school fairly normal, in a bizarre way.
• Burroughs self-depecrating humor is marvelous. Where a lesser author would have taken these tales of horror and bemoaned his very existence for 250 pages, the book is filled with humor, honesty and a practical look at a rather unusual upbringing.
• This book is not for the faint of heart or prudish---there are some rather abrupt graphic scenes that would not be appropriate for the wee ones.

Dry

• Loved this book. Absolutely loved it. I've never been an alcoholic, but I think everyone has struggled with an addiction of some sort (my addiction may be trashy magazines and chocolate).
• Again, Burroughs takes a situation that could easily be suffocatingly painful and transforms his thoughts and experiences into the story of a journey, not an end.
• I am neither gay or male, but I appreciate that the story is not overtaken by his sexuality. Like all of us, it is a minor part of our overall selves. Again, bravo for not taking the easily sensational or trite route.

So far so good on the New Year's Resolution. My love of literature, seemingly dormant for the last couple years, is coming back strong. My college professors would be so proud.