Burroughs, Augusten. Running with Scissors. New York, New York. Augusten Burroughs: 2002.I chose this book because I wanted to read something light and funny despite all the stress that I have been going through lately. This book is a memoir of the author's childhood. This story took place in the 1960s-1970s.
Plot: This is Burrough's memoir of his childhood when his parents divorced and his mother sent him to live with her psychiatrist who was also in need of psychiatric help. It followed him until he turned seventeen. At Dr. Finch's home Augusten grew up wild with filth all over the house. He didn't go to school, he stayed up late, used drug and alcohol and had sexual relations with Dr. Finch's pedophile adopted son. Augusten's best friend was Natalie who was Dr. Finch's daughter. She was about his age and longed to escape in order to go to Smith College.
Character: Augusten was an eccentric teenager as he grew up. He didn't attend school and mostly did drugs and alcohol. He had so many things that he carried from his childhood, including his parent's divorce, that made him the person his was. He did some guy chasing as a teenager and even had sexual relations with the Doctor's adopted son. He was unemployed. Augusten was surprisingly smarter than most of the characters in this book and had a cynical sense of humor.
Evaluation: I enjoyed reading this book although it was a bit disturbing sometimes. Despite everything that was going on in his life, he kept the story a bit humorous. I would recommend this to adults and young adults because there are some extreme stuff that goes on in the book that may be disturbing for younger readers.
Augusten Burroughs is also that author of Dry, Magical Thinking and Possible Side Effects. He has been named one of the fifteen funniest people in America by Entertainment Weekly. He lives in New York City and western Massachusetts.
Labels: Book Report