Rating: 
Summary: Truly disappointed
Review: This book is an account of extremely disturbing young boy's childhood. I had hoped to find humor in the story and kept waiting, but instead found a sad and somewhat sadistic account of a life that should have had some intervention at an early age.The fact that Augusten Burroughs grows up to be an author and tells this story amazes me. I am not sure I could have lived through this experience and come out the other end with a sense of humor.
Rating: 
Summary: Amazing
Review: If you only read one book this year - you need to do some more reading. But seriously, I could not put this book down. The stories, while "out there" were entertaining, creative, made me chuckle, cry or whatever emotion was necessary for the moment. It was not disturbing - although one could argue that the author's life stories could be considered disturbing but if you love sarcastic, witty, dream-like stories (and have ready any of Augusten's other books) you will like this one. I am already in line for the next one. I wonder who will play who in the movie of the book - although some scenes may need cut out because John Q Publicjust wouldn't get it. I am a thirty-something year old gay male who found the book captivating and exhilarating and only wish Augusten was my best friend in my younger days because the stories we could share...
Rating: 
Summary: Many emotions...
Review: Your mother is poet going crazy. Your father is alcoholic. And you're a young boy who knows he's gay growing up in the '70s. Augusten Burroughs' memoir is funny, crazy, and at times, heartbreaking. His mom drops off Augusten at her therapist's house for "just a bit", but he ends up spending most of his teen years growing up there. Patients live in the dirty house along with the therapist and his own very strange family, which happens to include an adopted pedophile. I heard they are making this into a movie, and I would recommend reading this book beforehand. I can't wait to see what Augusten does as he grows up, which he chronicles in his next book, Dry.
Rating:
Summary: Augusten Burroughs
Review: Augusten Burroughs amazes me with his writing. Dry is a well written book and so is Running with Scissors. I am in awe of this fantastic writer who allows us to see the insight in his life and the sad and wonderful, hard and special times of his life. I want to also recommend: Nightmares Echo, Dry, Black and Blue, A Million Little Pieces
Rating:
Summary: What about the writing?
Review: I really, really liked this book. Burroughs style is sharp, smart and funny. The fact that a lot of the negative reviews on this book are that it is "disturbing" disturbs me. Books, like movies, are not meant to be fluffy stuff all of the time. The fact that Augusten's childhood was disturbing is part of what made this such a great book. I imagine that a lot of his inspiration and his intelligence came from the childhood he had which was definitely out of the ordinary. I don't see that as a reason to not like the book, but a reason to love it.
Rating:
Summary: captivating
Review: Yanella Rhoades, a non fiction buff
This book captivated me to the point I could not put it down. It is an excellent read into a difficult childhood filled with strength and courage and the determination to survive and thrive. It also goes to show you that sometimes child abuse comes in even the weirdest of forms. Also recommended: Nightmares Echo, Meant To Be,Forgive and Forget
Rating:
Summary: Strange, strange book
Review: I thought this to be a very strange book. To live a life such as this and later to later tell the world about it is so typical of society today. Nothing is secret any more. Everything is on display and to be commented on or ridiculed by the general public. I grew up in a time where you didn't air your dirty laundry; your family life was private. I suppose if you can do so and make the world laugh about it makes you a better person? Maybe, but I guess I will never know. It was easily read, that much I will say for this book and at points I did smile but mostly I felt sorry for the characters in the story.
Rating:
Summary: Sharp, Clever and Funny
Review: Burroughs' writing is sharp, clever, and very funny most of the time; the book is a pleasure to read and what I'd reluctantly refer to as a "page-turner." Content-wise, it's one of those stories that had to be based in reality, or no one would believe it. I haven't even mentioned most of the strangest things Augusten witnesses, but I can guarantee that they're nothing you ever even dreamed of when you were a teenager. Burroughs' approach to the material is humanistic and not the least bit nasty, two things I can't say for his similar-minded literary peer, David Sedaris. The only time Burroughs flounders in Running With Scissors is during supposedly-humorous scenes that rely on toilet humor (feces, in particular, plays a large role in at least two scenes). One could argue that it's fair game because he's describing things that actually happened, but even in a memoir it seems that some things are better left undisclosed. That said, it's hard to know what to make of the book in the end. The story is so specific to Burroughs' own experiences that I'm unable to derive any far-reaching themes from it. At the very least, Burroughs is commenting on the need for stricter parenting in our society, although he seems to have made it out okay (being a New York Times bestseller and all). Or maybe he wasn't trying to make a point at all. That would be fine, actually, because Running With Scissors can be seen as pure, intelligently-crafted entertainment - something easy to digest that won't require apologies to your brain when you're done reading. Either way, the book is genuinely engaging and notable especially for its unique approach to childhood sexuality. It's a worthy purchase. Other books I recommend: Dry by Burroughs, The Losers Club by Richard Perez
Rating:
Summary: Disturbing
Review: I have never before written a book review, but felt the need to express my contempt for this horror story. Augusten's story is one which should have been dealt with in the comfort of a therapist's office, not a book. If indeed Running with Scissors is a memoir, how has Augusten managed to live a functional life (assuming that he has)? I have never read such a dark, graphically sexual book in my life. I did not find a bit of his story touching, affectionate or humorous, just sad and pathetic and not worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: I thought this book was fantastic,poignant and honest. An exceptional read. I also recommend Nightmares Echo as well. The two books are very honest,deep and tell it like it is without all the glamour.
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