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Running with Scissors: A Memoir
 

Running with Scissors: A Memoir

by Augusten Burroughs

There is a passage early in Augusten Burroughs's harrowing and highly entertaining memoir, Running with Scissors, that speaks volumes about the author. While going to the garbage dump with his father, young Augusten spots a chipped, glass-top coffee table that he longs to bring home. "I knew I could hide the chip by fanning a display of magazines on the surface, like in a doctor's office," he... (read more)

Top tags: memoir,  humor,  non-fiction,  nonfiction,  memoirs (all tags)

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Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
Ma Titwonky
  • Rated 4 stars

“Bizarre, fascinating, revolting, child abuse, wacky psychiatry, homosexuality, laugh-out-loud funny -- these are just a few of the reasons to read this book. I am somewhat surprised that no one questioned Augusten Burroughs' accuracy, especially after the James Fry debacle with A Million Little Pieces, but Burroughs has a way of telling his story that, for me, made total honesty secondary to the events he describes. Besides, strange and twisted as some of the events are, they are...”

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Didn’t Like It

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
purplepeace
  • Rated 1 stars

“This book was a disappointment to me. I had read and enjoyed the author's novel, Sellevision so I was looking forward to this one. This memoir just feels too over the top. Too many scenes seemed to be added for the mere shock value rather than illuminating a point or developing our understanding about the author and the people in his early life. I do enjoy Burroughs' casual style and had the scenes added for shock value been edited, this could have been a great memoir about coming of age. As...”

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Community:
  • Rated 3.687632 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 3.5 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • kaya h

    kaya h said:

    “This was a very intimate glance into this boy's unique experience. I enjoyed the book especially since I grew up in the pioneer valley and could relate to many geographic references in the book.”

    posted 2 weeks ago
  • Teague

    teague said:

    “Ahhh, this book was amazing.
    Tragic and disturbing and depressing and hilarious and amazing.”

    posted 3 weeks ago
  • Toni K

    toni k said:

    ““"A truely sad life, but the way it was written made me laugh."””

    posted Wednesday, June 11 2008 ( | view 1 reply )
  • lyn [is amazing!]

    lyn [is amazing!] said:

    “Maybe this book shouldn't technically be counted as humorous, it does have that tragic childhood feel to it, but regardless i can't tell you how many times i actually burst out laughing at the anecdotes and dry commentary in this book.”

    posted Saturday, June 7 2008
  • Vannessagrace

    vannessagrace said:

    “It was great how the author wrote about his childhood experiences in humor. I read Running With Scissors in audio and the narrator read in a way that touched many of my emotions.”

    posted Friday, June 6 2008
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