Dry. (edit title)

• Rated 0 stars

“The Tallest Jen

Drug addiction and alcoholism are often glamorized by television and the media. But in the memoir Dry, by Augusten Burroughs, you get the real picture of what it is like to live with alcoholism. His everyday routine is shocking and pathetic to most, but to him it’s normal. It tells the story of Augusten’s time in rehab, the relationships he starts there and his life after rehab. He paints the picture of what it’s really like to be addicted to alcohol and struggling to lead a normal life. This book was eye-opening and riveting.
Augusten Burroughs is known for his dark humor and off the wall comparisons. Although this book is much deeper and more serious than his other memoirs, he still injects his signature sense of humor throughout the book. “…Counselor of the group, Rae. Rae’s a big woman. And to add an exclamation point to this fact, she wears loud floral print; gigantic blossoms all over her body…I feel pretty confident Rae’s clubbed more than her fair share of baby seals in her life” (69). He then goes on to say how much he like his group leaders in rehab and how they contribute to his recovery. This is what makes the book so great. His feelings are right there on the page, from calm to strung-out to depressed to ecstatic; he doesn’t hide anything from his dark past. He doesn’t pretend to be perfect or act like becoming sober is easy. These struggles draw you in from the start and keep you interested until the end.
The characters in this book are a huge part of what makes it so great. He meets attractive men at rehab that come back into his life in a negative, destructive way. He starts relationships with them and because if it, neglects the people in his life that care about him the most. At times you get angry at Augusten for being such a horrible friend, but you can also relate to it. He doesn’t make excuses for his behavior, but doesn’t make changes either. His mistakes and hardships make you reflect on your own relationships and how you could improve them.
Because of Dry, Augusten Burroughs has graduated from funny memoirist to talented author. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in stories about drug addiction, alcoholism, and people’s true life stories. You will not want to put this book down. I would shy away from this memoir if you find drunk, gay New Yorkers to be a boring plot line. This book can be vulgar and crude at times, but it adds the essence that makes up Dry. This memoir is one of the best I’ve ever read because it draws you in emotionally and keeps you totally engrossed.

”

• Rated 3 stars

“Good book.”

• Rated 3 stars

“Augusten Burroughs is very funny. He's sarcastic, a snob, and has a unique world view. This volume finds our hero, after surviving his outrageously bizarre childhood as a twenty-something successful advertising copywriter throwing back a liter of scotch, along with a handful of benadryl, (and who knows what else) every night.

After an intervention by his coworkers he flies off to rehab in Minnesota.

The entire book was insightful and funny; but I thought the first half was the most interesting - where he was boozing and then going through rehab. The second half details a few romances and I had trouble remaining interested. I don't think I am a homophobe - I think my interest would wane just as much if they were hetero romances. But of course you have to finish to find out how it turns out.”

• Rated 5 stars

“Augusten! There is never a funner read than something penned out by Augusten Burroughs. And its alarming to believe and a little hard to wrap the brain around .. all of his "stories" are MEMOIRS. Which means true facts kids. Because most of the things he has gone through, or describes are so outlandish that its hard to swallow. I always tell people, who aren't avid readers, read Augusten Burroughs (or David Sedaris) because reading a book from him is not like "reading" it is like hearing the story. And feeling it. And as an author I would hope his ego is through the universe because you cannot get any better than that.”

• Rated 5 stars

“This memoir is an accurate portrayal of addiction. ”

• Rated 5 stars

“I laughed, I cried, I laughed aloud on the train while reading it. I never laugh aloud. Some of the best one liners I've ever read. This details the author's journey through sobriety. excellent.”

• Rated 4 stars

“Even better than Running with Scissors. ”

• Rated 5 stars

“Synopsis: Having escaped from a childhood in which his mother adopted him out to her cult leader/psychologist, was repeatedly raped by a fellow patient/cult member and developed a passion for hairdressing, Burroughs’ autobiography continues in Dry with the tale of his adult descent into a life as a high paid, alcoholic advertising executive. Who would have thought that someone with Burroughs’ childhood would be driven to drink?

My Take: I really love Augusten Burroughs. His genius is that he is able to write with both black humour and caustic wit, whilst managing to stay well clear of both bitterness and cynicism. The effect of this is that despite the horrific content matter of his books, Burroughs makes the reader feel like a guest at a dinner party who is being invited to laugh along with a charismatic host’s witty, but inappropriate, anecdotes. A highly entertaining position.

In my mind however, ‘Dry’ is a cut above Burroughs’ other books. While ‘Dry’ still delivers the obscene erudition one expects of him, Burroughs manages to couple this with a genuinely touching storyline. Surprisingly, the emotional core of this book is almost totally unrelated to Burroughs’ battle with alcoholism (as frank and insightful as it is). It would be easy to detract from the emotional punch of this storyline by foreshadowing too much of it so I won’t go into detail, but I can honestly say that I got a bit teary at times during this book. Quirkily insightful.”

• Rated 4 stars

“I enjoyed this book a lot, moreso than Running with Scissors. Very real, no bs. Smooth read.”

• Rated 5 stars

“The most gritty offering from Burroughs, learn more about his personality in this than about his quirky background.”