Can I give it a negative star?

Disclaimer: A. If I hadn't had to review this, I never would have picked it up. I've only ever thrown 2 books in the dumpster and "Running With Scissors" was one of them. B. As a mental health professional, I'm biased in my interpretation of this work.

Often when I review a book I find myself typing "great story, just poorly written." Well, this is the opposite. It is well written. Self-serving load of crap. But well written. Two hundred and fifty pages of self-indulgent, that can't possibly be true, garbage.

This book is about the author's absent relationship with his father. Everything right down to the way he pronounced "dad" is shocking. It definitely will make you feel better about any strained relationship you are in.

It incorporates a completely different aspect of his childhood and adolescence unseen in his other books. If you are a fan of his you'll see some of the same events from previous books written with a different focus.

I wouldn't recommend it as something to start with because it has a different tone, but the subject has a different tone too.

I love his writing style, especially in his last few books. However, a lot of what he wrote here seems to contradict his earlier writings, especially "Running With Scissors" and "Possible Side Effects". I still give it my highest recommendation as it is such a telling tale. I suggest you read his other memoirs first.

Well, this is the latest part of the author's life. This one deals with his relationship with his father and seems to all have taken place BEFORE Running With Scissors.

I had now read all of his books and I really admired the first few, but these last few (Possible Side Effects annd A Wolf At The Table) I found myself saying ... Yeesh, enough is enough. Don't get me wrong, he has a BEAUTIFUL and TALENTED writing ability, but maybe he should try to write something else than his supposed life's story. (I only say "supposed" because of what I found out about Possible Side Effects from an almost hidden note from the author himself in the book ... how a lot of it was embellished and even some characters were somple made up ...)

Although, I like his writing style, I think this will be the last book on Augusten Burroughs life that he writes ...

This is easily one of the most disturbing books i've ever read. I have to agree with another reviewer that it is very self-serving. I got the feeling the whole time that Augusten was writing the whole time thinking that everyone would love him more for his terrible childhood. That he would finally get the love and attention that is his due. That the world owes him. It seems to be a theme in his work.

I think that if it is a true portrait of his childhood, then he is just exactly like his father.

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If you like Augusten Burroughs (and I do), you'll like this book. You'll wonder how on earth he could grow up in a family like that and still be a functioning human being, bless his heart. It has some sexual content, so be warned, but mainly it is a book about a child lost in the confusion of his parents' alcoholism and mental illness.

Really disturbing, but engaging. Couldn't put it down. Having now read all of his books except Sellevision, I am amazed that he was able to come through all his experiences. I adore his work.

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