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Dry : A Memoir
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Dry : A Memoir
Author: Augusten Burroughs

Book Information
Publisher: Picador
Book Type: Paperback
Rating:

ISBN-13: 9780312423797 - ISBN-10: 0312423799
Publication Date: 4/1/2004
Pages: 320


Other Versions of this Book: Hardcover, Audio Cassette (Unabridged), Audio CD (Unabridged)

Book Description:
From the bestselling author of Running with Scissors comes Dry—the hilarious, moving, and no less bizarre account of what happened next.

You may not know it, but you've met Augusten Burroughs. You've seen him on the street, in bars, on the subway, at restaurants: a twenty-something guy, nice suit, works in advertising. Regular. Ordinary. But when the ordinary person had to drinks, Augusten was circling the drain by having twelve; when the ordinary person went home at midnight, Augusten never went home at all. Loud, distracting ties, automated wake-up calls, and cologne on the tongue could only hide so much for so long. At the request (well, it wasn't really a request) of his employers, Augusten landed in rehab, where his dreams of group therapy with Robert Downey, Jr., are immediately dashed by the grim reality of fluorescent lighting and paper hospital slippers. But when Augusten is forced to examine himself, something actually starts to click, and that's when he finds himself in the worst trouble of all. Because when his thirty days are up, he has to return to his same drunken Manhattan life—and live it sober. What follows is a memoir that's as moving as it is funny, as heartbreaking as it is real. Dry is the story of love, loss, and Starbucks as a higher power.

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Similar books to this author and title:
Magical Thinking : True StoriesRunning with ScissorsA Million Little Pieces


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Top Member Book Reviews

Darlean M. wrote on 8/3/2008...

6 member(s) found this review helpful.

I really enjoyed this book, I don't think you have to read "Running with Scissors" first, but if you do, You really need to read this book next! they are totally different but with the same great humor.

I thought in the first book he writing his experiences as he remembered them as a child and that is really different than how we would see those experiences as an adult, which is what makes it so hard for people to believe. In this book he is writing his experiences as an adult.

I find it refreshing that throughout his life and books he focuses on the positive and not the negative like so many other memoirs. He was luckily blessed with an incredible sense of humor that allows him to remain afloat in a world of crap.

I don't think he at says "look at me I have a messed up life aren't I so funny and fabulous" to me he's funny and fabulous IN SPITE of his messed up life... and I've only read two of books but I don't recall his ever thinking he was fabulous. I suppose people think that if he was beaten down his whole life he should act more like it - I'm glad he doesn't!

For people who have not had such a "perfectly normal" life his books are better than therapy! and in his books you can find "hope"


....of having a smile at the end of your worst day ever.

Mark B. (matejo) wrote on 2/19/2007...

5 member(s) found this review helpful.

I have read two books by Burroughs and will read no more. I find him a bit too precious; "look at me, I had a messed up life. isn't it funny and aren't I fabulous?" Fans of memoirs and especially RUNNING WITH SCISSORS will find this followup interesting, I am just not one of them

Quin S. (Quin) wrote on 7/16/2008...

4 member(s) found this review helpful.

We meet a smoother more polished writer in this book than in his earlier 'Running with Scissors'. This time the story almost seems more personal to him and we follow along from the beginning when he is forced into rehab (though he doesn't believe he needs it or belongs there) through the end where he finally does become 'dry'. I would really recommend this to those who have an addict in their lives- whether their friend or family member is clean or using, this book gives us a better glimpse into the mechanics of addiction as it details and stresses the fine points of temptation that the sober take for granted and the addict probably never can.

For those who may be uncomfortable with the homosexual topics: relationships and acts are discussed however, they are not, for the most part, depicted in as blatantly shocking a manner as in 'Running with Scissors'.

Carly S. (smittydoodle) wrote on 9/11/2007...

4 member(s) found this review helpful.

I found this book to be a lot more genuine and usually more humorous than Running With Scissors. Not that Running With Scissors was bad, because it wasn't, but I found RWS more depressing than hilarious. Dry is a great follow up to it that I'd recommend to anyone who has read the first one.

Candy B. (candieb) wrote on 6/19/2007...

4 member(s) found this review helpful.

I liked this one MUCH better than Running With Scissors (which I thought was way too out in left field for me - sorry, I don't buy all of it). ANYWAY. This book was really well done, written from the heart and I believed every single word of it. Very well written, I laughed and I cried. I'm anxious to get to the next one!

Jamie B. (mrsb) wrote on 5/2/2008...

3 member(s) found this review helpful.

Dry is a great follow up to it that I'd recommend to anyone who has read the first one. This book is all about the author trying to break his alcohol addiction ... I found it similar to Million Little Pieces without the lies and more believeable. I did tend to find his thought process just sort of go off on a tangent and really have nothing to do with the story (like his Feed The Children and Sally Struthers rant!) but I found myself chuckling more so than I did in his first memoir (Running With Scissors) with his off the wall thoughts.

The sequel to this book is Magical Thinking and is available now.

Kate K. (wishuponakate) wrote on 9/4/2007...

2 member(s) found this review helpful.

I liked this book just as much as 'Running With Scissors,' but I didn't find it as funny or as outrageous and interesting. It definitely had more heart-breaking moments, more moments where my heart felt anguished and I was rooting for him or crying for him. I could definitely relate to some of what he was talking about, as I used to work with substance abusers in outpatient treatment. It gave me more insight seeing an addict write about his experience in his own words. If you're going to read this book, it's a good idea to read 'Running with Scissors' first -- it gives the background of what got Augusten where he is in this book.

Julien C. (jaimelesmaths) wrote on 4/14/2007...

2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Not as funny or as compelling as Running With Scissors, but still decent. On the other hand, it's definitely a more mature read. Somewhat sad ending.

Janet C. (JanneyChan) - Plano, TX wrote on 3/12/2009...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

I could not put this book down. Mr. Burroughs makes it easy to become emotionally invested in him - I wanted to protect him for his hurts, slap some sense into him when he made obviously wrong choices. I really enjoyed this book following 'Running with Scissors'.

Rachel M. (rjmiller76) wrote on 10/23/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

This was a very interesting look into the life of a recovering alcoholic. Less massive drama than the last book with the story of his crazy upbringing but very good and at times sad..


Please Rate these Book Reviews

Emily A. wrote on 11/8/2009...


Dark and slightly disturbing, this book was strangely addictive

Linda P. wrote on 8/18/2009...


Entertaining.

Sherrill G. (nicljack) wrote on 7/19/2009...


liked this book

Kate S. (ksparks) wrote on 7/1/2008...


I have read three books by Augusten Burroughs and found them entertaining and possibly believable, although I have had more than my fill from this author. He tells many of the same stories throughout his books but chooses to give different facts each time he tells them (ages, dates, where they met). In Dry contradicts himself within pages - Page 166: "My mother had a stroke ten years ago that left the right side of her body paralyzed"; Page 168(same book! referring to his mother): "Or another stroke like the one that took away her left side". I might have gotten too caught up in the details but even the story as a whole didn't captivate me.

Jeannie H. (ilovebooksanddogs) - Dahinda, IL wrote on 6/19/2008...


I love all his books and find him a fascinating author. This one didn't disappoint.

Kristine F. wrote on 6/17/2008...


I loved the honesty in this book. Its less shocking than Running With Scissors and more enjoyable.

Tamara B. (bloomernut) wrote on 12/4/2007...


Augusten Burroughs is GREAT. I loved his self-deprecating humor mixed in with his painful experiences. This is a bittersweet memoir.

Rachel G. (rachelg) wrote on 8/25/2007...


This was a very compelling book. I enjoyed it much more than "Running with Scissors."

Wendy M. wrote on 4/27/2007...


Excellent read

Brooke D. wrote on 3/27/2007...


So honest and shallow its funny.


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