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Running with Scissors: A Memoir
by Augusten Burroughs

Running with Scissors: A Memoir Cover

Powells.com Staff Pick

"Burroughs has a way of writing reminiscent of David Sedaris. His mock-naivete is a little shocking, a little naughty. He confesses to things that most people just don't admit to in polite conversation. But the twinkle in the eye is there, the nudge in the side encouraging you to "c'mon, admit it ? you thought it was funny." Also, like Sedaris, Burroughs makes laugh-out-loud fun of his family, his own quirks, and his experiences growing up. Yet Burroughs's family life is pretty damn extraordinary ? his account of his teenage years tends to have you clutching your stomach with laughter, while covering your mouth in horror and utter disbelief." Georgie Lewis, Powells.com (read the entire Powells.com review)

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

 
The #1 New York Times Bestseller
 
An Entertainment Weekly Top Ten Book of the Year
 
Now a Major Motion Picture
 
Running with Scissors is the true story of a boy whose mother (a poet with delusions of Anne Sexton) gave him away to be raised by her unorthodox psychiatrist who bore a striking resemblance to Santa Claus. So at the age of twelve, Burroughs found himself amidst Victorian squalor living with the doctor’s bizarre family, and befriending a pedophile who resided in the backyard shed. The story of an outlaw childhood where rules were unheard of, and the Christmas tree stayed up all year round, where Valium was consumed like candy, and if things got dull an electroshock- therapy machine could provide entertainment. The funny, harrowing and bestselling account of an ordinary boy’s survival under the most extraordinary circumstances.
 
Running with Scissors Acknowledgments

Gratitude doesn’t begin to describe it: Jennifer Enderlin, Christopher Schelling, John Murphy, Gregg Sullivan, Kim Cardascia, Michael Storrings, and everyone at St. Martin’s Press. Thank you: Lawrence David, Suzanne Finnamore, Robert Rodi, Bret Easton Ellis, Jon Pepoon, Lee Lodes, Jeff Soares, Kevin Weidenbacher, Lynda Pearson, Lona Walburn, Lori Greenburg, John DePretis, and Sheila Cobb. I would also like to express my appreciation to my mother and father for, no matter how inadvertently, giving me such a memorable childhood. Additionally, I would like to thank the real-life members of the family portrayed in this book for taking me into their home and accepting me as one of their own. I recognize that their memories of the events described in this book are different than my own. They are each fine, decent, and hard-working people. The book was not intended to hurt the family. Both my publisher and I regret any unintentional harm resulting from the publishing and marketing of Running with Scissors. Most of all, I would like to thank my brother for demonstrating, by example, the importance of being wholly unique.

Review:

"Beautifully written with a finely tuned sense of style and wit...this memoir of a nightmarish youth is both compulsively entertaining and tremendously provocative." Publishers Weekly

Review:

"Edgier but reminiscent of Dave Eggers' Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, this is a survival story readers won't forget." Gillian Engberg, Booklist

Review:

"Burroughs has written an entertaining yet horrifying account that isn't for the squeamish: the scatological content and explicit homosexual episodes may limit its appeal. Recommended for the adventurous seeking an unsettling experience among the grotesque." Library Journal

Synopsis:

Running with Scissors is the true story of a boy whose mother (a poet with delusions of Anne Sexton) gave him away to be raised by her unorthodox psychiatrist who bore a striking resemblance to Santa Claus. So at the age of twelve, Burroughs found himself amidst Victorian squalor living with the doctor's bizarre family, and befriending a pedophile who resided in the backyard shed. The story of an outlaw childhood where rules were unheard of, and the Christmas tree stayed up all year round, where Valium was consumed like candy, and if things got dull an electroshock- therapy machine could provide entertainment. The funny, harrowing and bestselling account of an ordinary boy's survival under the most extraordinary circumstances.

Synopsis:

 
The #1 New York Times Bestseller
 
An Entertainment Weekly Top Ten Book of the Year
 
Now a Major Motion Picture
 
Running with Scissors is the true story of a boy whose mother (a poet with delusions of Anne Sexton) gave him away to be raised by her unorthodox psychiatrist who bore a striking resemblance to Santa Claus. So at the age of twelve, Burroughs found himself amidst Victorian squalor living with the doctor’s bizarre family, and befriending a pedophile who resided in the backyard shed. The story of an outlaw childhood where rules were unheard of, and the Christmas tree stayed up all year round, where Valium was consumed like candy, and if things got dull an electroshock- therapy machine could provide entertainment. The funny, harrowing and bestselling account of an ordinary boy’s survival under the most extraordinary circumstances.
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About the Author

Augusten Burroughs is the author of Dry and Magical Thinking which have also been New York Times bestsellers and are published around the world. A film version of Running with Scissors starring Annette Bening and Gwyneth Paltrow was adapted for the screen by Ryan Murphy. Augusten has been named one of the fifteen funniest people in America by Entertainment Weekly. He lives in New York City and western Massachusetts.

Possible Side Effects Augusten's newest collection, is now available in hardcover from St. Martin's Press.

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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 7 comments:
crowyhead, July 2, 2008 (view all comments by crowyhead)
A lot of people have told me this memoir is "hilarious." This kind of makes me wince. Yeah, parts of it are funny, but for the most part, it's funny in that "if I don't laugh I'll recognize the true horror of this situation" sort of way. Well-written, but nauseating.
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Madeline, October 15, 2006 (view all comments by Madeline)
Burroughs' book is remarkably funny. But, given his upbringing, it could almost only be funny. A life story such as the one told in "Running With Scissors" will either be hilarious or tragic, and Burroughs chose hilarity. That's to his credit - the story is too ludicrous to be believed as a tragedy. Burroughs' writing is compared to David Sedaris', but their accomplishments are not the same. Sedaris is probably the better writer, because his family is so apparently normal. Burroughs' "family" are anything but. You don't have to search very hard to find the humor inherent in the situation.

That said, the narrative voice is entertaining. Burroughs manages to keep the reader compelled and interested in his faintly repulsive cast of characters. He even manages to make them sympathetic human beings most of the time. All in all, an imperfect book, but one still worth the money.
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Tracy, October 1, 2006 (view all comments by Tracy)
I could not put this book down. Augusten Burroughs tells the true story of his disfunctional childhood in a way that makes you feel that you are right there next to him. It is fortunate that they are making this into a movie (for those who don't read). But if you are on this website, you obviously DO read, so don't miss out on this book!
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780312422271
Author:
Burroughs, Augusten
Publisher:
Picador USA
Author:
Burroughs, Augusten
Location:
New York
Subject:
General
Subject:
Literary
Subject:
Social life and customs
Subject:
Novelists, American
Subject:
Childhood Memoir
Subject:
Amherst
Subject:
Personal Memoirs
Subject:
General Biography
Copyright:
2003
Edition Number:
1st Picador ed.
Series Volume:
TR-03-5
Publication Date:
May 2003
Binding:
Paperback
Language:
English
Pages:
320
Dimensions:
828x562x85 68
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