Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs (2003, Paperback, Reprint)

Burrough's title hooked me, his plot and characterization held me. I had to keep reminding myself that this is a non-fiction book. Burroughs' narrative is electrifying, his recollections scintillating, and his characters brilliant. I couldn't put the book down.

A word of caution is in order: If you are offended by descriptive homosexual acts or have problems with disfuctionality within the family, do NOT buy this book.

Running with Scissors is a quick, entertaining read which I highly recommend.

Running With Scissors was a book club selection that I was very interested in reading. According to the "hype" about the book, it was to be light, fun and witty. I found the book to be very distressing and depressing and so did most of our book club. It's hard to imagine the horrors this child had to deal with. From reading about a child that was obsessive compulsive being practically abandoned to being sexually molested, I just didn't think there was anything funny about it.

Funny, sad, weird, gripping, soulful, but most of all Augusten Burroughs makes you feel what he is feeling in this book. It is one of the best I have ever read, as are all of his works.

Pros:
1) The book was fast-paced
2) The book FINALLY ended!!!

Cons:
The book was proclaimed as being "a hilarious and horrifying memoir." Not only did I not laugh, I never even smiled throughout the story. (Well, one corner of my mouth may have turned up once.) Yes, it was a horrifying childhood memoir. The critics got that part right. But really, does the world HAVE to know about this boy's first homosexual encounter in such sordid detail? Was it necessary to give a blow by blow (no pun intended) account of what was inserted into which orifice, in exact, graphic detail? Whatever happened to "imagination?"

2) It is understandable why Mr. Burroughs would never go to a psychiatrist after the experience he had with Dr. Finch. But why must he use the public to exorcise his sexual demons?

Amazing, astoundingly funny, you wont believe this is his real life! If youre up for a little voyerism into a strange new world this is the book for you. The most honest and hilarious thing I have read for a long time!

Running with Scissors is an excellent book from start to finish. I'm saying this as a avid non-reader who was taken in by this book and enjoed it tremendously. I read over a hundred pages at one sitting because I was really hooked. Plus the style and pace Augusten writes the book goes very fast. I loved all the characters especially Dr. Finch and Augusten's mother. I had watched the movie trailer for Running with Scissors and thought maybe just this once I'll read the book first and then see the movie. While reading the book, I noticed a lot of things I saw in the trailer so the movie must follow the book pretty well, except I think Augusten is much younger in the book while living with the Finchs' than in the movie. The book ranges from laugh out loud funny to very sad and depressing. Some people might be turned off by the graphic description of gay sex. I wasn't taken aback by it, of course I'm also very open-minded so judge for yourself. I gave Running with Scissors an excellent rating, not to say the book is for everyone but for someone who doesn't read ,like me , I thought it was terrific.

Funny Funny and more funny! I would laugh out loud. I would wonder if things like this really happened. I wandered how a boy could live like this and grow up to be stable enough to write books! He is also my favorite author and I have read all of his books!

A great read. Unbelievable story, expertly written!! When I was done with this book I got my husband to read it. We have now bought his other books as well and share them. A truely absorbing story that keeps you wanting to turn the next page. It's hard to believe that the kind of activity that he writes about takes place in this day and age.

Very well written poignant story about a young man's very weird childhood. It was an enjoyable read.

Wow, where do I begin? First of all, I am amazed that the author managed to escape his childhood without becoming cynical and bitter. The book is a tell all true story of Augusten's growing up years. The reader will NOT be able to put the book down because despite it's bizarreness it is also wickedly funny. I would not recommend it to everyone. This book is not for the faint of heart. If you have a problem with homosexual issues, pedophiles, coarse language, and mental illness then please look elsewhere! However, I found it compelling and could not look away. The "little boy lost" is all I could thing about...my heart just broke for him. Every single adult that he looked up to or cared about either abandoned or betrayed him in some way. The reader will want to root for Augusten as he manages to find a better life for himself. A phoenix rises from the ashes...****4 stars

I bought this wonderful book, in great shape, for a fraction of the retail price. My little book club chose it for last month's read, and I was thrilled to get it so quickly. What a great idea to sell books that we've read only once. Most avid readers take good care of their books, and this seller is one of them. Ebay is my first source for all of our book club selections.

This was like going back to my childhood. It felt like the writer was in the same exact era as I was as a child. All the things he mentioned brought back memories of the era I grew up in. He must be the same age as me now, around late 30's. This made me feel like my childhood was not so bad after seeing the hellish things he went through. Honestly, I see why this book is in the top seller's list. It is never boring and a change from fiction type books since this was a memoir of his childhood. I am very pleased that I purchased it.

I thought this was going to be a very funny book.There were some funny points but I found it mostly sad.I realize this is an autobiography of sorts but some things are better left unsaid.I did not finish reading it,just not my kind of book I guess.I am sure there are those who will love it but I am not one of them.I also had "Possible Side Effects" which was a bit funnier.I purchased that at the bookstore and purchased "running"at e-bay at the same time.Had I read 1 first I would not have purchased the other.

Although "humor" was an accolade often attributed to this book in reviews, I just couldn't get beyond the overwhelming sadness. Abandonment by both parents, pedophilia, psychological abuse by a "trusted" physician, "funny" sociopathic behavior. . . Yes, it was well written, but the excellence in that area could have better served the topic. The author seemed to want the reader to accept the circumstances enough to be able to laugh at them. I just couldn't make that leap.

If you love a good memoir, and aren't afraid of the f-word, then you must read this book! It is hilarious and quirky, and disturbing all at the same time. You won't be able to put it down. Highly recommended, but not for the conservative!

This book kept my interest and was entaining while I was reading it. It was a fast read, (took me about 2 days) and I really enjoyed Burroughs writing technique. I would recommend this book.

After seeing the previews for the movie and seeing the book on sale, I had such great expectations for this book. Once I purchased it I waited until I had a lot of time to actually sit down and read it in a couple of sittings! BOY was that a mistake! While I always force myself to finish books as they are my passion, I was absolutely disillusioned and disgusted with this book. This book has been exhaulted as being "hilarious, sad, weird, and off-beat." Being a retired law enforcement officer, I have seen my fair share of disgusting and gross stuff, but I had a hard time believing that ANYONE would continue to live in such squaller and filth and admist such chaos, let alone be willing to admit to it in a memoir.

As far as the doctor, as a trained professional, where the heck was his head and why the hell didn't someone (anyone) report him for child abuse and neglect. This is the only book I flat out REFUSE to suggest to my family and friends and as a matter of fact, the book was so bad, I am going to throw it away to attempt to keep anyone else from having to read such trash!

Do yourself a favor, do not waste your money (no matter how cheap you can get the book) and purchase a different book instead for your reading pleasure!

This is the most disgusting book I have ever encountered. Each and every member of our book club threw it into the garbage, actually not literally. I have a compulsion to finish a book if I start it. Not this one. A couple of chapters and I couldn't take any more.

Don't waste your money! I generally like books that are a little weird, off-beat, or dark. But this one went way overboard! I will say that thankfully the book progressed fast so I was able to finish it rather quickly. The characters in the book are just bizarre beyond comprehension. There are so many other well written books out there....I suggest buying and reading something else.......anything else....the back of a cereal box would provide you with more more engaging and thoughtful text than this book does. A co-worker let me borrow this (she actually never read it) and all I can say is thank goodness I didn't waste my money!!

What were they thinking by making this into a movie? Who actually went to see this in the theatre?

I bought the book because I wanted to read it before I saw the movie. I had read "Magical Thinking" which is after "Dry" which is after "Running with Scissors". I enjoyed this book, but it was not as good as "Magical Thinking" - which I LOVED! Augusten definitely gets better with age!

I love to buy books on Ebay because I get a good deal, and the book is delivered right to my door. This book was interesting and funny. I did not want to put it down. It was a bit quirky, but that is what made it interesting. I highly recommend it.

Wow...after reading this hard to put down book, i gotta keep reminding myself that this is NON fiction..A little graphic at times but past that, just an incredible read. Dysfunctional does not even begin to describe this family. I can't belive he is a success today. This is the kind of kid that grows up to be a serial killer and being featured on Criminal Minds. And had he started slicing up people, I don't think there is a jury in the world that would have convicted him after hearing his story..This book is very straight forward, matter of fact and you just wanna keep reading..Gonna read his other one's now. You will too. A must read, and a book that has earned a coveted spot on my personal bookshelf..few books make it to the shelf. I don't keep many books, but I can see myself reading this one again, years down the road. Think YOUR family has some problems?? HA!

Augusten Burroughs is an awesome writer! This is the first book of his that I read and I could not put it down. I have since purchased a few others that he has written and they are equally as good! He has such a dry, witty way of writing and it is hilarious! I cannot tell you how many times I actually laugh out loud while reading these!