Review: Running With Scissors

Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hmmm. This book left me conflicted. First all – be aware that this is auto-biographical. Which makes it even more disturbing. And also why I am conflicted.

On one hand I liked the writing – it was funny and irreverent. On the other hand, the story seemed to be just… too much. Not saying the author’s life was not f*cked up. I believe it was and I believe the book is truthful. But at times I feel like that same writing style that I like also made the story seem over-embellished. Like when one tells a personal story, we don’t lie or make-up stuff up but we find ways to subtly make it sound more interesting or more sensational than it really was, whether sub-consciously or not. I finished the book feeling slightly manipulated. Or did I feel this way because believing that everything in the book was depicted exactly as it happened is a horrifying thought and seems hard to believe considering how well the author turned out in the end?

If you’ve read it, what are you thoughts?

Also, be aware that there are graphic sexual scenes. Not for the easily offended.

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