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...

Going today to KateKintail, as a holiday wish granted, as it was on her wishlist. Enjoy!

OMG! I'm such an awful person. I could have sworn I journaled this as soon as it walked in the door. I'm so very sorry! But it did make it here safe and sound and I'm so grateful for that. I found the movie to be quite intriguing (sort of like watching a train wreck) and I've been wanting to read the book for a while. The bookring I was signed up for seems to be stalled so it was fantastic to get this book as a present so I could finally read it. Thank you so much!

I finished reading this tonight, and I thought it was fascinating. It was a quick read- I literally couldn't put it down. There's something about crazy, wacky families that, apart from making me feel better about my own, is very appealing. My favorite part of nonfiction is the glimpse of someone else's life... and what a life- or, what a childhood at least!

Sort of makes me want to move my furniture out onto the lawn and set up an electroshock therapy machine and a Christmas tree there! LOL Seriously, though, I found parts appalling, others sad, others hilarious, others touching, others just downright shocking. What incredible people- sometimes real life can be more amazing than fiction. I'm so glad Augusten has such a sense of human; it seems mandatory after all he's been through. Running with Scissors was an eye-opening story and I'm looking forward to reading his next book now.

RELEASE NOTES:

I'm dressing up this book and taking it to the BookCrossing Meetup so it can find a new home!

Congrats and welcome to BookCrossing!
Thank you so much for picking up this book. Please make a journal entry here on this page if you haven’t already done so to let me know that this book has found a good home. You may choose to remain anonymous or to join (it is entirely free). If you choose to join, I would love if you could indicate KateKintail referred you.
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Picked up this book today at the Bookcrossing Meetup in Rockville!

At time both funny and disturbing, this was a very interesting memoir showing the good and bad in human relationships.

Releasing at the BC-in-DC meetup at the National Book Festival!