Running with Scissors: A Memoir
This book is in a Controlled Release!
40 journalers for this copy...
This was a very moving memoir. Made my dysfunctional family look like the Cleever family! Can't wait to read the sequel!
I'm sending this as part of a book trade to Mcbeth. Enjoy!
I'm sending this as part of a book trade to Mcbeth. Enjoy!
Can't wait to read this book! I will journal again once I've read it and ready to release again. Thanks so much for trading with me, PaigeTurner124!
I really loved this book and all I can say after reading it is "gee I thought MY family was crazy." There was a brief section which made me queasy having to do with pedophilia but otherwise the book was highly interesting and quite funny. Now I'd like to read his follow-up book, "Dry".
Sending to fellow bookcrosser BlueAmazon in trade for a book from her bookshelf. Thanks!
Thanks, Mcbeth - can't wait to read this! I actually also have Dry waiting in the wings, so it will be a good [or interesting] combination of books.
it's difficult to believe that any person could survive this insane childhood. Burroughs' mother, in ongoing periods of delusions, gives him away at the age of 12 to her "unorthodox" psychiatrist - his family, made up of extra people as well, lives in squalor and filth in Northampton, MA. Good to read about my college home town, Burroughs' writing is lyrical and transportive, but missing the link for me. He goes from being a prim, proper, shiny-thing-loving little boy to living in a roach-infested pit with no qualms about this? I was confused by that.
Also fear for how 'the other side' will read his gay life, as his first 'boyfriend' is when he is 13 and the man is 31. Apparently both his mother and his psychiatrist find this appropriate. Crazy.
Having said all that, I cannot wait to read "Dry" - his next memoir.
Also fear for how 'the other side' will read his gay life, as his first 'boyfriend' is when he is 13 and the man is 31. Apparently both his mother and his psychiatrist find this appropriate. Crazy.
Having said all that, I cannot wait to read "Dry" - his next memoir.
Received today from Chicago.
To be read AFTER Passing for Thin.
To be read AFTER Passing for Thin.
came back for book club - now it has gone off in a long traveling book ray!
Edited on 8/3/04 to include brujula, whom I had forgotten in the beginning... sorry!
Edited on 9/22/04 to adjust order.
cait017
saram23
PhillyCarol
rrrcaron
guinaveve
mom-of-one [unable to reach mom-of-one as of 9/22/04. She is being skipped in favor of the next person in line.]
jenndiggy
WritinReader
BigBird2002
raquelsita
Raquelsita sends to Canada. Thanks, Raquelsita!
gill846
Gill846 sends this book from Canada to Austria,
allbookedup
Austria to France
brujula
France sends to the UK
KathyS
flowergirl68
minx2012
safness
flowergirl68
seacloud49 in Germany
niksu in Finland
waiting for more people...
Edited on 8/3/04 to include brujula, whom I had forgotten in the beginning... sorry!
Edited on 9/22/04 to adjust order.
cait017
saram23
PhillyCarol
rrrcaron
guinaveve
mom-of-one [unable to reach mom-of-one as of 9/22/04. She is being skipped in favor of the next person in line.]
jenndiggy
WritinReader
BigBird2002
raquelsita
Raquelsita sends to Canada. Thanks, Raquelsita!
gill846
Gill846 sends this book from Canada to Austria,
allbookedup
Austria to France
brujula
France sends to the UK
KathyS
flowergirl68
minx2012
safness
flowergirl68
seacloud49 in Germany
niksu in Finland
waiting for more people...
Thanks BlueAmazon for offering this book ray! Will start ASAP.
Update:
Just finished this last night. Burroughs' life (and his writing) are soooo crazy. A book review quoted on the back of the book says that _Running with Scissors_ provokes many visceral responses (laughter, wincing, retching), and I couldn't have put it better myself. Some parts were so disgusting. I seriously can't believe this really happened to him!
I read another memoir about someone's insane mother, I think it's titled _Daughter of the Queen of Sheba_, which pales in comparison to Burroughs. I love how this memoir doesn't take itself too seriously; the writing isn't grammatically perfect which makes it so much more readable.
I've already started _Dry_, and I think it's imperative to read _Running with Scissors_ first, even though he does include some background information in _Dry_ as well. I definitely view his life more respectfully in terms of where he's come from. And I'm very happy for him that his writing career has become such a success.
****
Mailed on to saram23 today.
Update:
Just finished this last night. Burroughs' life (and his writing) are soooo crazy. A book review quoted on the back of the book says that _Running with Scissors_ provokes many visceral responses (laughter, wincing, retching), and I couldn't have put it better myself. Some parts were so disgusting. I seriously can't believe this really happened to him!
I read another memoir about someone's insane mother, I think it's titled _Daughter of the Queen of Sheba_, which pales in comparison to Burroughs. I love how this memoir doesn't take itself too seriously; the writing isn't grammatically perfect which makes it so much more readable.
I've already started _Dry_, and I think it's imperative to read _Running with Scissors_ first, even though he does include some background information in _Dry_ as well. I definitely view his life more respectfully in terms of where he's come from. And I'm very happy for him that his writing career has become such a success.
****
Mailed on to saram23 today.
I am putting my other books aside to read this one and pass it on.
Received in the mail today. Thank you! This has been on my wishlist for awhile. It's next on my TBR pile (after Angels & Demons bookring which I'm currently reading).
A truly disturbing book. I found myself checking the cover more than once to be sure that it was a memoir and not fiction. People really live like that? Or specifically, Augusten's family (or pseudo-family) lived like that? It's so crazy that it has to be true because who could make that stuff up?! I don't really see how anyone could find it to be funny though. I may have laughed at some point but my laughter was more in horror than in humor. Am I glad I read it? I'm not sure. Would I recommend it? Again, I'm not sure. It was well written for the type of story it was but I really think it is a disturbing book about a disturbing life.
I'm sending it on to rrrcaron next.
I'm sending it on to rrrcaron next.
I received this book today. I will be starting it soon!
Ruth
Ruth
I never quite found the time to get to this book. I really wanted to read it, but the busy summer got in my way! I apogize for holding it too long. Hopefully, I'll find another chance to read it in the future. Sending on to guinaveve on Tuesday.
Ruth
Ruth
I started reading this soon after my last journal entry. I managed to read it after all! It was a bizarre read, and is very hard to believe that all this is actually true. I've never read a memoir quite like this one!! Sending off to guinavieve today.
Ruth
Ruth
I read this book and was left very curious. Are there really families like these? Was the author accurate in his storytelling or did he exaggerate so much for the sake of humor that he changed events of his past? (Yes, the situations were bad enough to make me wonder this). How did he turn out as an adult? What sense of normalacy does he have now? I am looking forward to reading his next book "Dry."
******************************************
sending on to jenndiggy, enjoy
******************************************
sending on to jenndiggy, enjoy
10/1 I received this in the mail today. I have one bookring ahead of this one, but I'm a fast reader, so hopefully I'll be finishing that one soon!
10/6 Just finished this book, and its packed up to be sent to the next person on the list. I'll be heading to the post office tommorrow.
I think I lived next door to this family growing up. Oh wait, I didn't live in MA. :)
Considering some of the stuff I saw in the family next door when I was growing up, none of this shocks me, and I find it believable. (Yes, I know its non-fiction.)
It was a facinating book, and I'm glad I had the chance to read it.
Tracking via usps.com:
0280 5213 9070 6794 9567
10/6 Just finished this book, and its packed up to be sent to the next person on the list. I'll be heading to the post office tommorrow.
I think I lived next door to this family growing up. Oh wait, I didn't live in MA. :)
Considering some of the stuff I saw in the family next door when I was growing up, none of this shocks me, and I find it believable. (Yes, I know its non-fiction.)
It was a facinating book, and I'm glad I had the chance to read it.
Tracking via usps.com:
0280 5213 9070 6794 9567
Just got this and will read asap. Thanks for sharing it.
Interesting but very strange. I'm not sure what else to say. Thanks for sharing this.
Just came in the mail today. I have 1 1/2 other bookrings ahead of it and will get to it as soon as I can!
I just couldn't get into this book, probably because I am so busy with life right now. I don't want to keep it too long to keep trying to read it, so I am going to send it on as soon as I have an address from the next reader.
Thanks BlueAmazon for sending this out =)
Thanks BlueAmazon for sending this out =)
gill846 has asked to be skipped so this is being sent to allbookedup in Austria this week.
Journal Entry 25 by allbookedup from Wien Bezirk 21 - Floridsdorf, Wien Austria on Friday, December 17, 2004
The book arrived yesterday, thank you.
But another bookring also arrived the day before yesterday and then there's the upcoming holidays... So I hope everybody understands that it might take a bit longer to read it and pass it on! I will keep you updated!
But another bookring also arrived the day before yesterday and then there's the upcoming holidays... So I hope everybody understands that it might take a bit longer to read it and pass it on! I will keep you updated!
Journal Entry 26 by allbookedup from Wien Bezirk 21 - Floridsdorf, Wien Austria on Monday, January 10, 2005
I started reading yesterday.
I am sorry that it took me a while to get to the book, first it was the holidays and then there was another bookring.
I will finish the book within this week hopefully and send it off next week to the next person in line! I already have their address, so I can send it off immediately after finishing it!
I am sorry that it took me a while to get to the book, first it was the holidays and then there was another bookring.
I will finish the book within this week hopefully and send it off next week to the next person in line! I already have their address, so I can send it off immediately after finishing it!
Journal Entry 27 by allbookedup from Wien Bezirk 21 - Floridsdorf, Wien Austria on Tuesday, January 18, 2005
I finished the book yesterday. What can I say about it? It was weird! This crazy doctor and Augusten's crazy mother and his older boyfriend... Wow, it's a small wonder that the survived without going crazy himself!
I'm glad that he and Natalie made the best of their situation. I liked the fact that they stuck together.
I think I would also like to read "Dry" to see how everything worked out for him.
I will send the book off today to Brujula.
I'm glad that he and Natalie made the best of their situation. I liked the fact that they stuck together.
I think I would also like to read "Dry" to see how everything worked out for him.
I will send the book off today to Brujula.
Journal Entry 28 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Wednesday, February 2, 2005
Received today.
Thank you BlueAmazon and allbookedup!
Thank you BlueAmazon and allbookedup!
It is hard to believe this is a true story. It is really difficult to imagine such a weird family, and it's a wonder the author survived through it all. What the "Doctor" and Augusten's mother seem to find normal is legally qualified as rape or sexual abuse (Nathalie's relationship with the adult who was her guardian for a few years, and Augusten's relationship with Neil).
Some of the descriptions nauseated me, like Augusten and Neil's first sexual encounter. I wanted to scream "stop! can't you see what you're doing! he's too young!"
Thank you for sharing this book, BlueAmazon!
I'm sending it to KathyS today!
Some of the descriptions nauseated me, like Augusten and Neil's first sexual encounter. I wanted to scream "stop! can't you see what you're doing! he's too young!"
Thank you for sharing this book, BlueAmazon!
I'm sending it to KathyS today!
Arrived safely this morning and will be next in line after my current bookring is finished.
I found this a truely disturbing book. I really felt for the children growing up in this unbelievably dysfunctional family headed by a psychiatrist! (Although I shouldn't have been that surprised - having worked in Mental Health myself, I often found that the staff were more "nuts" than their patients!)
I felt sorry that Augusten never got to experience childhood. He was thrust into a crazy world where he was forced to survive at such an early age and was allowed to abandon his education. What were the adults around him thinking?! Allowing him incredible freedom and permission to experience so many inappropriate things, without having the maturity to fully understand the consequences. It's interesting that, at one point he should say "The problem with not having anybody to tell you what to do, I understood, is that there was nobody to tell you what not to do."
Not a pleasant book to read but, nonetheless, quite funny in places and a real eye opener in others.
UPDATE - 26 April 2005
I was unable to contact flowergirl68, and minx2012 asked to be passed, so the book will now be moving on to safness once I get their details.
UPDATE - 27 April 2005
Flowergirl68 has been in touch! She didn't receive any PMs from me but still wants to be included on the ring. BlueAmazon is to confirm which order to send the book out now :o)
UPDATE - 1 May 2005
It has been decided to send the book to safness first and for them to contact Flowergirl68 for forwarding details once they have finished with it. The book is still with me at the moment because of a tragic bereavement in our village that has knocked the whole community for six and has meant that BCing has been forgotten. I plan to get the book in the post on either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.
I felt sorry that Augusten never got to experience childhood. He was thrust into a crazy world where he was forced to survive at such an early age and was allowed to abandon his education. What were the adults around him thinking?! Allowing him incredible freedom and permission to experience so many inappropriate things, without having the maturity to fully understand the consequences. It's interesting that, at one point he should say "The problem with not having anybody to tell you what to do, I understood, is that there was nobody to tell you what not to do."
Not a pleasant book to read but, nonetheless, quite funny in places and a real eye opener in others.
UPDATE - 26 April 2005
I was unable to contact flowergirl68, and minx2012 asked to be passed, so the book will now be moving on to safness once I get their details.
UPDATE - 27 April 2005
Flowergirl68 has been in touch! She didn't receive any PMs from me but still wants to be included on the ring. BlueAmazon is to confirm which order to send the book out now :o)
UPDATE - 1 May 2005
It has been decided to send the book to safness first and for them to contact Flowergirl68 for forwarding details once they have finished with it. The book is still with me at the moment because of a tragic bereavement in our village that has knocked the whole community for six and has meant that BCing has been forgotten. I plan to get the book in the post on either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.
Journal Entry 32 by KathyS at -- Controlled Release in -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Monday, May 2, 2005
Released 19 yrs ago (5/3/2005 UTC) at -- Controlled Release in -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
On it's way by 2nd class post to safness. Enjoy!
On it's way by 2nd class post to safness. Enjoy!
I really liked this! I wasn't too sure what to expect when I got half way through, but I didn't imagine a happy ending suddenly popping up. it's too bizaare for that.
I loved how Burroughs takes you though so many emotions, and such random incidents that you forget all this is real. that makes it difficult to deal with actually, the fact that this guy had such a...unbelievable childhood. makes petty bickering and fighting with my family pale into insignificance! It's a touching book, but uncomfortable too. It's odd how in some places I laughed out loud. It wasn't amusment though, more like disbelief and shock.
Saying that, i can't wait to read "Dry" now, just to see where this all leads....
PS. have PMed flowergirl86, and will send the book out on thursday 19th may...
PPS. sent book out to flowergirl86 today (tuesday 24th)..yes, i completely forgot! hope it reaches you soon flowergirl86, and sorry for the delay!
I loved how Burroughs takes you though so many emotions, and such random incidents that you forget all this is real. that makes it difficult to deal with actually, the fact that this guy had such a...unbelievable childhood. makes petty bickering and fighting with my family pale into insignificance! It's a touching book, but uncomfortable too. It's odd how in some places I laughed out loud. It wasn't amusment though, more like disbelief and shock.
Saying that, i can't wait to read "Dry" now, just to see where this all leads....
PS. have PMed flowergirl86, and will send the book out on thursday 19th may...
PPS. sent book out to flowergirl86 today (tuesday 24th)..yes, i completely forgot! hope it reaches you soon flowergirl86, and sorry for the delay!
This arrived today. I am currently reading another bookring, but I'll start this as soon as I've finished that one.
Well, the style of this book was easy to read, but as for the content, I found this very disturbing. Like many others I had to keep reminding myself that this is non-fiction - I couldn't believe that this could actually happen. I'm not sure how I feel now, whether or not I enjoyed it, or would recommend it. I really don't know. I don't have any desire to read Dry at the moment, but I may think about it in a couple of months, when I have digested this properly. I do know that this book will stay with me for a long time.
Sent to seacloud49 this afternoon.
Sent to seacloud49 this afternoon.
Just arrived in my mailbox! :-) Looking forward to reading it!!
I really enjoyed this book! It kind of seemed to me like a crazier version of "The Hotel New Hampshire" by John Irving, which I really liked, too. "Running with Scissors" is gross, funny, disturbing and hilarious at the same time! I don't think I've ever read a crazier book! I especially liked Augusten and Natalie's "kitchen project" :-) However, as much as I liked the book, I don't think I'll read "Dry" anytime soon...
I'll send the book on its way as soon as I have niksu's address.
I'll send the book on its way as soon as I have niksu's address.
Journal Entry 38 by seacloud49 at BookRing in -- Per Post geschickt/ Persönlich weitergegeben --, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Released 19 yrs ago (7/12/2005 UTC) at BookRing in -- Per Post geschickt/ Persönlich weitergegeben --, Baden-Württemberg Germany
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Sent to niksu. Enjoy!
Sent to niksu. Enjoy!
The book arrived today. Thanks seacloud49! This will have to wait for awhile before I'm able to start reading.
Definitely the craziest book I’ve ever read! And all the time it kept me thinking, this really has been someones life?? I’m not quite sure did I like it or not...Maybe I'll pass the Dry.
The book will continue it's journey in Finland:
Piiku, Parainen
intrycksflikka, Turku
ritao, Hämeenlinna
ruzena, Hämeenlinna
tirppis, Helsinki
dotdot, Helsinki
RoryG, Helsinki
CandyDarling, Helsinki
chrisim, Tampere
.
.
harmaja, Helsinki (requested to be last)
Piiku, Parainen
intrycksflikka, Turku
ritao, Hämeenlinna
ruzena, Hämeenlinna
tirppis, Helsinki
dotdot, Helsinki
RoryG, Helsinki
CandyDarling, Helsinki
chrisim, Tampere
.
.
harmaja, Helsinki (requested to be last)
Journal Entry 42 by 
Piiku
from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Thursday, July 28, 2005
Piiku from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Thursday, July 28, 2005
I received the book yesterday, thank you Niksu! This will be an interesting reading experience..
Journal Entry 43 by Piiku from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Sunday, July 31, 2005
Piiku from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Sunday, July 31, 2005
Well, this was crazy allright, but I did not really belive a word of it! Would have been much more fun(?) to read, if I didn't try to figure out whether this really was about Augustens real life or not.
Journal Entry 44 by intry from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Wednesday, August 3, 2005
I recieved the book today from Piiku. I look forward reading the book, this is perfect for my long trainjourney in the beginning of next week :-)
Journal Entry 45 by intry from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland Finland on Monday, August 22, 2005
This is a very special books. It is interesting, funny, a bit disturbing, weird and addictive in strange ways. I think that I came to the conclusion that I really liked the book, can't say that I enjoyed it all the way, but I liked it. I would really love to read other books by him.
Must add: I have never ever read a BCbook that has so many earlier readers and journals. It is really great to see that a book can actually travel through so many hands. =)
Sending it next to ritao!
Must add: I have never ever read a BCbook that has so many earlier readers and journals. It is really great to see that a book can actually travel through so many hands. =)
Sending it next to ritao!
Received the book today in the mail, will start reading it ASAP. Unfortunately there is one bookring book before it, but I'll try to be quick! :)
26.9.2005
Finished the book over the weekend. I found it very hard to put down and the writing was very fluent - I just wanted to read on and on. I quess I liked "Running With Scissors", but wouldn't really like to read it again. And I'm not too anxious about "Dry" either.
Special for Finnish readers: There is Marimekko mentioned in the latter part of the book. It was very odd to see that Finnish word among all the English sentences. :D
Will give the book to ruzena next week.
26.9.2005
Finished the book over the weekend. I found it very hard to put down and the writing was very fluent - I just wanted to read on and on. I quess I liked "Running With Scissors", but wouldn't really like to read it again. And I'm not too anxious about "Dry" either.
Special for Finnish readers: There is Marimekko mentioned in the latter part of the book. It was very odd to see that Finnish word among all the English sentences. :D
Will give the book to ruzena next week.
Received today. According to Ruzena's 2nd principle of Bookcrossing, will be read in one week.
EDIT 6.10.: IHAN HULLU!
As to the cathegory, this is rather Literature & Fiction instead of Biographies & Memories. An "autobiographic novel" is different from "autobiography".
Anyway, no use to ponder if it is true or fiction - the guy knows how to write. The things that happen are more terrifying in the reader's head than in the writer's childlike text. The naive and innocent way of saying makes it often appear sarcastic, too. His dark humor often made me laugh aloud.
He is insane! More of this stuff!
- ruzena
Posted to tirppis today.
EDIT 6.10.: IHAN HULLU!
As to the cathegory, this is rather Literature & Fiction instead of Biographies & Memories. An "autobiographic novel" is different from "autobiography".
Anyway, no use to ponder if it is true or fiction - the guy knows how to write. The things that happen are more terrifying in the reader's head than in the writer's childlike text. The naive and innocent way of saying makes it often appear sarcastic, too. His dark humor often made me laugh aloud.
He is insane! More of this stuff!
- ruzena
Posted to tirppis today.
fetched from the post office today, thanks rezina!
Edit 7.3.
---------
I finished the book yeasterday after a long pause in between. I agree with some earlier comments in that the book would have been better if it was clear if this really was an autobiography or not. I didn't really get the impression that Augusten was crazy but especially in the end he seemed to be strangely unattached to the events he was discribing. I don't know if it was the style or if this was actually true... This was interesting to read but I don't think I'm going to read more of his work.
I'll leave the book to dotdot today or tomorrow. Sorry for the long delay.
Edit 7.3.
---------
I finished the book yeasterday after a long pause in between. I agree with some earlier comments in that the book would have been better if it was clear if this really was an autobiography or not. I didn't really get the impression that Augusten was crazy but especially in the end he seemed to be strangely unattached to the events he was discribing. I don't know if it was the style or if this was actually true... This was interesting to read but I don't think I'm going to read more of his work.
I'll leave the book to dotdot today or tomorrow. Sorry for the long delay.
Thanks tirppis and all 24 of you for passing this book on. I got it today. It goes to tbr-pile for a week or two due to bookrings.
I decided to think, that events and surroundings described in the book are based in real life. I didn't want to consider, if they are real or not. Burrouhg's recollections of his teen age were very well written and vivid. Most of them were hilarious, my favorite was the one about kitchen ceiling. There was a certain South Park feel in some of them, especially in the story about doctor's turd as a messenger of God. The family Burroughs was living in reminded more of a cult than a family.
I'll pass the book on to RoryG.
I'll pass the book on to RoryG.
I picked this up yesterday but I've been real busy, and haven't had time to register it before. I have few bookrings before this, but I should be getting to this soon.
Well, Burroughs sure can write. I couldn't really put the book down, although I found it very disturbing. I don't think I would like to read more of his work though. I didn't think that the book was funny, mostly disturbing but then again I really don't know what to think. I'm kind of confused at the moment.
Oddly, the most disturbing for me was how the Finch family treated the mother, Agnes. It was as she was there for everyone else's use. The complete lack of empathy towards her that was fueled by Dr. Finch himself made me feel really uneasy. Of course the relationship between Augusten and Neil didn't really make me feel good either...
Well, I'll pass this along when I next time meet CandyDarling.
Oddly, the most disturbing for me was how the Finch family treated the mother, Agnes. It was as she was there for everyone else's use. The complete lack of empathy towards her that was fueled by Dr. Finch himself made me feel really uneasy. Of course the relationship between Augusten and Neil didn't really make me feel good either...
Well, I'll pass this along when I next time meet CandyDarling.
Got the book from RoryG today, thanks!
Journal Entry 54 by CandyDarling from Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Thursday, September 28, 2006
At first I had a bit of trouble getting into this book, but I kept going, and as the book neared it end, I was oddly fond of the weird Finches, especially Natalie. I had no trouble believing that this had actually happened, and it makes me a bit sad. Sad for the kids, who grew up with parents completely incapable of giving them any kind of normal life. One of the most interesting points was that Augusten felt trapped, despite of having no limits. Perhaps we need some limits to truly be free?
One scene that made me laugh in shock was when the family dog was licking the genitalia of the 6-year-old boy Poo Bear, and no one in the family intervened in any way. It would be very interesting to know how something like that affects a person's sexuality... Apparently the Finch family had no limits, as Dr. Finch gave his 13-year-old daughter Natalie away to a man in his fourties. That, and Augusten's relationship with Bookman made me think how common these kind of relationships are. I know several people who have lost their virginity at 15 to someone in their thirties, and one of my male friends lost his virginity when he was 13 to a girl who was over 18. With Natalie and Augusten the sexual relationships clearly resulted from the desperate need to be loved, and because they had no parents who were able to do that, they sought love from a sexual partner. Unfortunately with that much age difference, it's hard to have an equal relationship, especially in Natalie's case, where her lover was also her legal guardian.
I just watched the trailer for the movie Running with Scissors from the author's website, and now I'm very much looking forward to seeing the film!
I mailed the book to chrisim today.
One scene that made me laugh in shock was when the family dog was licking the genitalia of the 6-year-old boy Poo Bear, and no one in the family intervened in any way. It would be very interesting to know how something like that affects a person's sexuality... Apparently the Finch family had no limits, as Dr. Finch gave his 13-year-old daughter Natalie away to a man in his fourties. That, and Augusten's relationship with Bookman made me think how common these kind of relationships are. I know several people who have lost their virginity at 15 to someone in their thirties, and one of my male friends lost his virginity when he was 13 to a girl who was over 18. With Natalie and Augusten the sexual relationships clearly resulted from the desperate need to be loved, and because they had no parents who were able to do that, they sought love from a sexual partner. Unfortunately with that much age difference, it's hard to have an equal relationship, especially in Natalie's case, where her lover was also her legal guardian.
I just watched the trailer for the movie Running with Scissors from the author's website, and now I'm very much looking forward to seeing the film!
I mailed the book to chrisim today.
Thank you CandyDarling for the book and the link to movie trailer too! I'll try to read this as soon as possible. I must read another ring book first.
26.10. It seems that I don't have enough time for everything fun so I decided not to read this book. Don't want to chain 'Scissors' since I've heard that harmaja has planned to release this book :) So I posted book yesterday to harmaja.
26.10. It seems that I don't have enough time for everything fun so I decided not to read this book. Don't want to chain 'Scissors' since I've heard that harmaja has planned to release this book :) So I posted book yesterday to harmaja.
I received this book in the mail today. Thanks, chrisim! Wow, 28 journalers before me!!! This is by far the most well-traveled bookcrossing book I've encountered!
My plan for this book is to read it when I have time and then release it in Northampton. My friend lives in "squalor and filth in Northampton, MA" (well, in nice commune house, really) and I find it funny that I could release this book in the town where the story takes place.
I have a bit of a bad conscience that chrisim sent me the book before she read it herself. I am not planning to travel to Northampton until maybe next August, since my friend is getting married sometime around then. Chrisim would have had time to finish the book before August... I guess I should have been more active and should have let her know there's no hurry! (Would you like me to send the book back to you for some more time, chrisim? :-) I can do that!)
One thing to do would be to take this book to a local meet-up and see if anyone else would like to read it before me. I know Niksu has asked around when organizing the Finland end of this book ray, but there seem to be lots of new people in the meet-ups nowadays, and who knows, maybe someone would be interested.
In any case I'm happy to have received this book. It really has come a long way!
My plan for this book is to read it when I have time and then release it in Northampton. My friend lives in "squalor and filth in Northampton, MA" (well, in nice commune house, really) and I find it funny that I could release this book in the town where the story takes place.
I have a bit of a bad conscience that chrisim sent me the book before she read it herself. I am not planning to travel to Northampton until maybe next August, since my friend is getting married sometime around then. Chrisim would have had time to finish the book before August... I guess I should have been more active and should have let her know there's no hurry! (Would you like me to send the book back to you for some more time, chrisim? :-) I can do that!)
One thing to do would be to take this book to a local meet-up and see if anyone else would like to read it before me. I know Niksu has asked around when organizing the Finland end of this book ray, but there seem to be lots of new people in the meet-ups nowadays, and who knows, maybe someone would be interested.
In any case I'm happy to have received this book. It really has come a long way!
I needed a break from my study books and decided to grab "Running with Scissors" for some fun reading instead. (Gives a whole new meaning for "fun", doesn't it?)
I liked the book. It was well-written and surprisingly light reading despite the heavy content. I never worried about whether or not all this stuff happened for real, because I don't think any text can depict life as it's lived and experienced. I think all biographies are works of fiction, even autobiographies, and autobiographical novels even more so. Any act of remembering is already part imagination, and putting a remembrance into words removes the things being said even further away from "real life" (which is a pretty poorly defined concept as well). And I'm sure that a professional writer telling about their own life will take artistic liberties as well. Why wouldn't they? It might make a great book, such as this one.
That being said, I have no trouble believing all this could have happened to someone. I was grossed out by some scenes, but no detail was so gross or weird that I couldn't believe such things can really happen.
Like RoryG, I was fascinated by the mother Agnes. She was, in a way, one of the weirdest characters. It seemed like almost everyone else could get a kick out of their mad ways every now and then, doing all the fun stuff they felt like doing and never caring about the consequences, but Agnes' madness was always dismal and sad. She was burdened down by the household chores more than anyone else in the doctor's family, and she was the least respected member of the family. I also thought Hope was being raised to be the Agnes of the younger generation, one to look after her father and be responsible for the family after the old Agnes was too tired to go on.
All in all, I enjoyed the dark humour and the witty writing style that reminded me mostly of David Sedaris. On the minus side, I thought the story got a bit incoherent at some point in the middle. There was, for example, the chapter about Augusten's brother that didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the story, and I didn't understand why it was there.
I still haven't booked my tickets to Northampton, and I am thinking about arranging a short bookring before I go. I'll probably talk to Niksu about it sometime soon.
Thanks, all, for passing on this book! It was great to read all the previous journal entries before I wrote my own. I wish more bookcrossing books travelled this long, it certainly adds to the joy of reading!
I liked the book. It was well-written and surprisingly light reading despite the heavy content. I never worried about whether or not all this stuff happened for real, because I don't think any text can depict life as it's lived and experienced. I think all biographies are works of fiction, even autobiographies, and autobiographical novels even more so. Any act of remembering is already part imagination, and putting a remembrance into words removes the things being said even further away from "real life" (which is a pretty poorly defined concept as well). And I'm sure that a professional writer telling about their own life will take artistic liberties as well. Why wouldn't they? It might make a great book, such as this one.
That being said, I have no trouble believing all this could have happened to someone. I was grossed out by some scenes, but no detail was so gross or weird that I couldn't believe such things can really happen.
Like RoryG, I was fascinated by the mother Agnes. She was, in a way, one of the weirdest characters. It seemed like almost everyone else could get a kick out of their mad ways every now and then, doing all the fun stuff they felt like doing and never caring about the consequences, but Agnes' madness was always dismal and sad. She was burdened down by the household chores more than anyone else in the doctor's family, and she was the least respected member of the family. I also thought Hope was being raised to be the Agnes of the younger generation, one to look after her father and be responsible for the family after the old Agnes was too tired to go on.
All in all, I enjoyed the dark humour and the witty writing style that reminded me mostly of David Sedaris. On the minus side, I thought the story got a bit incoherent at some point in the middle. There was, for example, the chapter about Augusten's brother that didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the story, and I didn't understand why it was there.
I still haven't booked my tickets to Northampton, and I am thinking about arranging a short bookring before I go. I'll probably talk to Niksu about it sometime soon.
Thanks, all, for passing on this book! It was great to read all the previous journal entries before I wrote my own. I wish more bookcrossing books travelled this long, it certainly adds to the joy of reading!
I can't do it! I can't release Running with Scissors in the wild! Not with 29 journalers and all! I have this fear it will be thrown in the trash can immediately as I release it, and that will be the end of its travels! And there are still plenty of people (more than 50) wishing for the book, so it has lots of potential bookcrosser readers left.
Normally I'm all for wild releasing and letting the karma work its way. But then again, I've never read a bookcrossing book with 29 journalers, and now I'm greedy for more. So I've made a deal with chrisim, who kindly sent me the book before she even had a chance to read it herself. I'll send Running with Scissor back to chrisim and she may read it at her leisure. Later on she will arrange another book ring or ray, it's up to her. The organizer of the first Finnish ring, Niksu, said it was OK by her that we create yet another ring.
(I just noticed Annelis has added Running with Scissors to her wish list, so it's possible she will get the book first. I'll let chrisim decide the reading order from now on since she has promised to host the ring / ray.)
So, no wild release yet, but maybe after the next ring is done someone else is more brave (and less greedy for sure-fire journal entries) and will finally release the book in the wild! Who knows!
Normally I'm all for wild releasing and letting the karma work its way. But then again, I've never read a bookcrossing book with 29 journalers, and now I'm greedy for more. So I've made a deal with chrisim, who kindly sent me the book before she even had a chance to read it herself. I'll send Running with Scissor back to chrisim and she may read it at her leisure. Later on she will arrange another book ring or ray, it's up to her. The organizer of the first Finnish ring, Niksu, said it was OK by her that we create yet another ring.
(I just noticed Annelis has added Running with Scissors to her wish list, so it's possible she will get the book first. I'll let chrisim decide the reading order from now on since she has promised to host the ring / ray.)
So, no wild release yet, but maybe after the next ring is done someone else is more brave (and less greedy for sure-fire journal entries) and will finally release the book in the wild! Who knows!
It's all settled now. I'm giving Running with Scissors to Annelis first and she will send it on to chrisim, who will make yet another ring / ray of it. This works for everyone.
Running with Scissors is now book #51 in my "2006 Keep Them Moving" challenge, started by Guinaveve. I didn't manage to release the book during 2006, but as I read it in 2006, Guinaveve said to go ahead and include it in the challenge anyway!
Running with Scissors is now book #51 in my "2006 Keep Them Moving" challenge, started by Guinaveve. I didn't manage to release the book during 2006, but as I read it in 2006, Guinaveve said to go ahead and include it in the challenge anyway!
I got the book from Harmaja at the meeting in Helsinki today. After reading I am to send it to Chrisim who will get more readers for it. Thanks for the book, all of you who have kept it moving!
Well, what should I say? My childhood was far from the ordinary, but it was not sexually colourful and even in other ways nothing compared to that. We did not have Christmas tree still in May but a couple of times it might have been in the house still in February. And often there was a heap of boots under a tree as they flew after us when we were running away from punishment. The boots flew straight ahead and ended under the tree but we turned behind the corner of the house. The book Ilonen talo (Merry House) by Kreetta Onkeli comes to my mind while reading this. Only in her merry house there was not so many kinds of sexual abuse but the children were likewise not taken care of.
Let's try if Chrisim now has time to read this.
Thanks for letting me read this book!
This is my #19 book for the Keep Them Moving Challenge 2007 arranged by Guinaveve.
Thanks Annelis, the book arrived today. I got another chance with this book. I just didn't have time to read it last time. This time I won't let the book go before reading it!
I read this 'true story' quite slowly because it depressed me a lot. I just can't bear sad stories about mistreated children. I become angry and frustrated because helpless feelings. So I wouldn't say this was a funny book. Somehow the story reminds me Todd Solondz's movie Happiness.
Friendship of Augusten and Natalie was the strongest link in this story. For their sake I could continue reading and hoping the best for them. Sometimes the events just were too much for me. As this is a true strory I'm content that Augusten felt like revealing his diaries and that he became an author.
Harmaja has wished that as many people as possible could read this book and she hopes that this book keeps on circulating among bookcrossers for the time being.
I'm taking this book with me to tomorrow's meeting.
8.8.07 I've almost forgotten I promised to organize a bookring or ray for this book! I'll update the participant list upon receiving enrollments.
Friendship of Augusten and Natalie was the strongest link in this story. For their sake I could continue reading and hoping the best for them. Sometimes the events just were too much for me. As this is a true strory I'm content that Augusten felt like revealing his diaries and that he became an author.
Harmaja has wished that as many people as possible could read this book and she hopes that this book keeps on circulating among bookcrossers for the time being.
I'm taking this book with me to tomorrow's meeting.
8.8.07 I've almost forgotten I promised to organize a bookring or ray for this book! I'll update the participant list upon receiving enrollments.
This was definitely one of the weirdest book I've read this year. So crazy and scary. Somehow it reminded me of Tove Janssons Momin trolls, but with a very dark twist...
After thinking a lot about this book and some others describing the same time and similar events I decided that the story could be true. There are just a couple minor details I kept wondering about. Like wasn't there any social workers or something to check up on the kids like Natalie or Augusten whose guardianship was given to someone outside their family? Such a person would have taken all the children away from the Finchs' house in a blink.
Well, I'm going to find out if there's still Finnish BookCrossers who want to read the book and then it goes to katrinat in England and hopefully keeps going on as a ray. The book still looks new, even though it has travelled so much.
***
Edit 10/ 27/2007 : Finally send the book to Tintti today.
After thinking a lot about this book and some others describing the same time and similar events I decided that the story could be true. There are just a couple minor details I kept wondering about. Like wasn't there any social workers or something to check up on the kids like Natalie or Augusten whose guardianship was given to someone outside their family? Such a person would have taken all the children away from the Finchs' house in a blink.
Well, I'm going to find out if there's still Finnish BookCrossers who want to read the book and then it goes to katrinat in England and hopefully keeps going on as a ray. The book still looks new, even though it has travelled so much.
***
Edit 10/ 27/2007 : Finally send the book to Tintti today.
List of participants of Book Ray
1. chirel, Tampere Finland
2. Tintti, Jyväskylä Finland
3. PussInBooks, UK, Europe only
4. katrinat, UK
5. Mary-T, Germany, int. *she has the book now*
6. Pistaccio, Belgium, int.
7. nynjagrrrl, USA
1. chirel, Tampere Finland
2. Tintti, Jyväskylä Finland
3. PussInBooks, UK, Europe only
4. katrinat, UK
5. Mary-T, Germany, int. *she has the book now*
6. Pistaccio, Belgium, int.
7. nynjagrrrl, USA
Wow, this book has traveled a lot!
I have a couple of ring books to read before this but I'll try to be quick.
I have a couple of ring books to read before this but I'll try to be quick.
I just couldn't read this book, I didn't like it at all. After about 70 pages I decided that I can't go on. The book wasn't funny at all, it was just disturbing. Too disturbing for me.
I recently read another book about mistreated children ("Sikalat" by Susanna Alakoski), and I think I don't want to read anything on the subject for a while. I just feel too bad when reading that kind of (true) stories.
I'll send the book to PussInBooks as soon as I get the address.
I recently read another book about mistreated children ("Sikalat" by Susanna Alakoski), and I think I don't want to read anything on the subject for a while. I just feel too bad when reading that kind of (true) stories.
I'll send the book to PussInBooks as soon as I get the address.
Journal Entry 68 by PussInBooks from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Friday, November 23, 2007
received today, thanks to Tintti. Will read and pass on.
Journal Entry 69 by PussInBooks from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, December 11, 2007
What a strange book. Definitely not in a similar vein to any of the 'bad childhood' books that seem to be popular at the moment. Burroughs' account of his utterly wacko childhood is not at all self-pitying or even that emotive. You find yourself reading the most disturbing descriptions with almost a wry smile as Burroughs just lays it all on the line in a brutally honest, darkly comic manner. It's easy to read quickly, yet many of the events are beyond disturbing, and several of the relationships described in the book seem to me basically to be child sexual abuse. After a while you do grow kind of tired of the dysfunction, and crave some normality. Perhaps that's the author's aim, to make you feel as exhausted with his weird life as he does, but it doesn't stop the book grating after a while.
And off it goes to katrinat...
And off it goes to katrinat...
Journal Entry 70 by katrinat from Southend-on-Sea, Essex United Kingdom on Thursday, December 20, 2007
Recieved yesterday as part of a book ring, started it straigt away as i recieved 2 bookring books in 1 day (aghh!), seems really good if a little strange so far x
Journal Entry 71 by katrinat from Southend-on-Sea, Essex United Kingdom on Thursday, December 27, 2007
Finished this yesterday and will be sending it off to Germany tomorrow.
I have to say that I didn't enjoy this read, as it was so strange I couldn't beieve that all this could happen. I was reading it in the hairdressers the other day and got to Augusten's first sexual experience, I was so worried someone would read a line or two over my shoulder!
I have to say that I didn't enjoy this read, as it was so strange I couldn't beieve that all this could happen. I was reading it in the hairdressers the other day and got to Augusten's first sexual experience, I was so worried someone would read a line or two over my shoulder!
This arrived yesterday. Thanks.
I'm really interested in reading this.
... to be continued
25 Feb 08
This is really a weird book. Even if it was disturbing sometimes - I liked to read it.
Well - as sad as it is - I believe all this can be the truth.
I was really wondering in the beginning why Augusten still kept to Bookman and overall kept to the physical aspects of their relationship even if he didn't like it. Also, I was wondering how he could think about all this as love. Well - but being raised like that, and living surrounded by all this strangeness, I think this might happen.
Anyway, there were also parts when the read made me grin.
And to close, I need to admit that I am really glad that Dr. F lost his approbation at last. Even if this should have happened before.
And for the very last thing now - It's really a horrible combination from my perspective if a weird psycho doctor like this is also a believer in the strangest way... I never heard of bible dibs before - but I'm pretty sure that there are quite more people out there practising this!
So - when starting this book I thought this might be something for nachtengel1188 'cause she likes weird books. Now I am not really sure anymore and I fear she might get swamped by this read....
Anyway - the address of Pistaccio is already here and I will post it straight after nachtengel set it free.
Thanks to Pistaccio for allowing nachtengel a quick look.
And thanks to chrisim for giving me the oppertunity to read.
I'm really interested in reading this.
... to be continued
25 Feb 08
This is really a weird book. Even if it was disturbing sometimes - I liked to read it.
Well - as sad as it is - I believe all this can be the truth.
I was really wondering in the beginning why Augusten still kept to Bookman and overall kept to the physical aspects of their relationship even if he didn't like it. Also, I was wondering how he could think about all this as love. Well - but being raised like that, and living surrounded by all this strangeness, I think this might happen.
Anyway, there were also parts when the read made me grin.
And to close, I need to admit that I am really glad that Dr. F lost his approbation at last. Even if this should have happened before.
And for the very last thing now - It's really a horrible combination from my perspective if a weird psycho doctor like this is also a believer in the strangest way... I never heard of bible dibs before - but I'm pretty sure that there are quite more people out there practising this!
So - when starting this book I thought this might be something for nachtengel1188 'cause she likes weird books. Now I am not really sure anymore and I fear she might get swamped by this read....
Anyway - the address of Pistaccio is already here and I will post it straight after nachtengel set it free.
Thanks to Pistaccio for allowing nachtengel a quick look.
And thanks to chrisim for giving me the oppertunity to read.
Another bookcrossing member gave me this book in hope that it would be something that interests me.
Thanks Sissie!!! i really enjoyed reading this, and following Augusten as he tries finding his way in life! It is a very crazy book with VERY crazy characters that make reading it all the more fun!!!
Once again Thanks Sissie!!!
CAUGHT IN MANNHEIM BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG GERMANY
Thanks Sissie!!! i really enjoyed reading this, and following Augusten as he tries finding his way in life! It is a very crazy book with VERY crazy characters that make reading it all the more fun!!!
Once again Thanks Sissie!!!
CAUGHT IN MANNHEIM BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG GERMANY
Mary-T gave me this book in hope that it would be something that interests me.
Thanks Sissie!!! I really enjoyed reading this, and following Augusten as he tries finding his way in life even if it is not what you would hope for in everyday life! It is a very crazy story with VERY crazy characters, showing a little background on each and every one, that make reading it all the more fun!!!
This might not be something everyone would enjoy because it does show some "explicit" content, but its definetely worth a try!
Once again Thanks Sissie!!!
Thanks Sissie!!! I really enjoyed reading this, and following Augusten as he tries finding his way in life even if it is not what you would hope for in everyday life! It is a very crazy story with VERY crazy characters, showing a little background on each and every one, that make reading it all the more fun!!!
This might not be something everyone would enjoy because it does show some "explicit" content, but its definetely worth a try!
Once again Thanks Sissie!!!
I will send this book to the next participant tomorrow.
I just received this book from Mary T. Will start reading it very soon to keep the bookring moving (the book will next go to nynjagrrrl (USA).
I finished reading "Running with Scissors" and quite enjoyed it. I like the way Augusten tells the story and it was hard for me to put the book down before the end. Still, I'm not sure how I feel about this being a memoir (or claiming to be so?). In a way, I would prefer if this was just made up fiction because a lot of the interest of the book comes from the original characters and plots. If Augusten really went through all this, it takes away for me, part of the book's quality. Still, he had the talent to tell this in a funny way (rather, for example, than in a self-pyting pathetic way). Also, now that I have finished the book, I'm not sure of what's left in me from it. I enjoyed it a lot while reading it but it didn't really bring me anything staying in my mind after having closed it, like the best books do. However, the book got enough interest from me to make me curious of his other books and try reading at least one more. Waiting on nynjagirll's adress (next on the bookring list) to send it to her...
Journal Entry 78 by Pistaccio at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Released 16 yrs ago (4/15/2008 UTC) at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Sent to nynjagirll (next one on the list), via post mail. I hope you'll enjoy it!
Sent to nynjagirll (next one on the list), via post mail. I hope you'll enjoy it!
Wow, this book has traveled a lot. This came in the mail the other day. Thanks for sending it.
This book reminded me both of "Girl Interrupted" and "Pippi Longstocking". Some of the scenes were so bizarre but there were also scenes that made me laugh. I found the outdoor living room to be very amusing. Relocating the window without measuring is something Pippi would do. I am going to e-mail the person who started this ray to see if anyone else has joined. If not, I will start my own ray. With so many previous readers it MUST keep traveling!
Journal Entry 81 by trex3 from Flatrock, Newfoundland and Labrador Canada on Wednesday, August 27, 2008
I recived this book in the mail today. I can't wait to read it! Since I am the only one for this bookray, will I keep it and pass it on to another Bookcrosser, or send it back to you ?
Journal Entry 82 by trex3 from Flatrock, Newfoundland and Labrador Canada on Wednesday, December 3, 2008
i enjoyed this book it show how hard some one life was but he survived and was ok will pass on to a fellow reader
Released 15 yrs ago (4/23/2009 UTC) at St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador Canada
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
mail it to j4shaw happy reading
mail it to j4shaw happy reading
