It’s not often that I regret taking time to read a book… wishing that I’d never picked it up. But such is the case with Augusten Burroughs’ memoir, Running with Scissors.Â
I’m not even sure where I got this book (if you gave it to me, let me know and I’ll be happy to return it to you), but I noticed it sitting on my desk about the time I was looking for some holiday reading material. I seemed to recall previews for the movie – a scene with Gwyneth Paltrow and some kid knocking a hole in the ceiling to let in more light, and the dad thinking nothing of it…. and I thought it sounded kind of quirky, and decided to read the book.
I was NOT prepared for what lay in the pages. Well written, yes. Funny, at times. Engaging – well, I did finish the book…. and then when I put it down, wished I hadn’t. In fact, wished I’d never picked it up.   It was extremely disurbing, disgusting, crass, depressing and downright bizarre.   These are characters you’d expect to see shouting obscenities at each other on the Jerry Springer show. While I’m all for finding the humor in any situation, these stories of abuse and mental illness were a bit graphic and disturbing for me to be able to enjoy them.     That this is a memoir is truly sad….  though a testement to the human spirit’s ability to be able to survive the most horrifying of childhoods. Â
I mentioned to Kathy that I reading it the other day, and she said “Oh – I started reading that and put it down half way through… and I rarely decide not to finish a book. Just too disturbing.”  I wish I’d talked to her before I picked it up….
So that’s my review. I give the book 1.5 stars out of 5.Â
On the other hand – I highly recommend Eat, Pray, Love and believe I’ll read it again.
Have you read this book and have a differing view? Did you feel the same as me?  What books have you read, then wish you hadn’t?
Oh no, I wonder if I gave it to you. I had a completely different experience (maybe I was in a weird frame of mind because AT THE TIME OF READING I was in the midst of dealing with my bi-polar step son and felt like what the author described in his mother was quite accurate) Yes, the book was disturbing and funny and sad…not for everyone, I did enjoy it, not sure if enjoy is the right word but it did keep my attention.
I’m currently reading Eat Pray Love. I am liking it very much, mostly her complete honesty and very open heart.
Allison, you just described exactly how I felt about that book. I almost didn’t finish it as well. I kept thinking life would look up for that poor child, but alas, no, it never did. I was so disturbed because it was a true story, truth is stranger than fiction, indeed.
Then I saw his preview at the back of the book for his ‘sequel’ containing his trials with alcoholism and got even more depressed for him and his messed up life.
I will have to check out Eat Pray Love, lots of people have recommended that.
I just finished reading The Amber Spyglass, which was the last of the His Dark Materials triology. This has apparently been quite popular.
Let me start by saying I’m generally easy to please when it comes to movies and books. I’ll read whatever Craig recommends and enjoy it. But I hated this series.
I thought the first of the three (The Golden Compass) was the best, simply because it seemed to be setting the stage for something greater to come — for the importand details and motivations of the various characters.
I was continually annoyed, when I got to The Subtle Knife as more and more characters were introduced that just seem to muddy up the story with little purpose. I got so fed up I put The Subtle Knife down a number of times, including when I was just 4 pages from the end. But finally I read them to see if the book redeemed itself and moved on to The Amber Spyglass.
I kept looking hopefully forward to the revelations and details on the characters — waiting to learn who they were and what their part in things were — why they were doing what they were. It never came. I am still left wondering what the motivation was for nearly every character. Some characters suddenly changed their nature with no explanation as to why.
Why was Lord Asriel determined to accomplish his goal? Why him? What happend in his life that led him to this? Who knows… Why was Mrs. Coulter like she was? She seemed to have some unusual abilities. Why? What made her special?
The premise had promise — and there were some great ideas and quotes. But there were too many characters and not nearly enought character development, and nowhere near enough motivation, for me to even care.
So, if you liked the trilogy, I’m thrilled that it was time well spent for you. I’m still trying to figure out how something so disjointed and annoying could have been published, let alone have a movie made.
Perhaps the whole thing was just beyond me.
Kristin, exactly!!! I hated those damn books, they were all over the place and made no point, and WTF with the creatures with wheels for legs in the parallel universe?? Why was everyone so ape$hit over these?
When they made the movie for The Golden Compass (even with my boyfriend Daniel Craig in it)I had no desire to see it. That also went for Running with Scissors. I mean, how in the world do you concoct a movie from a book that includes a man that studies his *excrement* and makes prophecies about it??
Thank you both for reiterating my disappointment in all these books.
Michelle – I’m glad your experience was different… I imagine that if everyone felt like I did about this book, no movie would have been made. (Wwould you like the book back or shall I pass it on to some other unsuspecting soul? 🙂 )
I certainly can understand how/why this book was well received by some…. and how many could relate to at least some of the characters…. we are surrounded by madness in the world, after all. But was there a single even relatively “normal†one among the bunch? Mind you, I come from a family ripe with mental illness – and none of them (thank god) were/are this disturbed. I did have one crazy great uncle who was often found walking down the street naked…. which sounds completely normal compared to the bunch in this book.
Yes – Chris, Dr. Finch’s study of his excrement was the turning point for me, when I realized this book was never going to get any better. Living in that house must have been like living a life-long episode of “Fear Factor†(which I have often thought should be renamed “Gross-out Factorâ€).
Thank you for warning me off the Golden Compass trilogy, Kris/Chris…. so many good books to read – no need to spend time on the pointless ones 🙂
Alli, do what you will with the book, I don’t want it back.
Re: Running With Scissors
I hated that book! Just could not bring myself to finish it. Did anyone else hear that his mother was suing him, she claims that her son lied about a lot of the things he wrote.
I’d claim he lied too, if I were her (even if he didn’t). I imagine it is reasonable to assume some disparity between the memories of a 10 – 15 year old boy and his mother…
Oh, wow – I just found an interview with her on NPR (I love NPR)… apparently she isn’t sueing him (though they aren’t speaking) – but the family of the psychiatrist DID sue him.
Interesting NPR interview
Thank you for posting this- I will add that to my list of “What Not to Read” (right now that’s the only one on the list)
I read Running with Scissors because my mom liked it. I didn’t like it, but I wasn’t totally disturbed by it. I thought it was depressing but a little funny, and I guess I figured he was exaggerating in a lot of it; but who knows! I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone though.
Thanks for all your shoe help Allison! I love Zappos. That’s where I found all the shoes on my blog except the JCrew ones. I’m really considering the dyeables now though. All the ones I had seen looked a little dated, but the ones you sent are so cute!
I read the NPR interview. I really liked her. And the two poems they printed of hers were very thought provoking….