Running With Scissors - Augusten Burroughs

When Augusten was twelve his mother gave him away to his psychiatrist, and a man who may have benefited from a touch of therapy himself. This is the story of the bizarre years Augusten spent in the doctors dilapidated Victorian mansion, getting to know the pedophile in-paitent who lives in the shed, eating Valium tablets like other kids eat sweeties and resorting to vintage electric shock therapy machine to liven up those quieter moments.



Running with scissors is a re-read. Its a book i loved the first time round, and has since read his bothers book which is equally as crazy 'Look me in the Eye, By John Elder Robinson', a life about aspergers, and want to Burrough's next books which promise to be equally as crazy. I thought i would revisit this brilliant novel.


This book is madness.


From the moment you pick it up, till the moment you put it down, you are thrown into a world so crazy it must be true. Living with so many people that should be in a crazy home, its a whirlwind of a story with snippets of madness all the way through.  Its a very raw book, with lots of bits that make you cringe. He also has a brilliant wit about the way he rights that makes you laugh so much throughout this book. I am fascinated by psychology and this is such a good read with all the different psychosis all the people in the book have. Augusten is literally living in a madhouse with so many different clashes of disorder and personality its just madness from beginning to end.


I love the style of writing in this story, its very engaging and witty and you just feel like you are being swept along with the madness of the story. Again it was a book i read in a day, but both because i couldn't put it down, and its so easy to read it doesn't take you long to get through it.


My partners brilliant comment after picking up the book and reading the first chapter
'What the fuck are you reading this book is crazy....can i read it when your done?'


I recommend it.