Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

A NonFiction, 2002 by Picador, 304 Pages

What I Didn’t Like:

• I’m sure it’s the point of the book but the doctor completely repulsed me, it made this book very hard to read.
• How did we get more than 20% of the way into the book before we learned there was a brother? Where was the brother for the entire childhood? How did the brother handle the divorce? So many questions! 
• Shocking sexual encounters are definitely part of this story. Consider that a content warning. 
• The entire story has an air of “if this is true, it’s shocking, illegal, and awful”. Which prompted me to do research and learn the author was sued for slander after this came out. So how much is true? We may never know and that sucks for a memoir. 

What I Did Like:

• The stories are intriguing and captivating. 
• The characters are definitely realistic and flawed. I like nonfiction (or based in fact, as this one is) that is full of imperfect characters who have made mistakes. That’s what this is.

Who Should Read This One:

• That’s tricky for me because the backtracking on this being a true story to this being “based on real life” bothers me. I’d say if you like raw/real stories based on true events, you’ll probably love this one.

My Rating: 2 Stars

• For me, not knowing what’s true and what’s “creative license” ruins the story.