Blurb; 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.
My Review; My friend recommended this one to me and lent me her copy and from the start I could tell this was different from what I usually read. It’s a true story memoir. It’s a brutally honest, open and a heart breaking read. Nothing gets left unsaid or blanked out. It does contains swearing, fights and sex scenes.
When Augustens mum gives him up and let’s her own therapist adopt him his life changes forever. All I can say is he went from a lovely middle class life to the lowest of low very poor. What we would call a house full of feral kids, filthy, no rules and not much food to the point they try and eat dog food! The fact all of this is true amazes me.. Social Services would have stepped in if any of this happened recently. However, i really enjoyed it. Something different, eye opening. A look into a world I’ve luckily never had to endure.
I would recommend it! A well deserved four stars from me. I just hope Augusten has found himself a nice settled life now and is happy.
Between The Pages Book Club 