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Running With Scissors: A Memoir

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So far I'm only to the part where he goes to the Dr's house for the first time and his mother is going to stay in a motel. I will keep reading the book, but I don't know - something about it kind of creeps me out. I can't quite explain it or put my finger on it..but yeah...a little creepy. Maybe it will get better.
 
@ piratelady I felt that way too in the first part of the book. As Augusten gets older the reader developes a different relationship with him. I started out a worried protector, then observer, then part of the cheering section. Keep reading. It gets much better.
 
Its not something I would have read willingly, though I certainly don't regret it now. It was a bit slow in places... though it gets pretty good and ramps up for a great ending.
 
I managed to read a little more on Friday, while I was waiting for the bedding to wash. I have to say, I did not expect him to be gay. Not that it has any bearing on anything. How is mother acts and treats him makes me sad for him. It kind of makes me not want to continue reading it...but I will of coarse :)
 
I finally finished the book and watched the movie as well. The book left me with some mixed feelings. On one hand it was rather humorous. The only thing they were missing with the prophetic poo were some "bum wipes." The story in general really bothered me. The sexual relationship between Augusten and Bookman just really got to me. It was nice in the end though when he decided to leave it all behind. I did like how he eventually learned the appreciation of having someone set boundaries.

Now the movie, I know movies never match the books, but the parts they left out and changed seemed to change so much. Like how they used the first sexual encounter and show that as when he would never be afraid to try new things again. But in the book it seemed to me that he was more unsure and upset about what happened.

Anyway, I'm amazed I actually managed to finish the book. I don't know why, but it affected me in a not so good way.
 
I really didn't like Running with Scissors very much, but for anybody who DID like it or would like to read more, I really really LOVE Dry also by Augusten Burroughs - it is my favorite of his. I read it before Running with Scissors, and I think maybe that's part of why I was so disappointed with it, because I thought that Dry was so much more well done, and I guess for me - more relatable.
 
'The problem with not having anyone to tell you what to do, I understand, is that there was nobody to tell you what not to do'.
Click to expand...

Throughout this book that was the one thing that really stood out for me. Kids are always complaining that adults are always telling them what to do but this just shows how everything in life has to be balanced. Too much control is damaging and not enough control is just as damaging.

I like the way he writes with sarcasm, I really relate to that. The neglect he suffers was a bit triggering but he amazed me that he could watch all this crazy stuff going on around him and still be him. He didn't seem confused about his sexuality and seemed to accept it from very early on. The under age sex was obviously abusive and he knew that himself. As abusive and neglectful as his life was he developed a very deep insightfulness into other people - he read them so well.

And the prophetic poos just cracked me up! I have never heard anyone quite as mad as this Doctor!

A funny and yet disturbing book. Thanks for letting me read it KP. x
 
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