Memoir (2003)
My SynopsisMemoir of guy in his 20s who works in New York in advertising and is told by his employer to go to rehab for his drinking problem.
My Thoughts
The first time I was introduced to Augusten Burroughs was through his book Running With Scissors. That's when I fell in love. Well not with him, because he's gay, but with his writing and wit, his sarcasm and self-deprecation. He really made me laugh. I wanted more of him (of his books, I mean), so I read A Wolf at the Table, which is a memoir about his relationship with his father. I enjoyed it, but not as much as Running With Scissors.
Dry is about the author getting, well, dry, going to rehab for alcoholism. Like most alcoholics, he didn't think he had a problem, but his employer forced him to go. It was that or lose his job.
The book follows his life of going to rehab, falling in love with a guy at the gay rehab facility, relapsing and being hospitalized for alcohol poisoning, and the death of a close friend. As is typical of Burroughs, he somehow finds humor in all of this.
While I enjoyed the book, and still love him, I didn't like it as much as I liked Running With Scissors. If you haven't read one of his books yet, and want to, and SHOULD, read that one.
Do I Recommend?
I didn't love it; let's just leave it at that.
Source
Library
My Rating
3/5
5 comments:
I really love Augusten Burroughs. I agree that Dry is no Running With Scissors, but I still enjoyed it. I haven't read A Wolf At The Table yet, but I plan to. Wonderful review!
I do remember liking this but not as much as "Running With Scissors." I haven't read "A Wolf at the Table" yet ... but I've heard not such good things about it. I did like his books of essays "Magical Thinking" and "Possible Side Effects." You might like those as they are more stories from different times in his life .
Running with Scissors and Dry were the 2 I was considering so thanks for the recommendation.
I read his Christmas short stories, his sarcasm is the BEST, the laugh out loud with tears in your eyes.
I look forward to reading both.
Jenners: Thanks, I'll have to read Possible Side Effects. I think I'd like it.
Marce: Yes, definitely read Running With Scissors if you're going to read one of his books. And if I read Possible Side Effects, I'll review that too. That may be another option for you :) Wait...his Christmas short stories? Oh yeah. I remember seeing that in the bookstore now.
Robby: Hey "Uncle Robby," thanks for stopping by. How is your sister's baby doing?
I have read all of his non-fiction books (like you, feel in love with his writing from Running with Scissors!), and Running with Scissors is still my favorite. If I remember right, towards the end in Dry, there was a chapter I really liked (I think it's the part where his dying friend gave him a gift?).
My 2nd favorite is Wolf at the Table. I know a lot of people didn't like it because it wasn't funny like Running. But the first few chapters made my heart arched for him.
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