running with scissors – augusten burroughs – 2 stars
you know those things on amazon or b&n that say, ‘if you like _____, you’ll love _____ !!!!” every time you visit? they wouldn’t shut up about how much i’d love augusten burroughs ever since i apparently bought one david sedaris book from them once in my life (they are not the most sophistacted tastemakers). finally caving in to the pressure, i recently picked one up just to see. i like sedaris a lot, and if they’re really that similar, as every lazy reviewer of all time seems keen to point out, i figured i’d give him a chance.
well here’s the thing about sedaris. he twists a blend of his real life experience and some talent at fiction into a collection of bizarre, humorous, and well-delivered short stories. burroughs, at least in this book, does away entirely with the fiction part and merely recounts his extremely bizarre, albeit often humorous, childhood and teenage years. as a result, i found myself more uncomfortable than anything, like when you catch your crazy neighbors screaming at their kids out in the front yard. sure, it’s kind of funny, but you mostly just squirm and are glad you have the option of walking away. the weirdness is too real and immediate for you to feel much like laughing
now, having read the whole thing, i’m sort of offended by the quick comparison to sedaris, who i’m guessing is the quick go-to for a playing field of people who write about growing up gay and dysfunctional. but whereas i’d recommend visiting his funny, sometimes shocking world, i would have to say that with burroughs i’m mostly left feeling sorry for him — even if it is impressive he manages to look back with humor and turn his fucked up rearing (*ahem* excuse the pun) into a positive thing, i.e. a writing career. all the same, the crazy neighbors can be awfully funny in hindsight, and might grow up to be well-rounded people eventually, but it doesn’t make living with them much more a pleasant an experience, does it.
