Review - Running with Scissors: A Memoir

The first book I read for the book club I joined was Running with Scissors: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs.

"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."

I thought the book was well written and an interesting read. It had the effect of making me laugh at moments with the unusual and downright bizarre situations but it was also very graphic at times and deeply disturbing. What a childhood to have. It is certainly easy to have empathy for any child going through these situations. This is not a book for everyone - and in my opinion not a great choice for children, as it deals with sex bordering on rape, psychological abuse and many other difficult issues.