Running with Scissors: A Hilarious and Heartbreaking Memoir
Running with Scissors
Augusten Burroughs’s 2002 memoir, Running with Scissors, isn’t your typical coming-of-age story.
It’s a darkly comedic and deeply unsettling journey into a world of dysfunctional families, questionable parenting, and the search for sanity in the midst of chaos.
Published in 2002, the book quickly became a New York Times bestseller, sparking both praise for its brutal honesty and controversy over its factual accuracy.
A Glimpse into the Bizarre World of Running with Scissors
Running with Scissors recounts Burroughs’s adolescence after his mentally unstable mother relinquishes him into the care of her eccentric psychiatrist, Dr. Finch.
This isn’t your average therapy session.
Dr. Finch’s household is a menagerie of oddballs, including his hoarding wife, Agnes, his adopted adult children, and a collection of patients who seem to have taken up permanent residence.
Burroughs finds himself navigating a world where the lines between normal and insane are blurred, where Christmas is celebrated in June, and where a turd on the stairs becomes a philosophical debate.
The book explores themes of identity, family, mental illness, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Burroughs’s goal is clear: to share his bizarre, often painful, but ultimately transformative journey to adulthood.
Navigating the Chapters of Dysfunction
Running with Scissors is structured chronologically, following Burroughs from his early teenage years through his emancipation at 17.
The chapters often read like self-contained vignettes, each offering a snapshot of the absurdity and dysfunction that permeated his life with the Finches.
This structure allows Burroughs to effectively showcase the gradual erosion of normalcy and the impact of this unusual upbringing on his developing psyche.
Burroughs’s writing style is sharp, witty, and unflinchingly honest, even when describing the most uncomfortable or disturbing situations.
He masterfully blends humor and heartbreak, making Running with Scissors a captivating read despite its dark subject matter.
While the narrative is compelling, some readers might find the lack of a traditional narrative arc a bit disorienting.
Unpacking the Emotional Baggage
Running with Scissors delves into the complex dynamics of Burroughs’s relationship with his mother, whose own mental health struggles led her to make the unconventional decision to hand him over to Dr. Finch.
The book doesn’t shy away from depicting the pain and confusion this caused young Augusten.
It also explores the unusual, often inappropriate, relationships he develops with the various members of the Finch household.
Without giving away specific events, the book reveals the ways in which Burroughs attempts to create a sense of family and belonging in this chaotic environment, even as he grapples with his own emerging sexuality and identity.
Running with Scissors paints a vivid picture of a young man trying to make sense of the nonsensical, searching for stability and love in a world that seems determined to deny him both.
The Impact of Running with Scissors
_Running with Scissors_ is not simply a memoir; it’s a cultural phenomenon.
The book’s raw portrayal of mental illness and unconventional family dynamics resonated with readers, sparking conversations about the complexities of family relationships and the challenges of growing up in dysfunctional environments.
It was later adapted into a film starring Annette Bening and Brian Cox, further expanding its reach and impact.
Beyond its entertainment value, Running with Scissors has served as a valuable resource for individuals and families grappling with similar issues, offering a sense of shared experience and a starting point for dialogue.
You can find additional resources and support on the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website (https://www.nami.org/).
A Must-Read for Fans of Unconventional Memoirs
Running with Scissors is not a light read.
It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, from laugh-out-loud moments to gut-wrenching scenes of emotional turmoil.
However, it’s a powerful and ultimately hopeful story of resilience, self-discovery, and the enduring power of the human spirit.
I highly recommend Running with Scissors to readers who appreciate unflinching honesty, dark humor, and memoirs that challenge conventional notions of family and mental health.
It’s a book that will stay with you long after you turn the final page, prompting reflection on your own experiences and the complexities of human relationships.
Whether you’re a fan of memoirs, psychology, or simply a good story, Running with Scissors offers a unique and unforgettable reading experience.
It’s a testament to the power of storytelling and the ability of the human heart to find humor and hope even in the darkest of circumstances.
Just be prepared to question everything you thought you knew about normal.
This exploration into the unorthodox world of Augusten Burroughs is sure to leave you pondering long after the last page is turned.
_Running with Scissors_ will make you laugh, cry, and question everything you thought you knew about families.
But above all, it will remind you of the remarkable resilience of the human spirit.
It’s a book you won’t soon forget, and _Running with Scissors_ is definitely worth the read.
The narrative of _Running with Scissors_ is compelling, weaving humor and heartbreak into a tapestry of unforgettable experiences.
Give _Running with Scissors_ a read, and prepare to have your perspective shifted.
It’s a book that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, searched for belonging, or questioned the definition of family.
