Dry by Augusten Burroughs

Dry
by Augusten Burroughs

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
Website
Facebook
Flickr
Pinterest
Twitter

Published: 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Genre: Memoir
Hardback pages: 320
Rating: 5

First sentence(s):
Sometimes when you work in advertising you'll get a product that's really garbage and you have to make it seem fantastic, something that is essential to the continued quality of life.

From the bestselling author of Running with Scissors comes Dry―the hilarious, moving, and no less bizarre account of what happened next.

You may not know it, but you've met Augusten Burroughs. You've seen him on the street, in bars, on the subway, at restaurants: a twenty-something guy, nice suit, works in advertising. Regular. Ordinary. But when the ordinary person had to drinks, Augusten was circling the drain by having twelve; when the ordinary person went home at midnight, Augusten never went home at all. Loud, distracting ties, automated wake-up calls, and cologne on the tongue could only hide so much for so long. At the request (well, it wasn't really a request) of his employers, Augusten landed in rehab, where his dreams of group therapy with Robert Downey, Jr., are immediately dashed by the grim reality of fluorescent lighting and paper hospital slippers. But when Augusten is forced to examine himself, something actually starts to click, and that's when he finds himself in the worst trouble of all. Because when his thirty days are up, he has to return to his same drunken Manhattan life―and live it sober. What follows is a memoir that's as moving as it is funny, as heartbreaking as it is real. Dry is the story of love, loss, and Starbucks as a higher power.

My two-bits:

I listened to the audio version of this which was narrated by the author. In general, I prefer to listen to Augusten reading his works rather than reading them. It comes through more vibrantly.

This story continues Augusten's life after what is covered in his first book.

Thoughts on alcoholism, addictions and going through treatment and recovery are emphasized in this book along with his wit and humor.

Reading about Augusten's struggles and growth include learning bits about life and living.

Lust & Wonder by Augusten Burroughs

Lust & Wonder
by Augusten Burroughs

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
Website
Facebook
Flickr
Pinterest
Twitter

Published: 2016
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Genre: Humor, Memoir
Hardback: 304 pages
Rating: 5

First sentence(s):
Just when I broke my sobriety and started drinking again in moderate and controlled measure exactly like a normal person, I met this guy who wasn't just a guy but a writer, and not just a writer but the author of one of my favorite books.

With Augusten's unique and singular observations and his own unabashed way of detailing both the horrific and the humorous, Lust & Wonder is a hilariously frank memoir that his legions of fans have been waiting for. His story began in Running with Scissors, endured through Dry, and continues with this memoir, the capstone to the life of Augusten Burroughs.

Funny, sweet, alarming, and ultimately, moving and tender, Lust & Wonder is an experience of a book that will resonate with anyone who has loved and lost and loved again.

My two-bits:

I love Augusten's take on life. In this memoir he gets into his love relationships with people. And, his fascination and obsession with gems is also revealed.

~*~
* Listened to audiobook version - such a treat with the author reading it.

Stacking the Shelves & Sunday Post - 4.8.17

Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews (details)
AND
Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer (details)
~*~
A third week of slow reading! Ugh.

Took a road trip last weekend to take the kid back to college. The weekend getaway was fun. Lots of good eating and green hillside views. But when I returned, there was a busy week to jump into with only snatches of evening reading time.

I hope to get a good chunk of reading done this weekend possibly at a newly discovered cafe/coffee shop.

I have been diligent in writing every day for the National Letterwriting Month Write-On Challenge. I do not know if there will be any responses, but I feel fine if it turns out to be a one-way effort. The routine of sitting down and putting pen to paper causes one to slow down. If I write too quick there is a tendency for spelling errors. Corrections lined out or scribbled over which is not a pretty sight.

I also read some poetry this week. Heartfelt ones written by the kid. We are going to select a couple to submit to a poetry contest.

~*~
Bought:

Cruel Beautiful World
by Caroline Leavitt
-Coming of Age, Women's Fiction
Amazon | Goodreads
THE April pick for the BookSparks Book Club (details). I liked the looks of this one so joining up. Ah yes, cover love.


Freebies: Amazon Prime

Cinder & Ella
by Kelly Oram
-Romance, YA
Amazon | Goodreads

For Review:

Revived
by Ernesto Pavan
-Dark Humor, Zombies
courtesy of author -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

A Small Revolution
by Jimin Han
-Suspense, South Korea
courtesy of Amazon First program
Amazon | Goodreads

Author event:

Books Inc. at Opera Plaza hosted an event with Augusten Burroughs to celebrate the paperback release of Lust & Wonder. We were treated to a reading, Q&A and signing. During the Q&A it was interesting to learn that he started writing at age 8 and then stopped during his young adult years. When he started writing he wrote a draft of his fiction novel, Sellevision in 7 days. I liked his comment on writing memoirs - "be ugly and real".

Lust & Wonder
by Augusten Burroughs
-Humor, Memoir
Amazon | Goodreads
In chronicling the development and demise of the different relationships he's had while living in New York, Augusten Burroughs examines what it means to be in love, what it means to be in lust, and what it means to be figuring it all out. With Augusten's unique and singular observations and his own unabashed way of detailing both the horrific and the humorous, Lust and Wonder is an intimate and honest memoir that his legions of fans have been waiting for.


AND watched: in theatre

Kedi (2016)
Director: Ceyda Torun
-Documentary, Cats, Turkey | imdb | my rating: 5
A profile of an ancient city (Istanbul) and its unique people, seen through the eyes of the most mysterious and beloved animal humans have ever known, the Cat.

DEFINITELY a must-see for cat lovers. This film perspective is a unique way to learn about a city and its people.


~*~
* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

:-)

You Better Not Cry: Stories for Christmas by Augusten Burroughs

You Better Not Cry:
Stories for Christmas
by Augusten Burroughs
narrated by author

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
Website
Flickr
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter @augusten

Published: 2009
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Genre: Humor, Holiday, Memoir
Hardback: 224 pages
Rating: 5

First sentence(s):
It's not that I was an outright nitwit of a child.

You’ve eaten too much candy at Christmas…but have you ever eaten the face off a six-footstuffed Santa? You’ve seen gingerbread houses…but have you ever made your own gingerbread tenement? You’ve woken up with a hangover…but have you ever woken up next to Kris Kringle himself? Augusten Burroughs has, and in this caustically funny, nostalgic, poignant, and moving collection he recounts Christmases past and present—as only he could. With gimleteyed wit and illuminated prose, Augusten shows how the holidays bring out the worst in us and sometimes, just sometimes, the very, very best.

PeekAbook:



My two-bits:

Squeezing in this last review before the end of the year ;-)

Along with amusing and hilarious childhood memory tales, this book includes some serious ones. It is an entertaining one for the holidays.

The author's narration was well done and makes me want to check out his other works.

~*~
* part of Audiobook Challenge