After my recent essay on alcohol consumption, my day spent shadowing a substance misuse nurse, the seemingly daily media barrage of ignoramuses shooting their load over the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Bill, and my own modifications of my drinking habits, I thought this would be an interesting and drily amusing read.

Unfortunately, Burroughs lost my sympathy/empathy/interest/whatever quite soon into the book; how his longsuffering work colleagues put up with his crap for so long, and his month-long rehab break from work seemed almost an act of benevolence, in order to save their irreplaceable advertising genius (spot the sarcasm), seemed incomprehensible to me. This guy really is a million miles from some of the poor souls hooked up to Pabrinex I have met in my brief nursing career so far. Yeah, yeah, he had a f***ed up childhood, blah, blah, etc... But really, Augusten Burroughs is such a p***k that I'm not surprised he felt he had to drink to oblivion, just to get away from himself.

The reason for its popularity completely escapes me, hackneyed, repetitive, and uninspired as it is, and I will not read anything else by him. After feeling similarly about James Frey, I feel I should go back and re-read Caroline Knapp's memoir, as I remember really enjoying it about fifteen years ago - what made it so different to similar books I've read and hated since?

One positive though. The paper it was printed on was lovely and thick, so I got through it a lot quicker than I'd feared.

This is the second memoir by Augusten Burroughs, which details his life in his 20s, living in New York City, working as an advertising executive, making tons of money, and slowly killing himself each day by drinking more than seems humanly possible. After years of alcoholism, Augusten checks himself into an in-patient rehab center and begins a life he's never really known...sober.

This man is a great writer! His detailed descriptions of people, places and feelings are so well-written. I was entranced by his story immediately. This was a much easier read for me compared to "Running with Scissors." They were both well-written but this one, at least, was about him as an adult making his own decisions. The most profound part of the book, for me, was the description of Pighead on his deathbed, as it was so painfully similar to my brother's death. The description of his illness was as if I was reading my own journal during the time of Jim's illness. I feel as if I know Auguesten and I truly wish him a wonderful life.

Grade: A

This book wasn't nearly as good as his first. The humor is lacking and his adult life story, although entertaining, was sad but without the dark and biting humor of his first memoir. I would recommend it only for those who have read the first book and want to find out how he ended up, which was also a bit disappointing. Overall, the writing style is lacking in quality and the story is one that can't add up to his other work. He is no David Sedaris!

Another amazing, honest, fun and funny book by Augusten Burroughs.

I thought it was just about alcoholism so it wouldn't appeal to me (not an alcoholic myself), but it's actually a window into addiction more generally, plus romance, work, friendship, dealing with the past. And that's right up my alley! It's not like Augusten simply goes to rehab and voila he's better. This takes you through the honest fits and setbacks that happen in a real recovery, and how Augusten learns to embrace sobriety.

After reading and loving "Running with Scissors," I was super excited to try another memoir by this author. I thought this was good, but I wasn't nearly as entertained as the previous book or as interested in the subject matter. This one revolved around Augusten Burroughs early adulthood and struggles with alcoholism. It was funny & heartbreaking at the same time!

THE break-up book. While it may seem that Burroughs's story about his struggle with addiction and sobriety would have little to do with the average twenty-something's experience muddling through a break up, I have found no better book to read in the wake of a disasterous relationship.

For example, once he's sober and out of rehab, Burroughs begins counting days. (He keeps track of how many days he goes without dringking, and must to keep counting until he hits the 90-day mark, after which the coutning becomes optional.) This is a great method to use following a break up. For each day you do not have contact (of any kind!) with the object of your heartahce, you get to count a day. Keep couting until you hit 90. (those first 90 are the hardest.)

Not to mention, it makes you feel better to know that his life during this period is way worse than anything that you're going through. Gives you a little perspective.

“I'm lonely. And I'm lonely in some horribly deep way and for a flash of an instant, I can see just how lonely, and how deep this feeling runs. And it scares the shit out of me to be this lonely because it seems catastrophic.”

Wow, I loved this book. Intense, and beautifully written. I was completely caught up in Augusten’s character arc (can we call it that in a memoir?). His internal dialogue throughout this story is profound - and at some points hidden behind humor. I both laughed and cried - Would absolutely recommend.

I am not a huge fan of Augusten after Running with Scissors, but his humanity becomes much clearer in this book. I'm glad I got to know him a little better.
Sequels to best selling memoirs should, generally, be avoided. This was one of the rare instances it was better. His writing has improved, and his vulnerability and likeability comes through as he knocks off the sharpest edges of "look at me, love me, pity me, but for god sake, WATCH ME."

He tones it down a little bit, which is saying a LOT, considering recovery is all about being self-involved- its mandatory. He becomes a little bit introspective, and it comes off more honest and human- less attempt to outrage, impress, or shock with a series of outrageous events, and more of a 'get to know me while I tell you the story of how I got to know myself'

Good God what a mess! Thankfully, I borrowed the book and didn't pay for this shit show. I finished it out of sheer determination.

Thank goodness the author acknowledged the criminal behavior of those who were supposed to be responsible adults, but who placed him in situations that no child or even young adult should have faced. In other words, he doesn't simply laugh off his unorthodox upbringing, he acknowledges the fact that the responsible adults got it wrong. Still, he doesn't wallow in it, and regardless of the back story, this is a tale of addiction, recovery and lots of what happens in between. Dry takes a slightly novel approach in that it doesn't spent lots of time in the spiral into the abyss. Instead you spend lots of time in the recovery process. For those who have experienced this process, early success is an ominous sign, and this is no exception. This was a funny, real, and an authentic story.

Brutally honest. Makes you want to close your eyes and run from the room - but you keep reading.

"The fact is I'm not like other people, I'm like other alcoholics."

This was an audio reread of a book I read in print in 2008. This has long been one of my favorite memoirs and will remain so.

Augusten is a decent narrator except, when speaking as Foster, he sounds more like Forrest Gump than just a guy with a southern accent. Being from the south myself, that threw me off a little.