Dry: a Memoir

by Augusten Burroughs

In 2003, the popular author, most noted by his work "Running with Scissors", published this memoir about his battle with alcoholism.

After reading about his intense and bizarre childhood living with his mother's psychiatrist, the one who thought God was communicating through his feces, I wanted to know what happened to Augusten when he became an adult. Not surprisingly, he became an alcoholic, be it a successful advertising mogul as well. The story is about his adventures in recovery, which is mandated by his supervisor and human resource manager in order to keep his job.

What makes this book so appealing, and hilariously entertaining, is Burrough's story-telling ability. He tells his story with a self-deprecating sense of humor and fleshes out the characters that inhabit his life, like Jim - his drinking buddy who just happens to be an undertaker; and Pighead, his friend who gets sent to the hospital for hiccups.

This part of Augusten's life is told with much less gory detail, and more humor. It is a fast read and highly entertaining!