Burroughs, A. (2006) Running With Scissors. Picador (Second Picador edition; first 2003. First published by St. Martin's Press, New York, 2002.)

 

Burroughs, A. (2006) Running With Scissors. Picador (Second Picador edition; first 2003. First published by St. Martin's Press, New York, 2002.)

 

Summary

A 'memoir' of the author's childhood. (It was later titled a 'book' after a court case by people who alleged that they featured in it - and weren't happy!) Virtually every character - including the author - is neurotic or psychotic. Booklist: 'Burroughs tempers the pathos with sharp, riotous humour.'; Elle: Irreverent, scurrilous, profane, licentious, horrific and vile. … In other words, it's funny as hell.'

 

My comments

I thought that this book was trash - not a word I use lightly. It has no story, as you'd expect from an autobiography; instead, it's a string of anecdotes. Many American reviewers found it very funny and Burroughs has a reputation as much for the humour of his writing as for its shock value, but I found it neither funny nor shocking because the squalid and pornographic anecdotes are crafted so obviously to shock that, after a while, they lose their effect. I simply don't believe that this is an autobiography and I'm very cross that he's become so successful on the strength of it!