Possible Side Effects

by Augusten Burroughs

Hardcover, 2006

Status

Available

Call number

MEMO Burr

Genres

Biography & Memoir

Collection

Michael C. Weidemann LGBT Library at Gay City

Publication

St. Martin's Press (2006), 304 pages

Description

Biography & Autobiography. Essays. Nonfiction. Humor (Nonfiction.) HTML: From the million-copy bestselling author of Running with Scissors comes Augusten Burroughs's most provocative collection yet. This audiobook is approved for consumption by those seeking pleasure, escape, amusement, enlightenment, or general distraction. This audiobook is not approved to treat disorders such as eBay addiction or incessant blind dating. In studies, some people reported inappropriate, convulsive laughter, a tingling sensation in the limbs, and sudden gasping. Fewer than 1 percent reported narcolepsy. Doll collectors may experience special sensitivity, as may discourteous drivers, candy-company brand managers, and nicotine-gum users. This audiobook has been shown to be especially helpful to those with parents, grandparents, life partners, and incontinent dogs. People with dry, cracked skin have responded well to this audiobook, as have people with certain heart conditions. Do not operate heavy machinery while listening to this book, until you know what effects it may have on you. This audiobook is contraindicated in those suffering from certain psychiatric disorders, including�??-but not limited to�??-listeners afflicted with anhedonia, which is the inability to experience pleasure. Ask your doctor about Possible Side Effects… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member rcooper3589

I liked "Running with Scissors," but I loved this book! I read it in one weekend and was sad when it was over. I wanted more crazy, funny stories where Burroughs says everything we're all thinking but never say out loud. I actually found myself laughing out loud many times throughout the essays. I

did appreciate how there was a sort of time line to the book- the essays seemed to go back in time- it was nice to know when you're reading about one of his first puppies, that it's okay because he's going to have a bunch more and he's really going to love them. The last few essays felt more like "Scissors" in how they were more stories rather than essays that looked at the world and turned it upside-down. I liked the essays more. Basically, if you're a David Sedaris fan, you'll enjoy this book!

FAVORITE QUOTES: I was in awe of time's elasticity. Sometimes it compresses. Sometimes it stretches. An yet it always does one when you need the other. // I understood, I need to write. Live her, in my words and my head. i need to go inside, that's all. No big, complicated, difficult thing. I just need to go in reverse. And not worry about what to write about, but just write. Or, if I'm going to worry about what to write, then do this worrying on paper, so at least I'm writing and will have a record of the anxiety. // When Shaun asked me what I was going to do with my life, what my "plans" were, I always tried to give as vague an answer as possible. Because I had no idea. And it was humiliating to be asked by somebody who had a very firm idea, and not only that but an enrollment date. // Long ago, America stopped being a "melting pot" and is, rather, a large land mass filled with tiny boxes, into which groups of people sit, labeled and ready for processing.

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LibraryThing member SqueakyChu

An uneven book. A few of these stories are hilarious. Some are amusing. Others are offensive. The book starts out on a high note and descends. Too bad. There are two stories, however, which do stand out.

"Bloody Sunday" is the story of 8-year-old Augusten whose first tooth falls out while he was

staying at his grandmother's house. When he learns that the Tooth Fairy is coming, he is truly mortified. This story is hysterical.

In "Getting to No You", the author tells of his negative encounter on a blind date with another gay man. A very funny story.

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LibraryThing member ShellyS

Another brilliant and humorous collection of essays by Burroughs, author of Running with Scissors. His memories span from childhood to the recent past, covering a host of neuroses, his and his mother's. He has an amazing ability to make me laugh at his descriptions of his obsessions. Not a lot for

me to say about this. Just: read it and his other books if you haven't. The tale of the romantic vacation at an out of the way inn that he took with his boyfriend Dennis is well worth the price. Or better, borrow it from a library. We also meet both Augusten's grandmothers -- one good, one "evil." I'm eagerly looking forward to his next book.

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LibraryThing member carmarie

How many times can I say I love Augusten Burroughs! He is such a hilarious writer...without trying too hard! I love the way he writes about his experiences after "Running" and the effects it had on him. I reccomend him anytime!

LibraryThing member porchsitter55

Augusten Burroughs is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. This is the third book I've read by this man and I must say, I howled with laughter at this collection of antecdotes. Actually, I can't say "read" because I am listening to them via audio format, read by Augusten himself, so I don't

know if it's the text itself, or the superb spoken delivery of it that has me roaring and wiping my eyes.

I can't wait for more! If you need a laugh, choose "Possible Side Effects" by Augusten Burroughs!

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LibraryThing member amaryann21

More enjoyable than Running with Scissors, in my opinion. Augusten Burroughs has a talent in bringing his horribly dysfunctional past into his humorous writing without making things heavy.

LibraryThing member RachelMilen

Augusten Burroughs first book, Running With Scissors, is one of my favorite books. He writes about his disturbing childhood and what he overcame to be a sucessful adult. The book, Possible Side Effects was more of a memoir of recent essays and stories that have happend to him. I found them to be

funny and intreging but the book didn't have a story line to follow. It was easy to understand and read since each story was around 7 pages long. I would recommend this book to someone who wants and easy and quick read because you can set it down easily and pick it back up without forgetting where you left off.

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LibraryThing member biblyotekerin

Another collection of short essays by Mr. Burroughs about his own personal quirkiness and the relative normality of his life and the world around him.

LibraryThing member TheBooknerd

Augusten Burroughs is hilarious. I never thought reading autobiographical books could be fun until I read this book.

LibraryThing member Ardwick

Entertaining series of short stories about Augusten Burrough's life. Includes his work in advertising, his partner, his family.

LibraryThing member scotchneat

Augusten could write a recipe and I'd read it.

LibraryThing member jolovessnow

Uneven but still some very funny stories.

LibraryThing member cyderry

This book is a collection of essays/short stories/memoirs surrounding the early childhood, of the author. Reviews had this book as being hilarious especially when read on audio by the author. This is the version that I checked out of the library. It missed with me. The stories are told in reverse

chronological order which is a little strange - going from successful relationships to a loner; non-smoking Alcoholic in AA to a smoking drinker; gay relationship to young man looking at girls; The tales included telling of when he was a child, his reluctance to visit one grandmother (evil) after visiting the other (good) (If one of my grandmothers had a tooth fairy that gave $50 per tooth, I 'd think that the other was evil too.), spending over $600 a month on Nicorette gum when he quit smoking, and a crush on a female doctor as a child. A few of the short stories are extremely entertaining but the entire book wasn't worth its reviews that were raves. (IMHO)

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LibraryThing member jayde1599

Another book of essays by the witty and unconventional author, dealing with a wide variety of (mis)adventures. For some reason, he set this book up backwards - beginning with stories from his loving, adult relationship and ending with tales from his unconventional childhood. Essays include

receiving $50 from the tooth fairy while visiting his favorite grandmother, to being horrible rude to his other "evil" grandmother, being an alcoholic and adopting a puppy, spending more money on Nicorette gum then on rent, traveling to a creepy doll themed inn, and a little bit about his mother's psychosis. Some of the essays are funny, some are sad (grandmother, and puppy), some left me confused as to who this guy really is.

I have yet to read Running with Scissors, and this is my first Augusten Burroughs book, although I did read his brother's book Look Me in the Eye earlier this year. I think that this book is okay - and I will try others by the author. 3 1/2 STARS

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LibraryThing member angelitamay

I kept laughing so much I had to stop reading and tell my husband what was going on!

LibraryThing member QueenAlyss

As with all of his other books, I enjoyed Possible Side Effects quite thoroughly. His wit and humor seep from the pages. What was different from this novel that I experienced in his other memoirs was a background approach with all of the emotional intensity that someone hyped up on nicorette and

alcohol can be. I believe because of this, I didnt feel as drawn into the novel as his others. However, it was still a great read!

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LibraryThing member dawnlovesbooks

i will read anything this man writes!

LibraryThing member Shopoholic

Although these stories are not chronological, the book overall is like a sequal to "Magical Thinking". I remember that "Magical" was a bit hopeless in tone, while "Possible" is much more hopeful. Each story ends with a higher note -- although sometimes saccarine, I prefer it to complete despair.

Overall the book is more hopefull, as well. It's fun to read more about Augusten's unusual upbringing, and get some glimpses into his life now, as a successful author.

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LibraryThing member rolyat

laugh out loud funny

LibraryThing member csweder

This is a collection of short stories, and it was pretty good. Augusten lived a pretty messed up childhood, and it sounds like it developed into some pretty hard core addiction problems.

He writes about his life, and I laugh, until I realize this is supposed to be true? Then I feel incredibly sorry

for him....but at least he has found a way to make a living from his experiences....

My personal favorite of his stories was the one where he convinced his friend, a self-acclaimed Lipstick Lesbian, to take out a personal add that cost $3,000...and that's just the beginning of the troubles.

Entertaining book, for sure.

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LibraryThing member pdepena

Not his best book but still, a light read and plenty of good laughs.

LibraryThing member justablondemoment

For the most part I laughed all the way through this book. A few chapters ,especially towards the end, were a bit slow. It's not that they were boring just as the book went on the chapters were not as funny as the beginning. Some time ago I started reading "Running with Scissors" but had never

finished it now I want to check it out again along with Burroughs other books. Well done and 4 thumbs up.

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LibraryThing member Bcushman

Whenever I read anything by Augusten Burroughs I always find that I think to myself "I shouldn't be laughing so hard that tears come to my eyes but I am." Somehow he manages to make stories about life's tougher subjects easy to read and even funny. If you have a slightly dark sense of humor and are

looking for something that is poignant as well as funny Augusten Burroughs will not disappoint you.

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LibraryThing member thatotter

I don't think Burroughs is quite as funny or as good a writer as David Sedaris, but these stories are very funny and scratch the same itch.

LibraryThing member csweder

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