Having read previous reviews of this book I have to say that that I never did find it "laugh out loud funny", it did have humorous undertones, but actually it saddened, fascinated and shocked me more than anything. This book is the memoir of its author Augusten Burroughs and tells the tale of a child brought up with a narcissistic mother and alcoholic and absent father. The mother starts seeing a psychiatrist, "Dr. Finch" and eventually lets him adopt her son, sending him to live with his extended family where there are "no rules" and they are all "running with scissors". From the list of unbelievable characters (who are all based on real people): Dr. Finch, the patriarch of the family that believes children should do whatever they feel and that drugs can be a cure for anything; Agnes, Finch's wife that snacks on dog food; Hope, Finch's daughter, a 30 yr old that lives at home and has a pet cat named Freud who she believes can talk; Natalie, an underage daughter that dates 40 year old men; and many more characters that will leave you wondering how Burroughs made it through living with these people through his teenage years without becoming permanently dysfunctional himself.
I would recommend this book for anyone who is open minded enough to get through some rather shocking details and appreciate the book for a funny, yet twisted commentary on a child's survival through the most extraordinary circumstances. It's definitely not a "feel good book" yet it's one you can't put down.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
The Lit Group Link Button—Grab one!
Link up to The Lit Group with a "Lit Group link button"! Place the button on your server and link back to: http://www.litgroup.blogspot.com
Keep up with what we're reading or suggest a great book that you've read.
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Survivor: A Novel, by Chuck Palahniuk
Our book for April is "The Survivor, " by Chuck Palahniuk. Our book club meeting will be April 11th. If you have read this book please leave your thoughts and comments.
Book Description
Some say that the apocalypse swiftly approacheth, but that simply ain't so according to Chuck Palahniuk. Oh no. It's already here, living in the head of the guy who just crossed the street in front of you, or maybe even closer than that. We saw these possibilities get played out in the author's bloodsporting-anarchist-yuppie shocker of a first novel, Fight Club. Now, in Survivor, his second and newest, the concern is more for the origin of the malaise. Starting at chapter 47 and screaming toward ground zero, Palahniuk hurls the reader back to the beginning in a breathless search for where it all went wrong. This time out, the author's protagonist is self-made, self-ruined mogul-messiah Tender Branson, the sole passenger of a jet moments away from slamming first into the Australian outback and then into oblivion. All that will be left, Branson assures us with a tone bordering on relief, is his life story, from its Amish-on-acid cult beginnings to its televangelist-huckster end. All of this courtesy of the plane's flight recorder.—Amazon.com
Book Description
Some say that the apocalypse swiftly approacheth, but that simply ain't so according to Chuck Palahniuk. Oh no. It's already here, living in the head of the guy who just crossed the street in front of you, or maybe even closer than that. We saw these possibilities get played out in the author's bloodsporting-anarchist-yuppie shocker of a first novel, Fight Club. Now, in Survivor, his second and newest, the concern is more for the origin of the malaise. Starting at chapter 47 and screaming toward ground zero, Palahniuk hurls the reader back to the beginning in a breathless search for where it all went wrong. This time out, the author's protagonist is self-made, self-ruined mogul-messiah Tender Branson, the sole passenger of a jet moments away from slamming first into the Australian outback and then into oblivion. All that will be left, Branson assures us with a tone bordering on relief, is his life story, from its Amish-on-acid cult beginnings to its televangelist-huckster end. All of this courtesy of the plane's flight recorder.—Amazon.com
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Author, Jill Conner Browne
The Lit Group with Jill Conner Brown, author of "The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love" series.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
The Lit Group Book List
This is a ongoing list of books that have been read by The Lit Group in no particular order. This list will be added to by members until we compile the complete list of books that have been read.
Pride & Prejudice • The Dive from Clausen's Pier • Memoirs of a Geisha • The DaVinci Code • The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood • The Notebook • Me Talk Pretty Someday • Little Altars Everywhere • My Sister's Keeper • East of Eden • One Hundred Years of Solitude • Poisonwood Bible • A Map of the World • Mother of Pearl • The Pilot's Wife • Where The Heart Is • Skinny Dip • The Kite Runner • The Lovely Bones • The Honk & Holler Opening Soon • The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency • Wicked • Bel Canto • Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities • The Time Traveler's Wife • The Secret Life of Bees • Life of Pi • Them Bones • Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love • Like Water For Chocolate • The Testament • The Poisonwood Bible • To Kill A Mockingbird • Bridget Jones' Diary • The Loop • Cold Mountain • Left Behind • Circle of Friends • The Painted House • Tuesdays with Morrie • The Body Farm • Mr. Perfect • One For The Money • Skipping Christmas • Little Women • The Red Tent • Catcher in the Rye • When We Were Grownups • Lucky Man • Horse Whisperer • The Christmas Train • The Lake of Dead Languages • King of Torts • Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind • Angels & Demons • East of Eden • Seabiscuit • The Report (Writer's draft, non-published) • One Hundred Years of Solitude• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone • Little Women • All the President's Men • The Memory Keeper's Daughter • A Thousand Splendid Suns
Pride & Prejudice • The Dive from Clausen's Pier • Memoirs of a Geisha • The DaVinci Code • The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood • The Notebook • Me Talk Pretty Someday • Little Altars Everywhere • My Sister's Keeper • East of Eden • One Hundred Years of Solitude • Poisonwood Bible • A Map of the World • Mother of Pearl • The Pilot's Wife • Where The Heart Is • Skinny Dip • The Kite Runner • The Lovely Bones • The Honk & Holler Opening Soon • The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency • Wicked • Bel Canto • Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities • The Time Traveler's Wife • The Secret Life of Bees • Life of Pi • Them Bones • Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love • Like Water For Chocolate • The Testament • The Poisonwood Bible • To Kill A Mockingbird • Bridget Jones' Diary • The Loop • Cold Mountain • Left Behind • Circle of Friends • The Painted House • Tuesdays with Morrie • The Body Farm • Mr. Perfect • One For The Money • Skipping Christmas • Little Women • The Red Tent • Catcher in the Rye • When We Were Grownups • Lucky Man • Horse Whisperer • The Christmas Train • The Lake of Dead Languages • King of Torts • Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind • Angels & Demons • East of Eden • Seabiscuit • The Report (Writer's draft, non-published) • One Hundred Years of Solitude• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone • Little Women • All the President's Men • The Memory Keeper's Daughter • A Thousand Splendid Suns
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Bel Canto, By Ann Patchett
Bel Canto, By Ann Patchett is our book for March. March 15 is when we meet to discuss the book. Come back soon for our reviews and comments. If you have read this book, feel free to leave your impressions.
Book Description
Somewhere in South America, at the home of the country's vice president, a lavish birthday party is being held in honor of Mr. Hosokawa, a powerful Japanese businessman. Roxanne Coss, opera's most revered soprano, has mesmerized the international guests with her singing. It is a perfect evening -- until a band of gun-wielding terrorists breaks in through the air-conditioning vents and takes the entire party hostage. But what begins as a panicked, life-threatening scenario slowly evolves into something quite different, as terrorists and hostages forge unexpected bonds and people from different countries and continents become compatriots.Friendship, compassion, and the chance for great love lead the characters to forget the real danger that has been set in motion and cannot be stopped.—from Amazon.com
Book Description
Somewhere in South America, at the home of the country's vice president, a lavish birthday party is being held in honor of Mr. Hosokawa, a powerful Japanese businessman. Roxanne Coss, opera's most revered soprano, has mesmerized the international guests with her singing. It is a perfect evening -- until a band of gun-wielding terrorists breaks in through the air-conditioning vents and takes the entire party hostage. But what begins as a panicked, life-threatening scenario slowly evolves into something quite different, as terrorists and hostages forge unexpected bonds and people from different countries and continents become compatriots.Friendship, compassion, and the chance for great love lead the characters to forget the real danger that has been set in motion and cannot be stopped.—from Amazon.com
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Welcome to The Lit Group!
The Lit Group is comprised of twelve women who get together once a month at a member's house to discuss a book of the hosting member's choice. This blog will consist of our book choices, reviews and discussion. Enjoy! Please also comment if you have read a book we are discussing or have discussed. We welcome all comments!
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