Running With Scissors, by Augusten Burroughs

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.