Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39069 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

Customer Reviews

Warning!!!
Warning - this review may just come out as a gush... I love Augusten Burroughs. Running With Scissors was one of the funniest, saddest, most emotionally charged books I have ever read despite the cool, laidback, and detached prose. I thought he would never better it , then he did with Dry. No way could he do it again, i thought. And he did - Magical Thinking is fantastic, and as fantastic as little gold-plated Augusten gets, the reader can still somehow identify with his inner monologues. Just pure genius. I have never smiled/ laughed so much in bed, much to the chagrin of my husband! Thanks Augusten for brightening my life!!

Does It Again
With wit and candor comes another great book by Augusten Burroughs. If you thought "Running With Scissors" and "Dry" were excellent, then you will love "Magical Thinking" even better. I would have to say I would love to read some fiction material out of him as well. He is truly a gifted writer. Thankfully at one of his signings, I was able to meet him and he is just as impressive in real life as he protrays in his books.
along with his other books I also recommend A Paper Life (great memoir by Tatum O'Neil), Dress You Family In Corduroy (David Sedaris another great) and Nightmares Echo (hauntingly good memoir by Katlyn Stewart)

Good, but not as good as the others
After finishing Dry, which I enjoyed immensely, I eagerly opened up this book. This one was a bit of a disappointment. Actually, I'm reluctant to criticize these stories, because what I really like about Augusten Burroughs is exactly what I didn't like in this particular book. I like his caustic wit. I like his honesty. I like his neurosis. I like that he sees the trees instead of the forest sometimes. However, some of these stories are just really boring. Some of them are funny. Some of them are less funny but have some really hysterical parts. Some of these are just like journal entries. . . and these are the stories I found to be a waste of time.

For instance, when Augusten writes of Dennis, he writes with such love and affection that, had there been an actual story to tell, I would have really enjoyed reading that. But, at least two-- maybe three stories-- were just about the author's intense love and affection for this man. That's okay and all, and I'm happy that the author has found happiness, yet it is a bit boring to read for the reader!

Additionally, there was one story where Burroughs steps on a baby's hand and moves away without explaining to the mother why the baby is crying. The mother thinks the baby wants a toy and scolds her instead of comforting her. Maybe this is funny to Burroughs-- who openly admits he's a bit of a cad and not too paternal-- but it's really cruel. And, although it might be funny if seen on Seinfeld, it's definitely not endearing and definitely doesn't arouse any empathy for the author from the reader. Neither does the cruel way he kills a mouse. Although the comments he makes after talking to a plumber WERE hilarious.

I wouldn't recommend this book, but I do recommend Running with Scissors and Dry. I am awaiting my copy of Selevision, as well. I haven't given up on reading any other books he comes out with.