Bookshelf: Magical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs

I had the pleasure of taking a nice swim into the world of Augusten Burroughs.  Most people I have spoken to are unaware that he has written things other than Running with Scissors.  Well folks, he does. I recently finished Magical Thinking and well it got me thinking magically.

Magical Thinking  is this idea that one has  more influence over events in their life than they really do. Often with events that have nothing to do with him or her.  This notion combined with  the exploitations of his many "quirks" makes a great collection. It's a colorful herd of "true stories" as the cover says. Burroughs has a way with words in that he uses them and creates hilarity.  The stories are a wonderful mix of self-deprication and anecdotal tomfoolery.

The stories range from tales of an old housekeeper, to a stint in modeling school to finding love and sexual exploits on the internet. Back when AOL ads were a thing and strangers met at rendezvous points after evaluating carefully chosen photos. Before Facebook stalking and dates in the form of emoticon exchanges on iMessage.

My personal favorite being a piece on finding a mouse in his NYC apartment which raises rather pointing questions about human morality. As someone who sleeps with lights on in fear of mice or roaches coming out to play and eating her, I can relate.

Burroughs pushes the reader to wonder how morally competent he is by flashing morally questionable actions, like stepping on a little girls foot and watching as the Mom blames the child for being a brat, and you know he is on the wrong side and yet you think about joining him there.

Burroughs has his sharp wit and sharp penning. The stories are screaming to be read and possibly evaluated against the DSM, but all in good fun.

I plan to fill my shelf with everything he has ever written and then read it, then memorize it, then use it as a handbook for life.


Stay Tuned
Peace and Love,
D