Quotes from book
Running with Scissors

Running with Scissors
Augusten Burroughs

Running with Scissors is a 2002 memoir by American writer Augusten Burroughs. The book tells the story of Burroughs's bizarre childhood life after his mother, a chain-smoking aspiring poet, sent him to live with her psychiatrist. Running with Scissors spent eight weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.

Augusten Burroughs photo

“It was not uncommon to walk in the door of their home and find my mother sitting on the sofa reading over a manuscript with shampoo horns sculpted into her hair. Anne Sexton's voice would be blasting from the speakers.”

Augusten Burroughs book Running with Scissors

Source: Running with Scissors

Augusten Burroughs photo

“Other people sound flat to my ear; their words just hang in the air. But when my mother says something, the ends curl.”

Augusten Burroughs book Running with Scissors

Source: Running with Scissors

Augusten Burroughs photo

“My mother began to go crazy. Not in a 'Let's paint the kitchen red!' sort of way. But crazy in a 'gas oven, toothpaste sandwhich, I am God' sort of way.”

Augusten Burroughs book Running with Scissors

Source: Running with Scissors