Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Lust & Wonder by Augusten Burroughs

4 reviews

moranguinhos's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness

librarymouse's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

4.5

This memoir is so fucking weird and so fucking good! I read Augusten Burroughs's books Running With Scissors and Magical Thinking far too young, and they are the books that got me into reading nonfiction. I'm glad he's found joy and love. He does reference some character traits in others as being "kind of autistic", which was a casual incorrect use of a medical diagnosis that I didn't like, but it's not coming from a place of malice.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Medical content, and Grief

Minor: Child abuse

wrackcity's review against another edition

emotional funny slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

Minor: Body shaming, Child abuse, Drug use, and Sexual assault

sommer22's review

dark funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0

Lust & Wonder is such an engaging, heartfelt story that it took me less than a week to read. This was my first experience with a memoir, and I am so happy that it was. Burroughs details the complexities of his life with concurrent frankness and sweetness. His authenticity, even with his self-described obsession with writing about himself, is captivating, and made me appreciate that virtue even more. His humor is edgy and equally honest. I found myself beaming at every happy moment, and laughing at his more questionable thoughts and actions. Naturally, I did not agree with everything he said or did, but not to the point of frustration. At the same time, Burroughs showcases his breadth as a writer with beautifully rich and poetic descriptions, the kind that make you feel like eating the pages and letting the taste of every word dissolve on your tongue.

It's also refreshing to find an engaging queer story with a happy ending that I can aspire to. If this book was a song it would be Garden Song by Phoebe Bridgers.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Alcohol

Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment

Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Police brutality