Lust & Wonder: A Memoir

I love this author and have read all of his books. Sometimes he will write a sentence so delicious that I read it over and over to savor it. I'm a fan.
This memoir is simply boring. As a fan I am so pleased that he is sober, and has found love. Other than catching up on his life, I wish I didn't pay for this book.

I'm a longtime Augusten Burroughs fan & this is not one of his better memoirs. It read more like a self-indulgent 'tell all' without the names--- yet, with enough information (for some people) to figure it out.
It was cool to get a card announcing the release, in the mail, with actual matches in it!! (how was that even allowed??)

Like squeezing sweat out of an already old and tired gym sock. The wellspring Mr. Burrough's draws on for subject matter dried up two books ago. I found this book devoid of everything I liked about his previous books, such as interesting characters for whom I felt empathy, humor, pacing.and fun. I reached the end of this book thinking "Why the hell did I just read all that?" I could go visit a relative if I wanted to listen to a vapid, self absorbed ego maniac complain about microscopic dilemmas. Bleh.

Augusten Burroughs has helped me through some dark nights, but this time he made everything darker. I hate to say this about a writer that I love, but it came across as smug and cruel. Although he acknowledges this in passing, it doesn't feel like enough. It is fascinating that people stay in bad relationships for so long, but this aspect wasn't explored in any depth. He just reels off scenes in which he doesn't love his partner, and that's about all. It felt cruel, and that's the opposite to everything else I've read by him. Worst of all, not a single laugh. It just isn't funny.

This book was very good, though I cannot say it's my favorite book by the author. It's a memoir, but it's not as hilarious as I feel most of Augusten Burroughs' books usually are. That's totally fine; it just wasn't what I was expecting. "Lust and Wonder" chronicles the 10 years Burroughs spent with his previous partner. It's a very honest depiction of a relationship that never quite works. I was very moved by the book, but it was also incredibly depressing. Still, it's a great read by this fine author.

I give five stars, as I tremendously enjoyed reading this book. I couldn't put it down. It's rife with humor, sprinkled with sorrows large and small & written with a distinct voice and sharp wit. I grew to adore Augusten and really cheer him on through his journey of self.
The memoir left me tearfully happy and I am so pleased to have found, purchased and read this excellently rendered offering. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

No. Sorry. This is painfully boring. I have read all of Augusten Burroughs books. Give us more novels. Rehashing your life is getting very old. Threw this in thrash after pushing myself to page 35. Couldn't take any more. First edition or not. Recycle bin. Perhaps if you sit down and read it yourself Chris, you'll see what I mean. It's pretty clear. Snoozer.

I have read one of his other books. It had a story This was one was so obviously self serving! Extremely disappointing. There is no story and a complete waste of time/energy/money. I am so very disappointed that I purchased this book. Crude just to be crude.

I've been a fan of Augusten's work since Running With Scissors, where I first discovered that I wasn't alone in my dysfunction. In RWS and each subsequent memoir through Lust & Wonder, Augusten effectively recounts the most painful of life experiences in a brutally honest yet humorous fashion.

In Lust & Wonder, we learn a bit more about Augusten's previous partner George, (Likely the "Pighead" character he wrote about in Dry) and a lot more about more recent relationships with Mitch, Dennis, and his current husband Christopher. As I often find with Augusten's memoirs, I felt a deep connection to his vulnerability and authenticity when talking about each of these somewhat dysfunctional relationships- especially all of the brokenness which seemed to surround his years with Dennis. Interspersed throughout the book, Augusten talks about his shopping addictions - pursuing thousands of online auctions to purchase extravagant and expensive flashy gemstone jewelry. These bits reminded me of some of the quirkier habits he revealed in RWS- like his fondness for polishing tarnished coins.

While Lust & Wonder starts off serious, you should know that there are quite a few laugh out loud moments in this book. Expect the first one around page 70 or so. Ultimately, I found a lot of strong writing amidst the classic Augusten snark and self depreciation. It was a delightful read, and I couldn't put it down until I finished it in about 3 days. PS: I was quite happy with the ending.

A narcissistic and mean-spirited book. Burroughs borders on the cruel when discussing his past partners and is especially hard on Dennis. While Burroughs is occasionally self-aware (sometimes with a literary flourish), he often seems to delight in being wittily cruel. I doubt I'm the only person out there who's tired of Burroughs's incessant navel-gazing. He's a talented and often funny writer, but how many books about himself can he churn out?

I want my $12.99 back! I've read most of Augusten Burroughs books. Of those, "Running With Scissors" is excellent. "Lust and Wonder" pulls back the curtain on the author's alcoholism and neurotic behavior. "Lust..." is so bad, I couldn't finish it. My opinion has nothing to do with the fact he is gay. Relationships of all types develop in similar ways, both good and bad. This book is awful because it is marketed as a fun filled romp of a memoir, similar to those written by Chelsea Handler, when it is actually an examination of substance abuse and mental illness. Not fun to read, to say the least, and the reader is left with a "Leaving Las Vegas" taste in one's mouth.

Augusten is back! His last book, This Is How, was a departure from his usual genre (memoir) and style, and though I think I will forever love anything he ever writes, it was…well…not my fave. Lust and Wonder returns us to documenting his vulnerable, crazy, lovable, self-proclaimed wreck of a self.

I was crushed to learn that his 10 year relationship with Dennis was wrought with tension and misgivings, and worse, the depletion of humor and intimacy (though I would honestly love to read Dennis’s memoir of the relationship). I was delighted by the emergence of his love relationship with Christopher, his agent and now spouse. In fact, I think I love Christopher myself, what with the constant good mood and belly laughing!

A couple of gems:

I painfully related to:
“In my mind, I frequently see these movies of terrible things that may happen…I’ve never been able to stop the blockbuster disaster film from playing on an endless loop in my mind. I see the terrible coming, whether it is or not.”

“So many years of anticipating disaster is exhausting. Though I have tried to train myself not to think this way, it never works, so plan B is to go ahead and think this way but then remind myself I’m wrong.”

(Plan A and B are essentially cognitive therapy which I personally have not found helpful. I am currently on Plan Z: Zoloft has, thankfully, helped my endless loop become intermittent clips.)

This was interesting:
At one point, Augusten described the sudden realization of his feelings for Christopher after seeing a split-second picture of him on his computer.

“First, I felt love. Second, it was like a fist had been jammed into my crotch and pressed against my balls, an ache. I felt ownership, primal, just a mouth going, “Mine, mine, mine.”

I loved that—the knowing—in and of itself. But the interesting part for me was a couple of days later when I walked into the den and the same feeling (minus the balls) instantly overcame me when I saw the stack of books and writing work I’d left on the coffee table the night before. (My work will be writing, mine, mine, mine!)

In fact, this is one reason I love Augusten Burroughs’s books. If I am not the deepest thinker, I FEEL. Augusten FEELS, and he tells it like it is. There is such relief in that.

And then this was just hysterical:
“Arriving in Amsterdam was disorienting. Everybody rides bikes everywhere, which I supposed was admirable and inspiring, but it felt like stepping into a buzzing haze of flying monkeys…

Then there were the tangled, guttural vocalizations the Dutch people made to form their own private little language. Dutch isn’t easy for the outsider to learn, because it’s spoken from the back of the throat at the trigger spot for the gag reflex. In order to make the correct sounds, you have to have quite a bit of phlegm at the ready, which is probably why everybody smokes. Nonsmokers can’t even understand Dutch, let alone speak a single word of it. The word for “hello!” is actually the noise you make when you clear your throat really hard before hurling out a loogie onto the ground. “Have a nice day” sounds exactly like someone choking on his or her own tongue.

The smug Dutch learn three languages in school, because they know that nobody else in the world is going to speak their strangled and gasping mother tongue. They learn the extra two languages, I figured, to show off. I was onto them: in my experience, startlingly modest, peaceful people would do anything to get you to notice how startlingly modest and peaceful they were. The Dutch did not fool me any more than the Buddhists I’d known growing up in western Massachusetts. Give a Buddhist a vacuum cleaner and the very first thing he or she will do is run through the house with it sucking up all the spiders. Zen, my ass.”

Bahahaha, I love you, Augusten. (And Christopher!)

I fell in love with Augusten Burroughs in RUNNING WITH SCISSORS. I cringed with him in DRY. And now our witty snarky funny tragic memoirist is back, looking for love and a real life.

He's moved beyond his horrifying childhood, though he wonders, "When is the perfect time to tell a new lover your parents were psychotic... and not in a good way"? He's sober, at least for most of the book. And he's desperately looking for love and a perfect lasting relationship.

In the process, he goes through some less-than-perfect relationships, like the one with the brilliant author who has the dullest friends in the world.

All is told in perfect Augusten Burroughs style: snarky, insightful, tragic, quirky, raw, brutally honest, brilliant, filled with wonder... It's why a number of the reviewers here are compelled to read every word Burroughs writes.

It's hard, and perhaps pointless, to synopsize a memoir, so I'll just drop in a few enticing highlights.

If you ever ask your partner if there's anything about you that bothers him, and he pulls a five page single spaced document out of a file drawer... it's time to leave.

Once you're sober, in any restaurant, you will never again drink a beverage that doesn't have a straw in it.

If you like to pick up a little knowledge about a random subject whenever you read a book, Burroughs is a gem junkie and you will learn a lot about the sparkly things of the world.

You can learn a lot about a person from their relationship with his dog.

I read a pre-published version of the book, and found that the end meandered a bit. I'm hoping that will be fixed, along with one incorrect movie reference.

(Go ahead. You know you want to find it.)

It's there, along with Burrough's take on life.

I have been a fan since 2007 and have bought every single memoir wrote. Augusten has a way of writing that exposes you into a world where everyone knows exactly how you feel. He makes you know that what you are thinking in your head isn't crazy and that you aren't alone. He shows you that you can do anything and rise above anything and that someone can love you for the exact person you are. Take time and read every single memoir wrote, you won't be dissolved

Augusten Burroughs could write his way out of a sopping wet gunny sack secured with zap straps; whatever the hell that means. I read RUNNING WITH SCISSORS (1st memoir): loved it - laughed so hysterically my room shook - by room I mean: car seat - I read most of it while I was working overnight security on a construction site, much of the time sitting in my vehicle staring at a building's entrance waiting for the bad guys to show up. When they did, they were usually high on crack, so, I just pretended to be a hallucination - which strangely, seemed to work.

I read DRY (2nd memoir): loved it. After reading: I went out and slammed back a flight of fine scotches. That's right: scotch is served by the flight.

However, something was missing. Burroughs comes from the definition of dysfunction, smothering dysfunction – yet; he survived, thankfully for us. What was missing, for me at least, he seemed to be hiding behind his indisputable wit and literary brilliance, although, his life oddities were laid out for all to see, laugh, cringe and cry along with, his mad comedic skills didn't allow me fully in.

As much as I loved those two books, I was hesitant to read another by this amazing, famous author, whose fame arrived by sharing his life. Then, one day, I was shopping, in a drug store, for... I'm not sure what for when I glanced over at the magazine rack, spotted the cover for LUST + WONDER (3rd) - I impulse bought it. I'm ecstatic I did. The book is...searching for the right adjectives...deliciously, heart-warmingly-heart-wrenchingly honest. Augusten not only shares his life's dysfunctions in this compelling memoir, he opens his heart, laying himself bare, allowing readers to fully dive in. The wit and literary brilliance are still there, as strong as ever, the last 60 pages may have been the most engrossing I've ever read. The ending...

"Writing---especially if one is a memoirist---is dangerous, because it can lead to self-awareness." AB

Reading Lust + Wonder succeeded magnificently in not only bringing awareness for Austen, I think. I also think: it accomplished a rare thing: it brought self-awareness for anyone who dove into the pages of this wonderful book.

I can't wait for his next book. I think during the process of reading these three, I may have grown alongside of him.

Augusten, thank you, for surviving!

And, Christopher, thank you: for driving the jeep!

After chronicling his wildly dysfunctional childhood (RUNNING WITH SCISSORS) and his addiction and recovery (DRY), Augusten Burroughs tackles his largely unlucky search for romance and the man of his dreams in LUST & WONDER: A MEMOIR. Fans will find a new vulnerability added to Burroughs's usual mix of harrowing and hilarious confessions.

Burroughs abandons his sobriety after the death of a beloved HIV+ friend. Buying and drinking two bottles of scotch becomes a daily ritual. "I can say this with authority: a queen-sized mattress can hold a year's worth of urine and still be perfectly serviceable," he writes. He pulls himself out of his stupor by writing a satirical novel, SELLEVISION. Burroughs becomes smitten with his dashing new agent Christopher, but rules out a romance because Christopher is HIV+. Instead, he starts a relationship with Dennis. "Dennis had the soul of an accountant, and was exceedingly good at cataloguing my flaws," he writes. After a decade together, he and Dennis finally admit their relationship is not happy. Suddenly single again, Burroughs wonders if Christopher has been his Mr. Right all along.

Burroughs's tongue and pen are razor-sharp and his observations are acerbically funny. He avoids becoming unlikable by saving his best jabs for himself. When he does drop the laughs, he can be vulnerable and emotionally raw, as when dealing with the slow death of his relationship with Dennis. Readers will delight in the fact that by this memoir's end, it looks like Burroughs may have finally found his happily ever after. Augusten Burroughs's LUST & WONDER charts his rocky road through recovery and romantic entanglements with biting wit and surprising vulnerability.

Well, Augusten sure does know how to put it all out there! Can't give this one a 5 though. There's something I just can't put my finger on! It's a great story and he really does "put it all out there". He is not afraid to be vulnerable in his books which seems to be the opposite of his real life. This book chronicles his relationships from his twenties to his current state of "Lust & Wonder". He is very human in this book. I think that compared to other books of his, this one has less shock factor. It shows more of his emotion and gets into his head a little more than he has before. (Though to be fair, I have only read 3 of his other books; Running with Scissors, Dry and Possible Side Effects. )
After a series of bad relationships and what is more than just a "tough life" Augusten Burroughs found his Lust & Wonder! I have to say that I am happy for him! Especially because I have said for years "If you think your childhood was crazy, read Running with Scissors!" Now I can say "If Augusten can find his Lust & Wonder, so can you!"
I was lucky enough to have gotten an ARC from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review, to be able to read this before the release date.

This deeply personal memoir is outstanding--but I have to warn you that this is the first Augusten Burroughs book I've ever read. It won't be my last. It is so well written, he should be giving classes in how to write to the hundreds of other mediocre memoir authors I've read. There may be a few times when things seem a bit exaggerated or too coincidental for story purposes, but the whole thing is so well laid out that you accept any embellishments.

I've heard the author referred to as a humorist but there wasn't a lot that was funny here. His life with a man he thought he loved for over a decade seemed rather sad. And the way he described a gay romantic partnership is nothing like I would have expected--there was almost no sex or affection, and I assume since the writer doesn't mention getting it elsewhere that he was pretty much celibate for most of his years with the guy.

In the third "act" of the book it all suddenly starts to turn positive and by the end the title of the book makes sense. I came into this blindly, not knowing anything about this writer, so I was impressed by how analytical and self-deprecating he was considering that he made a lot of money off many best-sellers. I learned things from this book--things that I've heard said by others but never really got until I heard Burroughs stories here. I can control my thoughts. It's okay to tell my thinking that it's wrong based on my screwed-up childhood. Communication is key to a relationship and silence is evidence of problems. You never know if someone is telling you the truth. Sometimes the answers are sitting right in front of you and you don't recognized them (in this case for 12 or 13 years!). And dreams can come true.

I wish the book were longer and even more detailed--there are plenty of gaps where he skips entire years. But I must assume he covered some of that in previous books. I can't wait to read this one again.

Augusten Burroughs is an irresistibly engaging author, his first book “Running With Scissors” (2003) was made into a highly acclaimed film, other popular bestselling titles followed. With “Lust and Wonder: A Memoir” (2016) Burroughs continues with his forthright confessional writing that fans love and identify with.

The first of three parts unfolds as Burroughs recalls moving to Manhattan after establishing his career as an advertising copywriter in San Francisco. When he emailed his favorite author Mitch he was surprised to hear from back him, and soon a relationship developed between them. Mitch proudly introduced Burroughs (the young new boyfriend) to his Famous Author Friend and other famous celebrities he met several parties. While it was an exciting time in his life, Burroughs was a recovering alcoholic, and Mitch was a very odd person, filled with despair and self-loathing. They were an unusual couple. During this time the blonde ruggedly handsome “The Jeep Guy” first appeared mysteriously to Burroughs in a vivid dream, beckoning Burroughs to follow him.

Part two: In 1989 Burroughs loved George tremendously, however, George wouldn’t abandon his partner who was dying of AIDS and Burroughs respected him for his decision. It was through a book left in a keepsake box where Burroughs connected with his literary agent Christopher. Burroughs loved everything about Christopher, who was highly regarded, popular, genuine, open minded and loving. Christopher lost no time beginning another relationship after his previous one had ended.
After Burroughs met Dennis through a dating site, it was evident right from the start that they would face many obstacles and difficulties as a couple. Dennis was indecisive, “wishy-washy”, despite being in therapy for years, his new “cookie faced therapist” viewed Burroughs unfavorably (never meeting him). Burroughs presented keen observations about the pitfalls of questionable therapeutic practice, concerned about false accusations of undermining Dennis therapy.
In a frenzy, traumatized, desperate, during and immediately following 9/11 (Dennis studio apartment was located near Ground Zero), Burroughs committed himself and pledged his love for Dennis, reasoning things had to work between since they had already faced so much.
With another dream of “The Jeep Guy” Dennis had his own interpretation, and Burroughs wondered if he had a neurological problem in having such a vivid reoccurring dream.

Part three: With over ten years together, Burroughs with Dennis owned and decorated a lavish home, and had two dogs they dearly loved. Burroughs enjoyed the success and fame in his writing career he never thought possible. In an ongoing attempt to work through their incompatibility, Dennis suggested another unusual therapist. This final part was also about mature abiding love, moving in another direction, and understanding the metaphorical wonder of “The Jeep Guy” also infused psychologically throughout the book. ~ With thanks to the Seattle Public Library.

I remember way back when I worked at the post office and I was listening to "Running With Scissors" on my headphones and cracking up and being appalled at the same time. I could not help myself falling in love with the craziness that is Augusten Burroughs. He's funny and he doesn't care to share any and everything with people. If only we could all be that way.

This book is about his life when he finally started writing his books and getting them published. This is also about all of the crap he went through with numerous boyfriends. It seems he never could find the right one until the end of this book. I could feel his pain in a way because I have been with numerous jerk dudes through out my life but I gave up.

I don't know what it is about Augusten that is so funny and so out there. I guess it's just him being him and not really caring what the world thinks, at least in a sense. I mean it's pretty hard to put all of your intimate stuff in a book and hope to God people will love it.

Let me tell you, in this book, he had to deal with some real nutzy cuckoo's in his life and he also was a bit nutzy cuckoo himself but his younger life was a mad house. I felt for him in "Running With Scissors." Poor little boy.

My childhood had been hijacked by drunks, pedophiles, lunatics, and surrealists, so I grew up in a world unrelated to the actual planetary body beneath my feet. I was at the mercy of the off-the-rails adults around me. The upside was, I became determined as an adult to do what I wanted: become an author, get published, become sober, get love.

Security and love, these were the two things I did not feel as a child, so I chased after them now, sometimes bumping into things and knocking them down in the process. I was an emotional Great Dane, hugely needy and clumsy.

Augusten also talks about getting sober and falling off the wagon for some time while he was with a man named Dennis. But he got back on the wagon again and on to another relationship. It's such a shame he had to waste so many years with these people that were nothing really.

This book is raw and open just like Augusten always is in his books. I loved it. He is really cool and I got to find out more things about him that I didn't learn in other books. I think anyone that has enjoyed his books before would like this one just as much.

*I would like to thank St. Martin's Press for a print copy of this book through The Reading Room in exchange for my honest review.*

I've read every one of Augusten Burroughs' books, and if I had to name a favorite author, he'd probably be the name I told you. With that being said, Lust & Wonder didn't have the same spark that the others have for me. But before you decide for or against this book, hear me out -

Written in a way that is just like his other works, I love the fact that Augusten's books always seem to carry on as if just a continuation of the last. He tells it like it is, is unafraid of the gritty and embarrassing moments in life, and I always walk away feeling like I have grown as a person. I have nothing but respect. This one was no exception to that other than it felt more forced. Not unenjoyable, but not as natural in flow as his others.

Augusten tells of how he has transitioned from one period of his life to the next to the next, taking bits and pieces of each on with him. Being made up "entirely of flaws" has been Augusten's thing for years, and yet again he exhibits them in a way that is damn near endearing. There's a reason why readers such as myself come back for more time and time again.

So what did I not like about this book? I simply found it to be emotionally tough. I read about the years he felt were wasted and I felt awful for him. It happens, I know, and yet I just wanted to grab him and shake him all while yelling "this isn't how you should look at it." But at the same time, this is what sets Augusten apart in the literary world, so for that I cannot fault him.

What did I think?: I loved reading this book. I found it easy to get through, thought provoking, and a fantastic look at how each facet of our life shapes us into the gems that we are.

Who should read it?: I want to say everyone, but since we want to put it into some sort of box, I'm going to say anyone who has been greatly affecting by things not going according to planned. If you know what it's like to be severely disappointed and then on-top-of-the-world happy, you'll love this.

I fell in love with Augusten Burroughs when I read Sellevision and it was one of those weird, quirky books that hit at the right time for me. I quickly followed that up with the rest of his books and now wait patiently for the next one to come. It has been a long, dry spell. Lust and Wonder covers all those questions I had remaining after reading the other memoirs. He found true love, still dry and still neurotic! YES! I did find that this latest installment of his life is more a romance novel than memoir. It was so sweet and funny at the same time. I felt like I was sitting around a nice party where you ask a couple: How did you two meet?

I think his dream about the perfect guy (aka "Jeep Guy"), is a perfect Cinderella tale. He dreams about his handsome prince, but in this case it is really his agent and it takes him ten years to recognise it. "Jeep Guy" is everything Burroughs is looking for physically and mentally but the timing is always off and the dream never ends with him getting the guy, until it does. He goes into detail about his relationship failure and how he realizes that the perfect guy has been his friend all along, you know just like those romance books I love to read where the lead takes off her glasses and she sees the guy next to her in a different light.

Another thing that Burroughs finds is the unconditional love of dogs! WOO HOO - I just checked out his twitter feed and it is full of dogs! That alone made the book rate higher in my eyes. I am such a sucker for a good romance that includes dogs. That is really what this book turned into for me, a lovely little romance that left me full of - I guess - Lust and Wonder!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a review copy.

4.5 stars. This is my first foray into Augusten Burroughs's writing, and I wish I hadn't waited so long to pick up one of his memoirs. Burroughs has a gift for a perfectly placed exaggeration, a sly side-eye, a witty and utterly unexpected aside, and the blending of emotional insight with hysterical self-deprecation. This memoir is focused on Burroughs's various romantic entanglements, with varying degrees of success and disillusionment. His recounting of the ups and downs of his love life, his impressions of his partners, his own hang-ups and desires, are rapid-fire and are at once honest and humorous. Granted, humor is very personal and I can see this memoir being over the top for readers who avoid profanity, sex, or dark humor. But if you like edgy observations, dysfunctional relationships, bad language, and a unique blend of the coarse and flamboyant, this is the memoir for you.

I like to review books that I’m excited about and that I want others to read. I’ll never make a living writing book reviews; I get bored and bossy, when all I want to say is, “Read this book. Now!”

I sprinted through this book over dinner Friday night and waffles on Sunday morning. USA Today called his writing “screamingly funny”, however I disagree. “Amusingly funny” sounds too pedestrian and middle American, and Augusten is too droll for such bland silliness.

My childhood nickname was The Voice of Doom, I come with a parcel of dizzyingly abject childhood stories that I’m careful to dole out sparingly, and I’m a writer who prefers to stay home. I don’t drink booze, because I do it all too well and I have a flat ass. Augesten and I share many qualities, including the ability to be self-deprecating without whining or being a victim. I cheered him on when he splattered from one boring boyfriend to the next, when he had grand realizations, quite drinking, and as he fought the nature of love.

Lust & Wonder is an avalanche of witty amuse–bouches, one scrambling after the other to land in an untidy breathless pile at the bottom, where true love waits. Read this book. See, I told you so!

I have previously read, “Running with Scissors” and “Dry”. This made the reading of “Lust and Wonder” easier as it is the third book in Augusten Burroughs’ life memoir.

Essentially, “Lust and Wonder” picks up where “Dry” finished. Burroughs is now largely a teetotaller and is totally abstemious by the end of the book. His love life, however, is a mess but perhaps no worse than that of most people. He has also lost none of his humour. Indeed, the book is laced with it.

“Lust and Wonder” is an easy and amusing read. Burroughs is a master at simply blurting out the details of his life. He is certainly totally unembarrassed about sharing often-intimate details of his life with the reader. There is a chance that such intimacy will offend some readers. To those I say: move on. It is not in Augusten Burroughs to be a narrow-minded conformist.

The book brings the reader up to date with Burroughs’ life with him reaching the age of about fifty. What next? The scope for memoir may have narrowed. Will Burroughs turn elsewhere for inspiration? Regardless, I look forward to the result.

The events described in Augusten Burroughs' third memoir are less shocking and dramatic than those of Running With Scissors and Dry, but the quirky sense of humor and the emotional honesty are unchanged. The narrative arc is, in fact, thoroughly conventional-- developing a professional life, failing and eventually succeeding at relationships-- but Burroughs brings his own unique sensibility to them, as when he describes a marriage counselor as having "1970s Joyce Carol Oates hair," or an unfamiliar shade of blue jeans as "a post-acid-wash pale blue that suggested the peeling lead paint of a cold-war maternity ward." It's not all quirky comedy, though. There's an undercurrent of sadness throughout as he faces the uncertainty of never knowing whether a relationship is succeeding, and comes to terms with the ways his troubled past has conditioned him for self-defeating, self-destructive behaviors. Despite a slow start, this is a smoothly-written and compelling memoir for those who like the personal histories honest, blunt, and just a little twisted.

I'm living in a post- Augusten funk again.

Admittedly, I'll read anything this man writes. His wit, candor, authenticity, and openness draw me in. And he's self-aware and a bit crazy, which are two combinations that I just love. Lust & Wonder is Burrough's 10th book and his first full memoir in 10(ish) years. It’s called lust and wonder, but there are many more stages that get explored. It essentially picks up from his relationship with his former partner Dennis and leads readers through their demise and his realization of who he is and who he feels he's been in love with all along. Fans will follow him into this “more mature” Augusten, but critics might long for his old style. Personally, I like this version. I appreciate that he shared about his partner's health and the reality that many couples go through. He’s happy and deeply in love, and writing for him is no longer about just keeping his wits about him.

There were items that get repeated more than once (was raised by his mother's psychiatrist, the effect his boyband’s laugh has on him), but it wasn't anything that took away from the story for me.

My recommendation to you is this: read Magical Thinking and then dive right into Lust & Wonder. In between don't read Augusten's bio if you want to be surprised at what the 10 years brought. I loved the way in which he described his relationship with his then partner in Magical Thinking:

In exchange, I get unlimited access to the one person I have met in my life whom I automatically felt was out of my league. My favorite human being, the single person I cherish above all others. This is the person I get to share the oxygen in the room with .

And for this, I will happily scrub the toilet.

Swoon, right? I couldn’t possibly imagine anything happening to this relationship! But, as they say, life goes on and people change. Luckily, we’re allowed to peer into the details surrounding the inevitable fail of the past relationship and the creation of this new one. As always, reading Augusten Burroughs made me laugh, got me teary eyed, and made me feel less bad about my own bad parts.

Quotable: I know now: what is all that matters. Not the thing you know is meant to be, not not what could be, not what should be, not what ought to be, not what once was. Only the is.

The is. That's all that matters.

The beginning of this book made my skin crawl. I remember reading Running with Scissors a while ago, but this is not how I remembered it. However, that doesn’t mean it was bad. Something about the way Burroughs writes sucks me in and captivates me for all the gross imagery and then spits me back out into the world wondering how I ever think straight.

Much as the title describes, Lust and Wonder focuses on Augusten Burroughs’ (primarily romantic) relationships with various people throughout his life. We hear about the deaths and struggles, loves and bores. He details relationships that drag on for far too long and relationships that he put off for too long because he was afraid to fall in love with someone who would not stay around forever.

Fortunately the whole book wasn’t as vile as the beginning. About halfway through the book I remembered why I liked his writing so much: for its brutal honesty. Burroughs truly writes what comes to his mind and honestly remembers his reactions to events and circumstances. Although descriptions may disgust me, they also give me even more respect for Burroughs because he is genuine about his feelings regardless of what society may think about him. While so many of us spend so much energy trying to portray ourselves in a certain way and hiding thoughts that would make us vulnerable, different, or otherwise, Burroughs puts it all out there for anyone to read, even though he may have had a lot more twisted experiences than the rest of us who try to hide our weirdness.

This book is not for someone with a weak disposition. Enter this book prepared to learn more about the deep dark recesses of Burroughs’ mind than you hoped to know about anybody’s. And expect to be pleasantly surprised when you find yourself turning inward and asking which aspects of your own life are you avoiding because you are afraid? Be prepared to examine why you think some things you do are unacceptable and ask what will bring you joy and how can you bring joy to others in a productive way.

Lust & Wonder is Burroughs’ newest memoir and it details his last three romantic relationships.

The first one seems like a throwaway compare to the other two because it was relatively short. Burroughs meets one of his favorite authors and is instantly enamored. It becomes obvious pretty quickly, especially to the reader, that these two guys aren’t a good fit, but Burroughs is so determined to make it work that he has a hard time admitting to himself that it is time to move on.

Burroughs’ next relationship is with Dennis and lasts and entire decade. Everything starts off well enough but then, once again, the reader becomes aware that this relationship is doomed. I almost didn’t want to believe it was as bad as Burroughs described it, because it just seemed so lonely and depressing. Nothing completely horrible happened, but it was obvious the pair didn’t bring anything good out of one another. The realization of how wrong they are for one another hits Burroughs out of nowhere and he immediately starts attempting to break up with Dennis. Meanwhile, Dennis admits he hasn’t been happy for the past eight years, yet still hopes to salvage the relationship. It was not to be though because . . .

The last part of the book deals with Burroughs’ relationship with his husband, Christopher. Christopher and Burroughs met ten years ago, right before Dennis came into the picture. Christopher is Burroughs’ agent and the two have a very close friendship, until one day when Burroughs realizes suddenly that he is madly in love with Christopher. I really have to hand it to Burroughs because he wastes no time. He immediately emails Christopher to profess his love. The book goes on to detail their relationship up until the present day.

Another interesting aspect of Lust & Wonder is how it chronicled Burroughs’ writing career. I have read almost all of his books, so it was fun to read about him actually writing them.

I think Augusten Burroughs may be my spirit animal. I just find his sardonic wit so damn funny. This was no different in Lust & Wonder, despite the heavy subject matter at times. Burroughs was also able to chronicle his relationships in a very genuine, honest way. It can’t be easy to share your most intimate thoughts and moments, and yet he did it in a way that was totally relatable to the reader. If you have been in at least one relationship, whether it be good or bad, you will be able to relate to this book.

I'm going to admit I hardly read book synopsis before reading the book. I literally judge a book by it's cover and go from there. So it's understandable that I skipped over the fact that this book was a memoir. It doesn't read like one at all! It's the first memoir that I've ever read and I was not disappointed at all.

Augusten is a very neurotic person, but I love him for all of his quirks. Some of his fears reminded me of my "irrational fears" but in my head, like his, they're not irrational at all.
At one point on the book, his boyfriend began laughing at him for worrying the pool deck at the top of the building was going to fall through the roof and he began thinking of escape routes. To anyone else that is absurd, but I go through scenarios like this in my head multiple times a day, and it deters me from doing certain things. For some people, they're weird quirks but for people like Augusten and I it's a very real problem.

One of my favorite aspects of Augusten's writing is the fact that he doesn't skip anything. Even if it's embarrassing, or it may make him look bad. He doesn't care. I love that in authors. The people who write with truth, and raw emotion are my favorite. This is the first book I have read by him, so now I have to go read all the others written by him as well.

Let's face it: I have a soft spot for Augusten Burroughs.

That said, his book is good by any stretch of the imagination. He talks about what happens in his life with so much honesty and lack of embarrassment that I wish I could live this way (keeping in mind that this is a memoir and names, etc., have been changed and certain things have been idealized).

This book is about his love life--or loveless life as the case might be. He details what is going on in his mind when it is fooling him and what happens when he faces the (actual) facts. Somehow love finds him and leaves him better off than before. And, no, he doesn't do a great job of following his advice in "This is How..."

Good reading and great experiences.

This book is not bad, but it's not his finest work. While reading it, two thoughts came to mind:

1. This book could easily have been shortened about 200 pages. I found myself skipping through sections, and

2. I felt it was disrespectful to Mitch, Dennis and even Christopher (although I'm assuming Christopher didn't mind) that Augusten went into so much detail about their relationships. I found myself feeling sorry for Dennis. How embarrassing to air the dirty laundry of your 10 year relationship. I honestly didn't want to hear all about their sex lives either.

The book did have bits and pieces of the usual Augusten dry humor, which I love. I just wish the book wasn't so detailed about the downfall of their relationships. All in all, a decent read, but not one that I would re-read (So far I've re-read all of his books with the exception of A Wolf At The Table).

After all the reviews written here I will not bore you with the details. You can read about that in others reviews, but suffice it to say that this is classic Augusten Burroughs. He does not disappoint with this latest delve into his quirky psyche and details about his love life...in fact, his view of life in it's entirety. His unusual upbringing as chronicled in Running with Scissors has not seemed to make him a cynical person, but rather one that finds humor in almost every situation. This book was a delight and as entertaining as any other Burroughs book. Read it. You will enjoy the time spent doing so and will have further insight into the thought processes of this unusual man.

I have not read any of Augusten Burroughs' previous books but I can now see what all the fuss is about. I loved his brutal honesty, crippling anxiety, and uncontrollable neuroses. His voice was one I have not heard before. Not because he's a gay man living in "the big city" but a person (maybe) struggling with sobriety and (maybe) trying to find love. As a reader, we get to experience the minutiae of his daily life. I enjoy knowing what kind of sandwiches people like to eat and their routines. Burroughs writes in a way that makes you feel you are just two friends sharing stories of your unconventional lives. I wish I could have him over for dinner. But what would I make? If you've read this, what do you think Mr Burroughs would like for dinner?

Once upon a time I stumbled upon Augusten Burroughs' memoir Dry and loved it. It was shocking, funny, and in the end heartening. I recommended it to many friends instantly.

So, I was interested in this newest memoir by Burroughs - What is he up to? Is he still Sober?

The book is a fascinating insight into relationships and what it means to be satisfied in a relationship, what it means to settle, when to move on, and how to attain love. In many ways, it could be summed up by saying: listen to your gut even if it's scary.

Traveling with Burroughs through some of his longest/most meaningful relationships (and a few of his shortest) is emotionally charged, honest, often both hilarious and devastating. I found that even though I was not sure about Augusten and Dennis working out, I was still worried about Dennis being embarrassed by his portrayal in this book. Empathy is good, right?

This book shows the many errors we all make while dating, committing to relationships, and finding love. There's a big curve to sorting out how to love and be loved, and Augusten seems to find what he's looking for after many missteps: breaking sobriety, cheating, on-line chicanery, and living in fear.

It is somewhat difficult to talk to much about this book with out giving anything away but it is a good read. Burroughs is honest and some how beyond vulnerable, to the point that he exposes himself in such a raw manner that I worried about his boyfriends and lovers being able to handle being so exposed themselves.

It is a love story, with many tragic and funny parts, but nonetheless a love story. I would recommend it!

Thank you to both St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me with a free advance copy of this book in exchange for this honest review.

Our Augusten is back! The same quirky, hilarious and painfully true author you remember from Dry/Running With Scissors, he brings us up to date on what's been going on with him......and it's a beautiful, heartbreaking and awe inspiring look at a man who delves into the depths of his soul to share his universal truths with his ardent fans. As always, he pulls no punches, hiding nothing and bringing forward everything. I am so happy that he has come through the fire of life to find true happiness. He has matured, as have his long time readers, and we appreciate him all the more. A wonderful, snarky, painful story, with the perfect ending. Thanks Augusten, this is absolute perfection. Be ready to laugh out loud, cry a bit, and reflect on your life as well.

I think if you're already a fan of Augusten Burroughs and read his previous memoirs ("Running with Scissors" and "Dry" being the most notable), I think you'll read this book regardless of what anyone says. It is like visiting with someone you've met before but has been away and you're eager to hear what he's been up to. However, if you've never read an Augusten Burroughs book before, I don't recommend starting here. I'd go back to the one that got the most attention (and deservedly so) -- his chronicle of his very messed-up childhood -- "Running with Scissors." You really can't understand who Augusten is as a grown-up until you hear about his childhood. Then, if you liked that, check out "Dry" (about his drinking and rehab experiences) and then come to this one.

The focus of this memoir is relationships -- primarily three relationships that Augusten had in his "mid-years." There is a stretch with a boyfriend named Mitch that just seems doomed from the start, a 10-year relationship with Dennis that seems more of a partnership than a romance, and then "the" relationship that ends up being the one that ends in marriage.

If you're a fan of Augusten Burroughs, I'm assuming you like brutal honesty, sarcasm, self-depreciation and a willingness to share (warts and all) all the little moments in life that end up eventually making a life. (It isn't always the "big" things that happen but the day-to-day living that gets you.) You'll find all that in this book.

I think it is hard to be known as a memoirist -- what if you just don't have the material to generate a book? For that reason, I'd love to see Augusten Burroughs change focus a little and become an essayist and just share his thoughts/feelings/opinions about various topics. He's got the unique worldview and "snark" down so I'd love to be hear what he has to say about modern culture. This way, we don't have to wait so long to hear from him!

One thing I do wish was that there were some photos included. I always appreciate that in a memoir. (However, I read an early review copy via the store Vine so perhaps the finished book will include photos.)

Author Augusten Burroughs is already well-known, specifically for his two most popular memoirs: Running with Scissors and Dry. I’m kind of surprised at myself for not having read either, but it meant I was able to begin reading Lust and Wonder with a completely open mind. I really didn’t know what to expect.

Well, my goodness. I guess I’ve been missing out.

Lust and Wonder essentially follows Burroughs through three significant relationships in his life, and his descriptions of these relationships are brutally honest. No one is spared, including Burroughs. He truly does bare it all–the good and the bad–and even when he knows it’s ugly, he doesn’t flinch.

Burroughs makes fun of himself a lot for being anxious and uptight, but it’s clear he has a good sense of humor about his shortcomings. His commentary on his own fragile mental state adds soothing levity to the “torment,” so the memoir never feels suffocating or oppressive. There are some intense subjects covered, but I had no problem devouring huge chunks of the story over one or two sittings. I empathized with Burroughs, felt connected to his struggles, but the book never overwhelmed me. Balanced is probably the last word Burroughs would use to describe himself, but that is exactly the word I’d use to describe this book.

The last comment I want to add is pretty much superfluous, but I just can’t help myself.

It made me so sad when Burroughs repeated over and over how “safe” he felt in his first marriage. He kept saying that his partner (of ten years) was the opposite of every parent figure he had in childhood–so calm and predictable and restrained. But it seemed to me that their relationship was just a quieter version of what Burroughs had already experienced (at least from what I know about his childhood from this memoir). His partner was cold, withholding, and critical–constantly nit-picking and stonewalling and shutting him out, for seemingly no reason (or maybe, more accurately, for every reason).

A healthy person would know that love is supposed to feel good and would have the courage to tell the other person to either express himself like a grown-up or have the balls to leave the relationship already. But if you’ve grown up in a home where love didn’t feel steady, safe, secure, dependable, unconditional, etc., well then you think to love is to feel anxious. You feel anxious that you don’t deserve love, anxious that it will be taken away. And this state of anxiety feels awful, but also natural, familiar, almost good (!). So instead of sticking up for yourself, you fall right into the trap of trying to figure out how you upset the other person this time, how you can do better next time so that you can eventually earn their love. It breaks my heart a little to think that Burroughs put himself through that for 10 years. I’m beyond happy for him that he is now married to someone who gets him and treats him well, but still. We’re all screwed up, you know? No one deserves to be treated like he’s not worthy of love.

At any rate, I really loved this book. Start to finish, it was wonderful. From what I’ve read elsewhere, it appears that Lust and Wonder is a bit of a comeback memoir for Burroughs (and has been well-received by fans thus far). If that’s the case, I couldn’t be more thrilled for him. I wish him all the best, and I hope this book is a bestseller.

"Lust & Wonder" is an enjoyable, quirky, read that I recommend for when you need something more than a beach read, but less than hard-core non-fiction. It is equal parts humorous and heartfelt as it leads the reader through Burroughs's journey to find his soul mate. Burroughs is clearly a gifted writer and his style is is very much that of a story teller. I could almost hear him speaking to me, personally, as the story progressed. I understood his hesitation to give up the familiar for the leap of faith, the comfortable for the adventurous. I cannot personally identify with his struggle with addiction, but his portrayal of it made it more accessible than I have felt reading previous descriptions of addiction. All in all, this was a good read. I'm motivated to read his previous books but will wait a while to give myself some distance from the author. Reading his work made me feel slightly voyeuristic and very intimately involved so I need to wait a while before diving back into Augusten's world.

Revelations. Self-deprecation can be rare in memoirs, and it is that humorous laughing at oneself that Augusten Burroughs masters so well. His latest memoir is titled, Lust & Wonder, and his great writing presents gobs of details about a dysfunctional life. Burroughs offers such broad emotional and psychological revelation that any neurotic reader will appreciate that there is someone else in the world who is even more disturbed. From that wounded state comes fine writing that seems brutally honest and so self-reflective that one could assume that Burroughs has never had a thought that he has not written about. Readers who can laugh at themselves are those most likely to enjoy reading this book.

Rating: Four-star (I like it)

I was quite impressed with DRY, and most of Augusten Burroughs' other works. He has a unique style that draws the reader in and makes the reader laugh, no matter how awful the stories may be. This book was disappointing. I kept plodding through, hoping it would get better, and found myself skipping through sections in the middle. At the end of the book, I thought, this tale took up an entire 295 page book? I agree with the reviewer who said, how many memoirs can this man write?

I've read all of Mr. Burroughs' books and while parts were funny and thought-provoking, I pretty much found it to be repetitious, narcissistic, whiny, too full of angst and over the top graphic. He needs to concentrate more on quality writing and less on his sex life. You can only say things a certain number of times before they cease to be shocking and just become boring.

If you've enjoyed the previous memoirs by this author you won't be disappointed here - Augusten is back with his signature mixture of hilarity and poignancy. This book picks up where Dry left off, covering the development of Burroughs' career as a writer and the rise and fall of some of his most significant long-term romantic relationships. As usual there are quite a few "did he really say that?!" moments, and one has to squirm on behalf of some of the people from his past who get roasted. He also does not spare himself from his own ruthless magnifying lens. Overall, a hard-to-put-down read by this mesmerizing author.

It started out a little slow for me, but then I was hooked. Augusten made me laugh and cry throughout the book. Most of all this book touched places in my heart that no matter your sexual preference, I could/can understand his pain of being in a relationship that just goes nowhere and how we are guilty of letting those relationships steal our valuable time better spent with someone who truly loves us for who we are. I love that he was so honest about who he is and what makes him tick and his struggle to be loved unconditionally. Read it, you won't regret it!

Why am I only just discovering this author? He makes me laugh out loud with his crass honesty.
And I am glad this tortured soul has finally found happiness, even as he continues to torture himself.
Such an incredible writer.
If only he would stop buying gems.

Dude, it's obvious he should have picked his agent from the beginning. Clinging onto someone for a decade that you won't have sex with all because of 9\11 is ridiculous! Happy that he finally found his fairytale ending at fifty. Poor Dennis ?

I have been waiting for a new Augusten Burroughs novel for years and I finally got it but it wasn't what I was expecting. It seems like he was writing just for the sake of writing. I love how he writes about his life and I enjoy knowing what is going on with him but this book seemed forced in some way. It wasn't as funny as he normally is. All in all I do love him and I did enjoy this, I just hope it doesn't take years for his next book to be written.

I have throughly enjoyed all of his previous books but this one felt a little too blah, comparatively. Though I could relate to all of his story points it didn't make me want to read on page after page like his other books did. I would still recommend if you are a fan, but don't expect the same kind of page turning that you had with his previous reads. I will have to say though, that like most, I am a sucker for a happy ending!

I had mixed feelings about this one.

On one hand I enjoyed Burroughs snarky tone. His observant wit. Or is that witty observations. His self-deprecation is probably his strongest suit and it rings with honesty and plenty of sharp and sometimes hilarious bite.

But that is only half the book. The other half seems a bit nasty at its heart. Seems to poke fun at the men who dared take him on and try to form a relationship with him. It is almost like Burroughs is so involved in picking himself apart he feels the need to pick these men apart as being an aspect of himself instead of simply and honestly assessing each relationship.

And this is where the book kind of loses me overall. There is something too self-indulgent and even self-serving here for me to drag these men in under the guise of "being honest". Baring your own self is one thing. Baring others makes me wonder at the various motives and which one(s) are at the heart of this memoir. Is it simple honesty? Or is there some payback. A few jabs in there that are meant to draw blood or even scar.

Also there always seems to be this mocking sense towards all the men that while Burroughs does slam himself pretty much, he seems to use his self-deprecation as a means to undermine the other men. That he is soooo pathetic but hey, look at the guy that puts up with it.

It just ended up veering too much into the smug territory that his previous books tended to avoid.

I was so disappointed. It was not funny at all, and he was either lying in the books depicting Dennis in the past, or he is re-writing history to justify running off with a mutual friend. I wouldn't judge, except he claims to have a, "photographic memory" in the New York Times, so which is it? I felt he really did Dennis (and Pighead) a great disservice and it made me stop liking him (Christopher Robison) as a person. This would not matter if it was well-written, but I didn't laugh once and it was both slow and sloppy, making me like him less and less as a writer as well. I own everything of his but, tbh, I am grateful I took this one out of the library because it sucks. He's a liar and a has-been and I'm glad I didn't contribute any money to his tacky af pinky ring collection. "Augusten"? You are the actual worst.

I totally enjoyed listening to this audiobook. Sure Augusten is self involved and neurotic-but he is also funny as hell, sweet and insightful. This is a very hopeful book and I love it has a happy ending. I love that he wins in the end and moves forward. I found myself driving around thinking of more errands to run so I can listen more and smile.

The latest Burroughs memoir and I liked it quite a bit. Covering the part of his life after rehab and as an ad writer and then author, Burroughs brings you into his relationships and writes as if he is talking directly to you. Funny and uncomfortable, witty with an underlying sadness, it's like spending a day with your best friend.

I laughed. I cried. I freaked out the people sitting near me in the coffee shop as I read. All worth it. Some books make a difference in the world or just your own little world and this one just might do both. Thank you Augusten for another great book.

Lust and Wonder is a wonderful memoir about Augusten Burroughs search for love, honesty, truth and relationship. It is also memoir about the continued search for himself as well as his search for love and friendship. It is also a “coming to terms with,” as well as finding and understanding what true partnership is.

I absolutely loved this book.

As always, his writing is filled with vulnerability, honesty, fearlessness, candor and humor.

Recovering from his torrid and difficult past, he continues to forge onward, deeply questioning his life choices, and then diving fearlessly into his unique process with absolute love and abandonment. His Big Heart is always coming home to itself. And isn’t that what we all want? Sigh.

I have read all of Augusten Burroughs novels. If you love Augusten too, then this is a must read for you. This memoir reaches into the more intimate part of his personal life and is well written, and comes across in "true Augusten style," very funny and extremely irreverent. If you have not read his books, then start now!! They are beautifully written and there is no one out there like him.

But, more importantly, this is definitely a more mature offering. This book is written about a boy who is now reaching into his own truth about Manhood. His exploration into his own life choices as an expression of his journey to personal responsibility is the driving theme of this book. Even though we may have all made immature choices in the past, we can continue to process and make choices that will, and can make our lives truly happy.

Thank you Augusten. You are a true Gem, and a wonderful Author!

“Lust and Wonder” the new memoir by Augusten Burroughs chronicles his love life in New York City. I have read a number of books by Burroughs. Although I really liked “Running With Scissors” I have not be a big fan of his other books and this book is no exception. He often comes of whiny and shallow and what he writes about, although sometimes funny, is often boring and not very interesting. I found myself liking him even less after these stories. This isn’t a bad book and I’m sure there are people who will be able to relate to a lot of these stories, but I am no one of them. If you haven’t read Burroughs before, I would check out some of this other books first.

And abikity to self acknowledge. I'm a straight, female Christian reader, yet identify with you on many levels. You and Carl Hiaassen are my favorite authors; different and each unique, and FUNNY. TY.

It's difficult for me to put a finger on just why this book was good, but not great. I've been a fan of Burroughs for years. Usually, when I get my hands on one of his books, I can't put it down and breeze through it. For some reason, I kept putting this book down and forgetting to pick it up again for long periods at a time. The second chapter was the problem area for me, as I just kept losing interest. Once I got to the third (and final) chapter, I finished pretty quickly. I don't think Burroughs' writing style has changed -- he's still got that sparkling dry wit. Maybe it was the subject matter.

so I am not a critic and don't want to start. May I just say, I am a fan of some past works and certainly had expectations and at times I was was not sure were we were headed on the "I liked it" rating. In the end, I did enjoy it. I have much with which to identify in Augusten's work and it was a gentle encounter with life that was funny, a bit too much ME but then again, it is is memoir and it is Mr Burroughs and satisfied the voyeur in me as well as leaving me with stuff to ponder. I will say I am a bit of a hard-nose on kindle pricing by publisher's. And so I would not buy this (I mostly boycott anything over 9.99 unless I cannot say "no") and I borrowed it from the library --for which the author receives some sort of compensation I understand.

SPOILERS in this review.

I'm a huge Burroughs fan but I'm finally tired of his stories. This book seemed to draaaaaaag on for no good reason. I didn't care about his relationship with Dennis because it seemed so stupid and meaningless. If he didn't like Dennis, why would I, especially as the subject of 2/3 of the book? It was mind-numbingly dull. And what made it worse, the big surprise ending wasn't a surprise at all because his marriage to Christopher was all over the news. So way at the beginning, when they first meet and Christopher comes walking down the street, I was like, "I already know how this is going to end." And it was torture getting there.

Make no mistake, Burroughs is clever and insightful as always, but these feels like such a stretch just to get a book done. I wanted the time back it took to read it.

What a great writer Burroughs is! He has a fantastic turn of phrase, uses shocking and unexpected metaphors and is honest to the degree that makes me cringe.
At the same time - what an unpleasant human being!

I am only half-way through this book. I couldn't agree more with my fellow one star reviewers. I read all of his other memoirs and was disappointed when they ended. This is mean spirited and tough to take. I am glad I took this out at my local library for free. Or else, I would want my money back, too!

I loved this book! I identified with so much of it, and found it insightful and laugh out loud funny. I love how open and vulnerable Augusten is in his relationships and in his writing. So refreshing!

Truly, if I could spend an afternoon talking to this man it would make me so happy. His honesty and willingness to be so open and forthright about such personal flaws and feelings makes me respect him even more. Alas, I will just read another one of his books ?

The author's story-telling ability is great. What I found disappointing was the content. It seemed way too self-absorbed, without any redeeming value in terms of insight. I am surprised the book ranks so high in terms of sales on the store.

It's a good book when it comes to studying people and relationships, but there isn't much more than that. There are long stretches that feel too long or boring, but I still enjoyed the book overall. Just know it's about relationships and all the complexities of them but little else.

I loved Dry and Running with Scissors, but after those two, you pretty much reach a limit with Burroughs. After the disappointment of Wolf at the Table, I had high hopes that this one would be as original and interesting as Dry and Scissors. It's not. This book is fluffed with excessive and pointless details, and it just isn't very smart. I often get the sense that Burroughs models his writing after David Sedaris, but his work lacks the insight and range in Sedaris's work. This is the last book of his that I'll read--unless he can come up with some other material.

Mr. Burroughs gives an honest look at his life warts and all. I don't know if it is an honest account but he seems to put it all out there even thought from the readers vantage point you know he is making huge mistakes.

I'm very picky about books and authors, so I usually don't write reviews. But the audiobook version of this is great! Read by the author himself. Parts of it are funny; other parts keep you turning pages (or listening in the car in my case). *****

Not nearly as funny as Running With Scissors nor Dry as Burroughs has decided to tackle the part of his life where the child that resides within himself is forced to face the reality of growing up and while the wit may be missing the heart is not. The book follows the author through three relationships and most importantly how he learned from the first two to make the third work for hopefully the rest of his life.

The first 70 pages are very heavy as he struggles with his demons once thought conquered at the end of Dry. The book is very readable and any fan of his writings will enjoy his musings and observations. You will share in his pains and triumphs and what more can you ask of a memoir.

Looking forward to the next fiction writing AB, as I think you may have just found your happy ending, no pun intended.

Have loved all of his other stuff and was very disappointed in this one. Deteriorates from kinda interesting to random and meaningless observations by the very end. Saddened and a little angered that a gay author would continually refer to someone who is HIV+ as "having AIDS." Rednecks on Fox News do that; mainstream gay authors need not do that.

I'm totally disappointed in Lust & Wonder. I loved Dry yet on the very first page, the author writes: "In AA, you are brainwashed into believing that all the good stuff happens only after you stop drinking. Clearly, they are lying; my life improved significantly as soon as I ordered a cocktail." What a disservice to an organization like AA who help people get sober after they've hit bottom. What a disservice to members of AA who have been helped, may have read Dry, and might now read Augusten Burroughs' memoir where he says AA is lying. Alcoholics are a fragile lot and reading a sentence like this from a popular gay writer could possibly influence some alcoholics to just have 'one' drink and eventually relapse from years of sobriety. Not too smart to write this on page 1 of a memoir.
Further, I slogged through Part 1 of the book and found it so boring and tiresome. His description of his lover is such a turn-off that one wonders Burroughs stayed with him and made both miserable. I used to be a fan but this book is dull and Dry. Save your money.