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| Possible Side Effects | 
 enlarge | Author: Augusten Burroughs
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Category: Book
List Price: $23.95
Buy New: $5.99
You Save: $17.96 (75%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  97 reviews
Sales Rank: 4362
Format: Bargain Price
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.4 x 1.1
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
ASIN: B00119M106
Publication Date: May 2, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews: Read 92 more reviews...
 Though far from this author's best efforts, this is very funny and enteraining throughout May 13, 2006
39 out of 50 found this review helpful
I'm a huge fan of Burroughs. Like most, I first discovered him through his mega-selling "Running with Scissors." I quickly devoured his hysterical novel "Sellevision." I was less impressed with his memoir "Dry," but fell in love all over again when I read his true story collection "Magical Thinking." "Possible Side Effects" is more dry than magical, and shows the author at a crossroads. Though consistently amusing, many pieces in this new collection seem forced and find the author overreaching for a laugh, while still others feel deriviative of those previously published, or rather they seem as though they may have been leftovers - stories that didn't quite make the "Magical" cut.
Still there are many rewards in "Possible Side Effects." My two favorites in this collection were: "The Georgia Thumper," which focuses on the troubled relationship between the young Burroughs and his paternal grandmother; and "The Forecast for Sommer," which is some of the strongest prose writing yet from this author. Deeply felt, though unsentimental, "The Forecast for Sommer" betrays the author's talent for dramatic, melancholy writing and provides a promising glimpse into his future and better things to come.
 ONE OF MY HEROES May 5, 2006
37 out of 47 found this review helpful
more weirdness from my favorite writer. vignettes ranging from being terrorized by the tooth fairy to a dog named cow. delighted to see an appearance from his bizarre family again. maybe because his family's neurosis resembled mine. slightly twisted, slightly campy, always funny. some might find his humor a little too dark, not me. he's also discovered he's no longer unrecognizable to the public. my favorite chapter is the one on his brother who for years went undiagnosed with asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism. their interaction with each other is often hilarious, and I loved his brother's nickname's for his family, augusten was "varmint", mom was "slave" and dad "stupid". the back flap has augusten's website address. where he previews his next three books. many giggles throughout, and every bit as funny as anything david sedaris has written. seemingly effortless writing, and razor sharp wit. some may say that it's not up to his usual high standards, but I disagree.
The Court Jester Tempers His Tales August 2, 2006
23 out of 27 found this review helpful
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS is Augusten Burroughs' fifth book of ramblings about the absurdities he encounters in his meandering through life. While his earlier books concentrated on the incredibly warped childhood he survived, this current diversion begins with a focus on a more adult state of his existence. Burroughs continues to mature as a writer and while his reminiscences of bizarre incidents are apparently endless (and definitely endlessly hilarious), his focus has changed in this collection of tales to a more philosophical approach to life as he is living it now.
Burroughs can find the humor in aberrant situations, incidents that may pass our paths unnoticed, but in his pausing to reflect become frozen moments of shock, humor, disgust, and enlightenment. His friends or acquaintances become comedic figures worthy of cinematic exploration. His hypochondriacal episodes remind us of our own medical delusions and frantic moments. Where Burroughs is best is in his explorations of his own behavior patterns, living methods, addictions and maladaptations.
The first half of this latest hilarious writing concerns Burroughs' relationship with his partner, with his friends, with care givers. But it seems in the second half he feels the need to return to the childhood experiences that have won him the wide audience of voyeurs and fans in his first books. The difference is the subtle change in his memories of his parents and grandparents whom he now depicts with equal amounts of tenderness and criticism.
For this reader POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS, while a pleasure to read for entertainment, is less pungent in shock value and more tempered with gentle reflection. That is evidence of maturing as a writer and broadening his scope of connecting us to a world made more realistically weird than before. Augusten Burroughs remains a master of describing the simple things in our lives as observed by a man with a very keen wit! Grady Harp, August 06
 Oh, this is book is awful.......... May 24, 2006
15 out of 20 found this review helpful
After reading the first four stories of this book, I could simply not go on any further. The first story of the book was a sign of what was to come- the story was not simply uninteresting and pointless- it was painful. The author flies to London, has an incredible nosebleed while in flight which I assume is supposed to be funny somehow. While in his hotel room in London he becomes reclusive and writes extensively about the thicker nature of British Kleenexes (according to the author's girlfriend- the British need the extra Kleenex for their extra heavy nasal mucous discharge), how much more Kit Kat bar you get for your money and other such revelations. The chapter ends out with the author cutting himself while shaving and bleeding yet again. It was pathetic and the following stories weren't any better. You'd have to be a hardcare fan of this guy to read this book and find something worthwhile in it. There is so much good literature to be had in the world of books- this is wasted paper. Then there is the Amazon reviewer who gave this book five stars before it was even released because he was so sure he would love it. Folks, this book is bad.
Another great one by Burroughs May 5, 2006
13 out of 17 found this review helpful
I'm a big fan of this guy, bought this as soon as I could get my hands on it, and cruised right though it. I loved it, and if you like Burroughs' frantic, neurotic writing, like I do, you will not be disappointed. Just like I did while reading his other books, I found myself vascilating between squrming and laughing. And for me, this is the true indicator of good writing -- it grabs me emotionally and makes me feel something.
In this latest collection you'll find essays about Burrough's days spent in the world of advertising, and of course trips back to his (almost unbelievably) tragic childhood. He's stopped drinking and doping by now, but seems to have replaced these vices with other addictions -- nicotine gum, junk food, and, as always, wild, out-of-control introspection.
You'll also find more stories about his brother with Asperger's Syndrom and his depressed mother, all written with a level of sincerity and wry wit that should make David Sedaris jealous.
Is it all true? I've never thought all of his stories were true, and I haven't really cared, but this is the first of his books to actually come out and admit it, in an introductory note. The writing is so good it doesn't really matter. As one other famous memoirist said: Pretend it's fiction.
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