REVIEW: Lust & Wonder

A book by Augusten Burroughs

Even when Augusten Burroughs’s life bores him, his charm and humor tug readers along. While successfully abstaining from alcohol, his ADD flares up and he tries a medication that causes the horrifying (and hilarious) intensification of his sense of smell. He develops writer’s block and despairs of ever publishing again. His anxiety issues almost prevent him from leaving a friend’s apartment. He endures the breakup of a long-term relationship and subsequent visitation days with his dogs. And all the while, he plays mind games with himself to avoid facing true love with his HIV-positive literary agent.

Augusten Burroughs charms readers with his flaws, his addictions, and even his whining. Most authors would lose readers by chronicling the abandonment of a dying lover, the compulsive quest for shiny gems, or playing house in a loveless relationship. Yet he captivates us with an honest portrayal of himself as a lovable and amusing mess. Readers will find themselves rooting for Burroughs to find lasting love and happiness, all the while hoping that his life stays quirky enough to continue inspiring his writing.

— Reviewed by Jen McQueen, Mt. Pleasant Regional Library, Mt. Pleasant, SC

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