Augusten Burroughs' 2002 memoir, Running with Scissors, is a book that refuses to be easily categorized or comfortably digested. It recounts the author's deeply unconventional childhood, spent largely in the orbit of his mother's eccentric psychiatrist, Dr. Finch, and his equally peculiar family. Far from a sentimental recollection, Burroughs presents a raw, often darkly humorous, and undeniably disturbing portrait of a household where emotional neglect and outright abuse were commonplace, yet somehow coexisted with moments of bizarre affection and artistic expression. The memoir's enduring power lies in its unflinching honesty and Burroughs' distinctive narrative voice, which manages to find levity and even beauty amidst profound dysfunction.
The core of Running with Scissors is its depiction of the Finch family, a unit that operates entirely outside societal norms. Dr. Finch, the patriarch, is a man of colossal ego and questionable ethics, whose therapy sessions blur into personal indulgence and whose home becomes a sanctuary for the lost and the odd. His wife, Deirdre, a poet whose work is never quite good enough, channels her frustrations into a capricious and often cruel parenting style. Augusten, the child narrator, is shuffled between his mother and the Finches, becoming a pawn in their adult dramas and a recipient of their erratic affections. The physical setting of the Finch's sprawling Victorian house in rural Massachusetts becomes a character in itself, a place where the mundane and the surreal constantly collide. Burroughs' descriptions are vivid; the smell of stale cigarettes and turpentine, the sight of Dr. Finch's toupee askew, the sound of Deirdre's pronouncements – all contribute to a visceral sense of immersion in this chaotic world.
What makes Running with Scissors so compelling, and at times so challenging, is Burroughs' narrative approach. He adopts a voice that is simultaneously childlike in its observation and adult in its sophisticated, often sardonic, reflection. This dual perspective allows him to capture the confusion and vulnerability of his younger self while also providing the critical distance and wit that prevents the memoir from becoming solely an exercise in victimhood. He recounts instances of sexual abuse, neglect, and emotional manipulation with a disarming frankness, but frames them with a dry humor that acknowledges the absurdity of his situation. For example, the scene where he is instructed to wear a dress and eat dog food as a form of "therapy" is presented with a chilling matter-of-factness that is far more impactful than overt emotional outcries. This tone is not about diminishing the trauma, but about demonstrating the survival mechanisms and the warped sense of normalcy that developed within this environment.
The memoir also explores the complex nature of family and belonging. Despite the profound damage inflicted by the Finch family, Augusten finds moments of genuine connection and even love. His relationship with Agnes, Dr. Finch's wife, who introduces him to art and literature, offers a brief respite from the pervasive dysfunction. Similarly, the shared trauma and unusual circumstances create a peculiar bond between Augusten and the other children in the household, including the intensely troubled Natalie. Burroughs doesn't shy away from the fact that these relationships were deeply flawed, but he acknowledges their significance in shaping him. This nuance is crucial; it prevents the memoir from being a simple condemnation of the Finch family and instead presents a more complicated picture of human connection in the face of extreme adversity.
Running with Scissors undeniably pushed boundaries upon its release, sparking debate about memoir's ethical limits and the author's responsibility to those depicted. Yet, its lasting impact is a testament to its literary merit. Burroughs masterfully crafts a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally resonant, exploring themes of identity, trauma, and the enduring search for love and acceptance. By confronting his past with such unvarnished honesty and dark wit, Augusten Burroughs created a work that continues to provoke thought and discussion, solidifying its place as a significant, albeit controversial, piece of contemporary literature.