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megtall's review against another edition
5.0
While definitely not for everyone (is Burroughs ever meant to appeal to everyone?), I loved it start to finish.
dreamgalaxies's review against another edition
2.0
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I suppose twenty years hasn’t quite mellowed Burroughs enough for me to like him, even if he is a witch. Almost.
I suppose twenty years hasn’t quite mellowed Burroughs enough for me to like him, even if he is a witch. Almost.
daisy1367's review against another edition
2.0
Didn't make it past chapter 1. Maybe I'll try it again at some point.
ckjaer88's review against another edition
3.0
It's a cute little story, but dreadfully boring to get into.
libraryjewels's review against another edition
4.0
This was a First Reads Giveaway. Well worth the read. I found it to be a little quirky and lots of fun. It has a very nice flow and a very nice writing style that makes it pleasant and easy to read. I'd happily read more!
olicooper's review against another edition
1.0
No. Nope and noooo...
I'm not sure if this is entirely serious or a kind of joke. But the fact that I couldn't tell I think speaks loud enough. I found myself just getting intensely irritated at this grown man, reliving past experiences in the way a child would. And a mean one, at that.
As a person who doesn't believe in magic, I was never going to believe that this man, or any one is capable of casting spells that would lead to an intended outcome by way of magical powers. However, I would give space to someone who believes in putting intentions out into the world, in a way that aligns with their core beliefs-- after all, this is what other religious folks do with prayer.
But this man thinks he is responsible for things that occur naturally in nature, that he can see into the future, etc. All of his anecdotes felt as if a child were telling a story and then following that up with-- I think I have magical powers. You laugh, because this child doesn't understand coincidence or intuition or how one can guess at someone's future actions by observing their character or how nature works. Then you remember this man is grown. And it's not cute.
And MAYbe this wouldn't matter if the story telling was good. I did at one point tell myself: just imagine it as fiction and not someone trying to pass this off as a memoir. After all, HE thinks he is a witch.... but alas. I'd be so annoyed if this was also fiction too. He is a really unlikeable narrator. I get being bullied sucks, but when an adult describes their childhood bullies the way he does... I can't help but to think, well, you also grew up into a horrible, petty man, who writes about how physically disgusting looking and how ugly children are. I don't think this moves you into a morally superior space.
I don't have time for this and hopefully read most of this so you don't have to.
I'm not sure if this is entirely serious or a kind of joke. But the fact that I couldn't tell I think speaks loud enough. I found myself just getting intensely irritated at this grown man, reliving past experiences in the way a child would. And a mean one, at that.
As a person who doesn't believe in magic, I was never going to believe that this man, or any one is capable of casting spells that would lead to an intended outcome by way of magical powers. However, I would give space to someone who believes in putting intentions out into the world, in a way that aligns with their core beliefs-- after all, this is what other religious folks do with prayer.
But this man thinks he is responsible for things that occur naturally in nature, that he can see into the future, etc. All of his anecdotes felt as if a child were telling a story and then following that up with-- I think I have magical powers. You laugh, because this child doesn't understand coincidence or intuition or how one can guess at someone's future actions by observing their character or how nature works. Then you remember this man is grown. And it's not cute.
And MAYbe this wouldn't matter if the story telling was good. I did at one point tell myself: just imagine it as fiction and not someone trying to pass this off as a memoir. After all, HE thinks he is a witch.... but alas. I'd be so annoyed if this was also fiction too. He is a really unlikeable narrator. I get being bullied sucks, but when an adult describes their childhood bullies the way he does... I can't help but to think, well, you also grew up into a horrible, petty man, who writes about how physically disgusting looking and how ugly children are. I don't think this moves you into a morally superior space.
I don't have time for this and hopefully read most of this so you don't have to.
ckjaer88's review against another edition
3.0
It's a cute little story, but dreadfully boring to get into.
jmccraw1989's review against another edition
4.0
First off, thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Goodreads for an advanced reader’s copy.
That being said, Augusten Burroughs is coming out again...as a witch. I’ll admit, at first I was a bit skeptical of the idea of actual witches existing. I’ve always accepted the idea of ghosts and psychics, but...witches? Nah.
Burroughs takes you through his experiences with what some would call coincidences but he calls magick. It starts with him knowing that something happened to his grandmother, then expands to knowing which house Burroughs and his husband would inhabit among others.
The book is tinged with Burroughs’ trademark humor and wit. You always know you’ll guffaw when you read his work, and this book is no exception. But just as much as you laugh, you’ll also be given room for introspection and reflection of all the magick that surrounds us. And while this book is funny, there’s also a good deal of seriousness, especially at the end.
As for downsides, the beginning is a little disjointed, jumping from childhood, to now, to around the times he described in books like DRY and Magical Thinking. It feels like some chapters could be rearranged in the beginning to make it a little more solid. However, the pace and structure pick up near the end, so it all kind of washes out.
Is this book going to make you believe in witches? Probably not. But, damn it, it will make you think about “coincidences” in a new light.
That being said, Augusten Burroughs is coming out again...as a witch. I’ll admit, at first I was a bit skeptical of the idea of actual witches existing. I’ve always accepted the idea of ghosts and psychics, but...witches? Nah.
Burroughs takes you through his experiences with what some would call coincidences but he calls magick. It starts with him knowing that something happened to his grandmother, then expands to knowing which house Burroughs and his husband would inhabit among others.
The book is tinged with Burroughs’ trademark humor and wit. You always know you’ll guffaw when you read his work, and this book is no exception. But just as much as you laugh, you’ll also be given room for introspection and reflection of all the magick that surrounds us. And while this book is funny, there’s also a good deal of seriousness, especially at the end.
As for downsides, the beginning is a little disjointed, jumping from childhood, to now, to around the times he described in books like DRY and Magical Thinking. It feels like some chapters could be rearranged in the beginning to make it a little more solid. However, the pace and structure pick up near the end, so it all kind of washes out.
Is this book going to make you believe in witches? Probably not. But, damn it, it will make you think about “coincidences” in a new light.
karenleagermain's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of Augusten Burroughs’ memoir, Toil & Trouble, in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a huge fan of Burroughs and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read his latest memoir. Much like his previous best sellers, Toil & Trouble dives into Burroughs’ life, including his difficult relationship with his mother and his relationship with his husband, Christopher. Burroughs has a quirky outlook on life and a wry sense of humor that cracks me up. He has a knack for great phrasing and I often pause while reading to admire his off-beat descriptions.
In Toil & Trouble, Burroughs claims to be a witch. His witch powers are hereditary, passed down from his mother. He is told that he is a witch as a young child and several incidences, particularly those involving premonition, lead him to believe that this is true.
I’m not sure if I believe in witches, but Burroughs makes a convincing argument. In any case, I recommend that readers go along for the ride and believe in the magic, because Burroughs does create magic with storytelling and the premise of Toil & Trouble ends in a lovely way, where we see that his witchcraft has managed to protect the person he loves the most. It’s truly a beautiful story and Burroughs has arranged the chapters for maximum emotional punch. In these pages, I really grew to love his marriage to Christopher and the life that they have built in rural Connecticut.
Aside from the heart-warming aspect of the story (and I fully suspect that Burroughs would never call himself heart warming), I delighted in the stories of Burroughs’ bizarre neighbors. In Connecticut, they have moved next-door to a former opera singer and her henpecked husband. These are nosy neighbors, the kind of neighbors that are perpetually awkward. I’ve had those neighbors and could completely relate to making efforts to avoid them at all costs, even to your own discomfort.
The chapter that had me laughing to the point of tears, involved Jeffrey, a very strange and narcissistic man, who was selling his lavish home. Burroughs’ friend, Maura, was the realtor selling Jeffrey’s home and she suggested that Burroughs’ come along to see the house. Jeffrey, a model, furniture builder, and jack-of-all-trades, was a force of nature. Quite honestly, I whole heartedly believe that Burroughs’ is giving an accurate recollection of his experience with Jeffrey, because the truth is stranger than fiction. This is too weird to be fake. It’s hilarious, but also a bit sad, as obviously Jeffrey is a troubled person and lacks the self-awareness to realize how he portrays himself to others.
Toil & Trouble is another home-run for Burroughs. I throughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. It’s funny and it has heart. Plus, as a bonus, the chapter have fun “witchy” themed names.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
I’m a huge fan of Burroughs and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read his latest memoir. Much like his previous best sellers, Toil & Trouble dives into Burroughs’ life, including his difficult relationship with his mother and his relationship with his husband, Christopher. Burroughs has a quirky outlook on life and a wry sense of humor that cracks me up. He has a knack for great phrasing and I often pause while reading to admire his off-beat descriptions.
In Toil & Trouble, Burroughs claims to be a witch. His witch powers are hereditary, passed down from his mother. He is told that he is a witch as a young child and several incidences, particularly those involving premonition, lead him to believe that this is true.
I’m not sure if I believe in witches, but Burroughs makes a convincing argument. In any case, I recommend that readers go along for the ride and believe in the magic, because Burroughs does create magic with storytelling and the premise of Toil & Trouble ends in a lovely way, where we see that his witchcraft has managed to protect the person he loves the most. It’s truly a beautiful story and Burroughs has arranged the chapters for maximum emotional punch. In these pages, I really grew to love his marriage to Christopher and the life that they have built in rural Connecticut.
Aside from the heart-warming aspect of the story (and I fully suspect that Burroughs would never call himself heart warming), I delighted in the stories of Burroughs’ bizarre neighbors. In Connecticut, they have moved next-door to a former opera singer and her henpecked husband. These are nosy neighbors, the kind of neighbors that are perpetually awkward. I’ve had those neighbors and could completely relate to making efforts to avoid them at all costs, even to your own discomfort.
The chapter that had me laughing to the point of tears, involved Jeffrey, a very strange and narcissistic man, who was selling his lavish home. Burroughs’ friend, Maura, was the realtor selling Jeffrey’s home and she suggested that Burroughs’ come along to see the house. Jeffrey, a model, furniture builder, and jack-of-all-trades, was a force of nature. Quite honestly, I whole heartedly believe that Burroughs’ is giving an accurate recollection of his experience with Jeffrey, because the truth is stranger than fiction. This is too weird to be fake. It’s hilarious, but also a bit sad, as obviously Jeffrey is a troubled person and lacks the self-awareness to realize how he portrays himself to others.
Toil & Trouble is another home-run for Burroughs. I throughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. It’s funny and it has heart. Plus, as a bonus, the chapter have fun “witchy” themed names.
Like my review? Check out my blog!