Reviews - Dry | The StoryGraph

479 reviews for:

I've been on a memoir binge lately, and this was a breath of fresh air. The quality of writing from a non-celebrity felt both fresh and classic at the same time. While I love a good celebrity memoir, especially one that spills the tea on an industry making money through exploitation, they aren't writers. There's always one or two or five chapters thrown in that make me wonder, why are these pages and pages of jibberish in this book?

Dry is filled with beautiful sentences and wastes no words.

“His laugh is made if porch swings and lemonade” ... COME ON! “Stars should not be seen alone. That's why there are so many. Two people should stand together and look at them. One person alone will surely miss the good ones.”... I am jealous of these sentences.

Small words and simple sentences that describe a whole world.

So many memoirs published today are from people with a "following," but I wish we could hear more from people who come to the page because they have something to say, AND they can say it well.

And I haven't even gotten to the story!

I've been sober for 15 years and related so much to his story. The descriptions of loneliness, his bafflement with "normal" people, and his struggles with identity w/o alcohol were spot on. I was a little uncomfortable with the descriptions of AA meetings. If "what you hear here, stays here," then you probably shouldn't repeat what you hear in a meeting, but I also understand the need to describe the important parts of his recovery... it's one of our tricky traditions... I hope he didn't repeat anything or break anyone's anonymity in the process.

And even though I knew it was coming, Pig Head broke my heart.

kitkat2500's review

4.0

Very well written memoir about Burroughs' recovery from alcoholism in his 20's. He writes with great wit, and I enjoyed the humour. I read the book quickly, over two days...highly recommended if you have an interest in the subject or the author.

candaceopper's review

5.0

only book that ever made me cry. at least, as far as i can remember.

nocturnal's review

3.75

emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

jfbfsf's review

4.0

He's a good writer who's had an incredible/awful life. He makes all of his ordeals seem like funny fodder for a later story... which obviously, they are (or become). But for me there was a slight undercurrent of uneasiness with the easy breezy, funny presentation of things like childhood rape, alcoholic blackouts, and the death of one's best friend. It's amazing that Burroughs has been able to move beyond the traumas he's experienced, and has found such insight and wit in the midst of misery. But at time I felt like he was selling himself short, and making light of experiences which could not have been heavier.

cher_n_books's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars - It was really good.

Great insight into the mind of an addict and the writing has me wanting to pick up his other memoirs; really enjoy his narrative style. Not recommended however for those with delicate sensibilities.

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Favorite Quote: When you have your health, you have everything.

First Sentence: Sometimes when you work in advertising, you'll get a product that is really garbage, and you have to make it seem fantastic, something that is essential to the continued quality of life.

erinmully's review

4.0

I've always been familiar with Augusten Burroughs, but this was my first time reading any of his books. I LOVED it. Extremely messy, realistic, and heartfelt. Raced through it and finished over the course of a weekend.