Author: Augusten Burroughs
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Year: 2006
Price: About $14.95

If you are not familiar with Augusten Burroughs, it is best if you begin your journey through his bizarre and twisted world with his groundbreaking novel “Running with Scissors”. Ever since the release of “Running with Scissors”, Augusten Burroughs has released “Dry” which served as a semi follow up to his previous novel, he also released “Magical Thinking”, a set of short stories following the same pattern and still focusing on his peculiar life. On “Possible Side Effects”, Augusten Burroughs sticks to the same formula yet once again.

Perhaps it’s the fact that it all seems so familiar and the Augusten shock-factor is not as intense as it was in his previous offerings.

In “Possible Side Effects” you’ll find the classic Augusten Burroughs moments as a child growing up in a dysfunctional family, his struggles growing up, his overall weirdness, his gayness, and his addictive personality.

While “Possible Side Effects” is off to a rather slow start, it has its priceless moments- some of them will have you cracking up and shaking your head in disbelief- after all, it’s all based on his life.

One thing that sets this book apart from “Magical Thinking” is the fact that, while Augusten Burroughs toned down the crazy a bit, he included several touching, heartfelt moments.