zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on Oct 24, 2006 11:52:51 GMT -5
Augusten Burroughs is one of my favorite living authors... and all of his books are on my list of all-time favorite books.
I'm nervous about the movie Running with Scissors....I don't think what happened to Augusten is funny...what's funny is the way he writes about it. I don't see how that could translate into a movie.
But I saw him last night at a book signing and he talked about how happy he was with the way the movie turned out...so I don't know how I feel anymore.
I probably won't see it, I don't want it to affect the way I view the books, or the Augusten character I imagine in my head.
I do enjoy some on screen versions of some of my favorite books, examples are Harry Potter and Pride and Prejudice. But some adaptations I just get set against seeing....like the planned film version of The Time Traveler's Wife (another one of my all time favorites).
Any thoughts from fellow Augusten fans??
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Post by bookaddict on Oct 24, 2006 12:15:24 GMT -5
I haven't gotten around to reading them yet. I have "Running with Scissors" and "Magical THinking" and I ordered "Dry".
I was hoping maybe we could do it in the bookclub sometime. School has me booked...
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on Oct 24, 2006 13:08:05 GMT -5
I definitely can relate....I was so swamped in college that I had very little time to read. I graduated in May and I've read so many dozens of books since then. Hang in there, rediscovering free time is absolutely incredible.
I read Dry first, and then Running with Scissors. Definitely read both of those before reading Magical Thinking. Magical Thinking is my favorite because I love the way it weaves in and out of his past and expands on things he wrote about in the first two.
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Post by bookaddict on Oct 24, 2006 13:10:48 GMT -5
Oh that's interesting.
I go to school in the summer too, because my school is funded and I really like school. It's a great advantage, so I take it. However, it leaves me with no free time. I get two weeks off in the summer, that's it. But it'll be worth it in the end. Free time is rare with me, it'll be nice to have it again...someday son.
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Bina
First novel published
Posts: 2,472
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Post by Bina on Oct 24, 2006 14:15:19 GMT -5
Well, I just started, so I guess I shouldn´t complain about my workload . I´ve taken to reading on the train. I really want to read his books, and they´d be great for the club since there´s much to discuss, right? I don´t have summer school, but all my exams are in my "free" time. But I have this thursday and friday off! So, I can get a head start.
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czarval
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
Posts: 607
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Post by czarval on Oct 27, 2006 16:07:12 GMT -5
Reading on the train is pretty well the only reading time I have. Or rather, reading time that isn't full of school books.
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Post by bookaddict on Oct 27, 2006 16:34:05 GMT -5
See, that would be for me too but I end up reading school books. My AFrican American lit class is a novel a week, if it's a big book then a week and a half.
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
|
Post by zeldafitzgerald on Oct 27, 2006 21:13:22 GMT -5
What I used to do is set a few times that were ONLY for reading for pleasure, no school books allowed. One time was right before bed. Not a lot of time, because I'd usually get tired after 15 minutes, but personal reading nonetheless. The other time was when I was eating. Definitely fun-book time, no school lit allowed.
And then whatever other time I had.
It doesn't add up to a lot, but I got a decent amount read.
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lostgirl
First short story featured in regional newspaper
Posts: 132
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Post by lostgirl on Oct 27, 2006 21:22:40 GMT -5
Was I thr only one who didn't like this book? I though Burroughs comes off as self centered and ego maniacal and I doubt half the stuff he writes about is actually true. Maybe some of it is, but there are places where there's no way that stuff would happen
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on Oct 27, 2006 21:36:51 GMT -5
I think it could have happened, and I believe that it did happen. I've heard him speak about it, and read interviews and he's a very sincere person. I'm not saying there's no way I could be wrong, but I believe him.
Running with Scissors is not my favorite of his books. I read Dry first, and that's my favorite. His twisted childhood most likely was the direct cause of his problems with alcohol - the struggle that's told about in Dry.
But by all means, not everyone is going to like a book and they're of course entitled to feel that way. I haven't liked a lot of well-regarded books because I hated the main character and thought he/she was annoying.
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lostgirl
First short story featured in regional newspaper
Posts: 132
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Post by lostgirl on Oct 28, 2006 23:51:59 GMT -5
My problems with the credibity stem largely from a few incidents involving the house he was living in. Are we meant to believe that these people left rotting christimas trees and human feces in their yard, knoccked holes in their ceiling and none of the neighbors complained? Also transferring guardianship of a minor is not something that's done with a few signatures. It's complicated and it involves lawyers and social workers investigating. It would have come out that the man trying to get Burroughs was the therepist currently treating his mother. No legal and he probably would have lost his liscence.
I'm not calling Borroughs a liar. I think the bulk of the novel is likely true. I believe he had a messed up childhood. I believe it's extrememly likely that his subsequent problems with alchohol stem from that. I even believe that he was raised by these crazy people. But I also think some of the details were embellished.
As for Burroughs as a person, I won't judge the man because I don't know him. I do however work for the company that publishes his books so I know several people who know him. From all accounts he is a pleasant, nice guy. No allegations of egomania from my coworkers. It's just an impression that I get when I read his stuff, so I may be proven wrong if I were to meet him.
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on Oct 29, 2006 0:26:07 GMT -5
I heard Sony settled with the family. They made a fuss about it ruining their reputation, but he changed the names and from what I've observed...no one really knew it was them until they started making a big fuss. I'm totally envious that you work in book publishing! It's my dream but I'm finding it hard to get in without prior publishing experience.
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lostgirl
First short story featured in regional newspaper
Posts: 132
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Post by lostgirl on Oct 29, 2006 21:32:59 GMT -5
Well I just finished college a little over a year ago and I spent several monthes looking for a job. The one I have now is far from glamourous- basically they pay me very little money to get blamed for other peoples mistakes. But I'm putting in my time, so hopefully soon I'll find something better! If you're willing to do the dirty work, I'm sure you'll find something eventually
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zeldafitzgerald
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
ancora imparo
Posts: 1,948
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Post by zeldafitzgerald on Oct 29, 2006 21:56:01 GMT -5
Yeah, I've definitely heard that - Long hours, low pay, etc.
It stinks that the book industry is like that. It makes me wish I would have decided to be a librarian instead. There's a job in a great environment, good hours usually, and great benefits. Very decent pay too, depending on what library. But the nice thing is, you need a Masters and you can get it with any undergrad degree, so it's never too late really. My mom just got hers and she's almost 50. So that will always be in the back of my mind.
I've got an advertising degree, and I want to get out of agency work as soon as I can and work on the client side for something I'm passionate about. The whole reason I love advertising is my enjoyment of helping to promote things I love, like books or theater or Google or Apple computers. I want to work for the company directly. I'm just putting in my time too...
I hope things get better for you soon...I'm sure you can work your way up!
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lostgirl
First short story featured in regional newspaper
Posts: 132
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Post by lostgirl on Oct 29, 2006 22:06:05 GMT -5
Thanks! Ditto! I don't need high pay really. Just enough money to get by and hopefully someday a job I enjoy!
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