Augusten Burroughs has become well-known for writing books that look back at various (often difficult) experiences in his life and presenting them in a humorous way. That is true whether he is talking about living with his mother's counselor or overcoming his addictions to drugs and alcohol.

In this newest volume, Burroughs reintroduces familiar readers with his father, who had lingered in the periphery in his earlier works. It quickly becomes clear, while reading, that his father was not a warm and caring man. With full frankness, readers meet a man who is a philosophy professor who has instilled fear in his family during alcoholic rages and other reasons for having a short temper.

It is easy to see how inured Burroughs became to this behavior because it was regular and constant, making it almost seem normal. Of course, his mother was able to "runaway" with Burroughs from time-to-time, but she usually returned to the same household within days.

This is really the first book by him I did not enjoy reading. It was disturbing and totally dark, which was probably the intent of the author at the time of writing, which probably means he was truly successful in that goal. The writing is strong and pithy even though it is dark. I can honestly say this is not a bad book ... it is just not something that I would usually pick up because of the darkness.