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You Better Not Cry
You Better Not Cry: Stories for Christmas | Augusten Burroughs
32 posts | 44 read | 20 to read
You've eaten too much candy at Christmas...but have you ever eaten the face off a six-footstuffed Santa? You've seen gingerbread houses...but have you ever made your own gingerbread tenement? You've woken up with a hangover...but have you ever woken up next to Kris Kringle himself? Augusten Burroughs has, and in this caustically funny, nostalgic, poignant, and moving collection he recounts Christmases past and presentas only he could. With gimleteyed wit and illuminated prose, Augusten shows how the holidays bring out the worst in us and sometimes, just sometimes, the very, very best.
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Octoberwoman
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I‘m posting one book a day from my massive collection. No description, no reason for why I want to read it (some I‘ve had so long I don‘t even remember why!). Feel free to join in!

#ABookADay2024

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Twainy
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Mehso-so

This was a cover buy lol

But it ended up a good book. Multiple stories of real happenings! A creepy Santa, drunken binges, sad childhood ramblings.

Not a happy holiday book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

BethM The cover would‘ve got me too! I would‘ve expected Xmas romance and hilarity . 12mo
21 likes1 comment
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BookNAround
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I read the first story in this collection last night. It definitely doesn‘t suffer from Christmas treacle syndrome. Poor Gatsby has been chilly since getting groomed a couple of days ago and all she wanted was to snuggle down for warmth but I made her model my book first. I hope she doesn‘t give me a present based on that!

dabbe Gatsby, you are GORGEOUS! 🤩🤩🤩 13mo
ShelleyBooksie Gatsby ♡♡♡♡ 13mo
AmyG Awww Gatsby. What a cutie. 13mo
See All 9 Comments
LeahBergen Gatsby has the cutest ears! 13mo
keithmalek Cute doggie. 13mo
batsy Gatsby!! 😍 13mo
Tamra Love the scarf! 13mo
BookNAround @Tamra She gets fancy bandannas whenever she gets groomed. 13mo
PaperbackPirate 😍 13mo
53 likes9 comments
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JoeMo
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Pickpick

Overall, I enjoyed this quick read. I think I may be in the minority when I say I was relieved that all of the stories weren‘t from the author‘s childhood. The stories from his young adulthood and later were painful to read at times, as many of the stories dealt with loss and addiction…but they were more meaningful than a story of him as a young, naive kid who believed in Santa Jesus! 3.5/5 I‘ll definitely be reading more from Burroughs

31 likes1 stack add2 comments
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bnp
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I'm doing #midwintersolace.

Favorite memory? Playing cards with family.

@Eggs, #WondrousWednesday

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CaliforniaCay
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Pickpick

This was a quick read. A short collection of holiday centered stories that take place throughout the authors life. This was a re-read for me so I knew exactly what to expect going into it. I would recommend this to fellow fans of Burroughs, or someone with a dark sense of humor, but would NOT recommend to people looking for a light and fluffy holly jolly Christmas story 😏

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Bookgoil
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StayCurious If I came downstairs and saw Santa like that, there's a solid chance I would cry. 😂 4y
Bookgoil @StayCurious haha I was dying when I found it 4y
23 likes2 comments
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Traci1
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Panpan

These 8 stories ran the gamut from moderately funny to bleak and depressing. I enjoyed the gingerbread house one, but the others were either just ok or painful to read (listen to). Had I any experience with this author before I might have been expecting the bleak more. But then I probably wouldn't have picked it up.

+511 #wintergames #merryreaders @Clwojick
25/40 #crushtherush and #readyourway @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @TheSpineView

TheSpineView 😊📖📚 4y
aperfectmjk Wow! Look at you! 4y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick That cover seems so fun! I would've picked it up expecting more silly than bleak. 4y
Traci1 @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick i saw another cover for it that was a shattered ornament. That seems a more fitting one to me. 4y
38 likes5 comments
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Judybskt
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Pickpick

I didn‘t particularly care for the beginning stories. But the later ones were pretty good.

17 likes1 stack add
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Judybskt
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I thought my son‘s soccer playing days were over. But the team is young and he‘s home from college so 🤷‍♀️. Weather is perfect for soccer and I always have a book!

16 likes2 stack adds
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throwmeabook
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Mehso-so

I really enjoyed the stories from Burroughs‘ childhood but the last few were not for me and quite difficult to read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ #Booked2020 #bookshowingahatorheadcovering #LitsyAtoZ #abecedarianTBR #Y

alisiakae I haven't read anything of his since Running With Scissors years ago, his books aren't really for me either. But at least you checked off a prompt! 5y
Cinfhen Exactly what @4thhouseontheleft 🤪NOT a fan of Burroughs, but we all can‘t like the same books! 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage I haven‘t tried any of his work ... but that cover image! 😱 🎅🏻 5y
35 likes1 stack add3 comments
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EliNeedsMoreShelves
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Okay, I'm calling it - Augusten Burroughs is not for me. Three stories into this collection and I'm DNF'ing as a post-Christmas gift to myself.

#WinterGames #TeamFestivus #HolidayReads
@wanderinglynn @StayCurious @Clwojick

+61 points (Friday total = 398 points)

wanderinglynn 🙌🏻👍🏻🎄 5y
6 likes1 comment
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BookNAround
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Day 24 of #bookadventcalendar Family stresses are building up, as they do every year. Glad the day is almost upon us! @LeahBergen

LeahBergen This sounds like the perfect Christmas antidote read. 😆 I‘ve only read his Running With Scissors and thought it was great. 5y
53 likes1 comment
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Julsmarshall
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Mehso-so

This one was up and down for me. While there were funny and poignant parts, much of it was cringe-worthy and hard to listen to. This was almost a bail but I‘ve loved his other work so I hung in there. Definitely not something to become a holiday tradition. #holidayread #wintergames @StayCurious @Clwojick @Bookwormjillk #elfies

27 likes1 comment
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britt_reads
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Pickpick

This was a fun choice for a #wintergames #holidayread
It made me laugh out loud a few times, but I really think I would‘ve enjoyed this more in print. I wasn‘t a huge fan of his narration and frequently found myself distracted by it. This was surprisingly the first book of his that I‘ve had the chance to read, and I‘m interested in trying his other books.

#teamfozziwig

BarkingMadRead The cover is funny! 5y
10 likes1 stack add1 comment
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AmberWB
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Pickpick

Well, I‘m kind of embarrassed that it took me this long to read any Augusten Burroughs. I now want to read everything he has written. 😁😁 *Side note—trying to explain the cover to my 6 and 8 year olds was interesting.....

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emtobiasz
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I‘m starting this one with my hot cider tonight. I might have slightly traumatized one of our library volunteers when this book came in for me... I think he‘s more used to me requesting mostly kids‘ books! 🎅🏼

53 likes1 stack add
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jb72
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Mehso-so

#Scarathlon #TeamStoker #monsters
I finished this book yesterday. It was so so. There were a few chuckling parts, but overall it was just bland.

2 points - book read and participation

BeansPage 🧟‍♀️ 5y
24 likes1 comment
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eachwishrezigned
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This was how I faired for #LitsyAtoZ 2018. Sadly I didn‘t make it, but I‘m going to try again this year!

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dariazeoli
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Running with Scissors has been sitting unread on my shelf for a couple of years. After finishing A Clockwork Orange today, I downloaded this one for my #audiowalk home. Laugh out loud funny. Hope the rest lives up. (New record: I‘m listening to this at 3x speed!)

47 likes1 stack add
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Bibliogeekery
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Look at this bookish ornaments I'm giving my neighbours. 😍📚🎁

Cortg Adorable! 6y
Chrissyreadit They are great! Did you make them? 6y
Ddzmini 😍🥰🥰 6y
See All 10 Comments
Wife Super cute!😍 6y
KellyHunsakerReads Cute? Did you make it? 6y
AmyG Omg...adorable! 6y
Bibliogeekery @Chrissyreadit @Hunsakermountain - no. I wish! I bought them from my sister's store 6y
Lindy Adorable 😍 6y
Chrissyreadit @Bibliogeekery I bet that was a fun find! 6y
78 likes10 comments
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Bibliogeekery
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Doing my wrapping with the help of an audiobook. Love the hedgehogs reading books on this paper! 📚😍🎄

Chelsea.Poole Cute paper! 🤩 6y
Bookzombie Cute! 6y
68 likes2 comments
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Bibliogeekery
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Revisiting this irreverent holiday treasure of an audiobook! 🎄⛄ #queerbooks

48 likes1 stack add
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Reviewsbylola
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Pickpick

This was my choice for #booked2018 #featuresaholiday. It was a reread for me but my first time listening to it on audio. It‘s definitely not my favorite collection from Burroughs but it was a fun listen and I especially loved the last story about his house flooding.

Only one more prompt to go for this challenge!

Cinfhen Woohoo!!!! 6y
Megabooks Congratulations! 6y
britt_brooke I saw recently on IG that he‘s working on a new book! This isn‘t my favorite collection either, but I love him (as you know). 💚💚💚 6y
Reviewsbylola Ooooh can‘t wait to see what he‘s writing! @britt_brooke 6y
85 likes4 comments
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whatsthEStorey
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Pickpick

December & our Christmas tree are here! Getting into the holiday spirit with Augusten Burroughs, master of trage-comedy. This book of holiday-themed essays did not disappoint. Wry, sad, a little bitter, with an occasional dash of hope, this is how I like my humor. If you like Running with Scissors or David Sedaris, you'll find this an enjoyable holiday read.

MaleficentBookDragon That is a great photo. 6y
whatsthEStorey Thanks @MaleficentBookDragon ! I insist on multiple carrying-in-the-tree snaps annually. He's a good sport, holding the tree until I get one I like! 😉 6y
36 likes2 comments
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Jen2
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Pickpick

Much darker than I expected.

130 likes2 stack adds
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britt_brooke
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️ This holiday time essay collection is best read (or in this case reread) in print. I love Augusten Burroughs, but I‘m not a great fan of his audio narration. It‘s like stop and go traffic. No flow. I hate to say that because he‘s one of my favorite authors, but I‘m just being honest.

Jee_HookedOnBookz I appreciate and love honest reviews! 6y
Reviewsbylola I have it at 1.5 speed. It‘s not my favorite of his but I love him! 6y
britt_brooke @Reviewsbylola He‘s still a favorite. He‘s on my shortlist of authors I want to meet. 💚 6y
Reviewsbylola He would be so fun to have dinner with! 6y
106 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Frecks-Booklover4life
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What a steal! $2!! I‘ve read a couple of his earlier books and have always loved his dry, wittiness ! Looking forward to some laugh out loud humor!

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BookMaven407
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The thought of 🎅🏼 asking for Shirley Temple's autograph just makes me giggle. 🎄☃️❄️

148 likes1 stack add
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BookMaven407
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I decided to order this book after @Bibliogeekery posted a review. I thought it would be perfect for my Sunday short story readings during the holiday. I ordered it from Powell's and it was described as a used book in good condition. When it arrived, I found it in perfect condition and autographed. What an awesome surprise for this book geek 🤓!

TricksyTails What a wonderful surprise!! Happy Sunday! 7y
Cinfhen Thats a great surprise❣️❣️❣️ 7y
nightwitch Wahoo!! 🙌😍 7y
MiyakoBunny 😍Wow Great Surprise indeed! 7y
95 likes4 comments
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Bibliogeekery
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Pickpick

Just as irreverent, bizarre and quirky as his other books. Augusten Burroughs' take on Christmas stories would not be for everyone but they were definitely a good backdrop to housework for me this past week! 🎄🎅

BookMaven407 Are they short stories? 7y
BookMaven407 Awesome. I'm going to order it tonight. I read short stories on Sunday. Thanks for the post. 7y
62 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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Bibliogeekery
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Listening to Augusten Burroughs' take on Christmas. It's just as wacky and edgy and inappropriate as I expected! #hohoho #queerbooks

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Hahaha! The cover looks fabulous! 7y
IWriteInTheNight I love the cover😂 7y
tysephine This cover has me like 😨 7y
71 likes4 stack adds3 comments