One Day at a Time

Title: Dry. A Memoir.
Author: Augusten Burroughs
Publishing Company: Picador
Publication Year: 2003
Rating: A

Amidst all the controversy surrounding James Frey and his quasi-memoir, I understand it must be difficult for other memoirists to feel the passive-aggressive stare fall upon them. The stress they must feel from fans and critics second-guessing their work. The Frey affair may affect the way readers and publishers approach memoir for years to come. But as readers (and writers) we still must understand and appreciate the power of memoir. With that said, Augusten Burroughs is one of the most fascinating memoirists of our time. He deserves to be applauded for his amazing work rather than speculated against.

Dry is a powerful account of Burroughs’ experience with alcoholism and his successes and failures within his treatment program. It is an honest account of the struggle within him to accept his alcoholism and the deeper issues that have driven him to drink. This honesty is enhanced by his dark, biting humor. He ravages the advertising world and laughs at his own superficiality. At times he is arrogant, self-centered and shallow. But he shows these qualities in such a way that make him likable at the same time. Yes, the guy only seems to care about himself. But how can you hate someone who struggles with whether to bleach or shave his chest hair, depending on how the roots will grow out (and admitting it openly to millions of people)?

One of the central themes of this book is the relationship between Burroughs and his friend “Pighead.” Through most of the book, Burroughs describes Pighead as a close friend who has essentially been pushed in the background by Burroughs’ drinking. But Pighead is also a source of emotional distress for Burroughs. He was once in love with Pighead, but it wasn’t until Pighead tested positive for HIV that Pighead was ready to return that love. And by that time Burroughs had convinced himself it was too late. What was really going on, he eventually admits, is that he was scared of losing Pighead and so he pushed him away. (And who can’t relate to that?!) He drank many times because it was easier to be numb than face his fear and sadness at the possibility of losing his friend. At the same time, his drinking caused him to not realize how sick his friend actually was. And, unfortunately, he didn’t get to say all the things he wanted to before it was too late.

At times it was difficult to read Burroughs’ story, especially after having my life changed by someone else’s drinking problem. But beneath the raw – at times hilarious – “recovery” speak in the book; there are many lessons for all to learn about being honest to the people around us and, most important, to ourselves.