Toil & Trouble: A Memoir

Written by Augusten Burroughs

Narrated by Augusten Burroughs, Anne Bobby, Gabra Zackman and Robin Miles

"...on top of everything else, the audiobook features a multi-textural and atmospheric full-cast performance...This is a wild, spookily engaging take on a memoir from an iconic writer." -- Paste

From the number one New York Times bestselling author comes another stunning memoir that is tender, touching...and just a little spooky.

"Here’s a partial list of things I don’t believe in: God. The Devil. Heaven. Hell. Bigfoot. Ancient Aliens. Past lives. Life after death. Vampires. Zombies. Reiki. Homeopathy. Rolfing. Reflexology. Note that 'witches' and 'witchcraft' are absent from this list. The thing is, I wouldn’t believe in them, and I would privately ridicule any idiot who did, except for one thing: I am a witch."

For as long as Augusten Burroughs could remember, he knew things he shouldn't have known. He manifested things that shouldn't have come to pass. And he told exactly no one about this, save one person: his mother. His mother reassured him that it was all perfectly normal, that he was descended from a long line of witches, going back to the days of the early American colonies. And that this family tree was filled with witches. It was a bond that he and his mother shared--until the day she left him in the care of her psychiatrist to be raised in his family (but that's a whole other story). After that, Augusten was on his own. On his own to navigate the world of this tricky power; on his own to either use or misuse this gift.

From the hilarious to the terrifying, Toil & Trouble is a chronicle of one man's journey to understand himself, to reconcile the powers he can wield with things with which he is helpless. There are very few things that are coincidences, as you will learn in Toil & Trouble. Ghosts are real, trees can want to kill you, beavers are the spawn of Satan, houses are alive, and in the end, love is the most powerful magic of all.

"[Toil & Trouble] is fully brought to life in a complete and unabridged 'theatre of the mind' audio book experience by the narrative team of Augusten Burroughs, Anne Bobby, Robin Miles, and Gabra Zackman." — Midwest Book Review

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Oct 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781250240149

Augusten Burroughs

Augusten Burroughs is the author of Running with Scissors, Dry, Magical Thinking: True Stories, Possible Side Effects, A Wolf at the Table and You Better Not Cry. He is also the author of the novel Sellevision, which has been optioned for film. The film version of Running with Scissors, directed by Ryan Murphy and produced by Brad Pitt, was released in October 2006 and starred Joseph Cross, Brian Cox, Annette Bening (nominated for a Golden Globe for her role), Alec Baldwin and Evan Rachel Wood. Augusten's writing has appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers around the world including The New York Times and New York Magazine. In 2005 Entertainment Weekly named him one of "The 25 Funniest People in America." He resides in New York City and Western Massachusetts.

Reviews for Toil & Trouble

[Aileen Imana · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the most resonating-my-soul books I have ever read in my entire life and I’m only 34! Gives the reader a desire to go deeper and truly connect to the messages of our dreams and nature. Super Clever! And super HILARIOUS! I laughed hysterically while driving. Madly Enchanting!

[Jane Davey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A spellbinding (teehee) memoir. Daring and original. Brazen, beautiful and lol funny. Vintage Burroughs!

[klazo14 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I couldnt tell if this was a fiction or not. I am not done listening to this book but I love it. This book is not for the "too serious". It's for the regular self- doubting folks like myself. Gives me a great feeling to know other people have off the wall thoughts. I admire his relationship with a normal person, whom accepts him for his crazies.

[melanie nemrouri · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a great book. It was funny, interesting and I had to listen to it on double speed but I love him! Almost feels like listening to a friend. First time ever.