Toil & Trouble: A Memoir

So, Toil & Trouble was… a mixed bag for me. I went in expecting a magical exploration of witchcraft, destiny, and a touch of the supernatural. What I got was that (maybe, sorta, kinda) but with a lot of time spent on dogs, a tree, and Burroughs’ childhood traumas.

Let’s talk about what worked. Burroughs can write. His casual, breezy style makes it feel like you’re chatting with a hilariously eccentric friend over coffee. He has this way of turning a phrase that’s both clever but memorable. And when he shifts the focus from himself to other people—like Jeffrey, the real estate client, or Eddie the handyman, or Arborist Dude—I was all in.

That said, Burroughs spends a lot of time inside his head. Memoirs are supposed to be show more personal, but his level of self-absorption felt like too much at times. It was as if the rest of the world was just background noise for his main character syndrome. It didn’t ruin the book, but it made parts of it feel flatter than they should have.

Then there was the homesteading. Look, I love a good anecdote about an ancient tree or a house renovation as much as the next person, but the details got repetitive. I found myself thinking, “Yes, I get it, you’re growing roots—can we go back to the magic now?” Speaking of magic, there wasn’t nearly enough of it. Burroughs hints at his witchy abilities and weaves in a few interesting details, but it’s more of a subplot than the headline. For a book with “toil” and “trouble” in the title, I expected a lot more of the magical kind of trouble. show less

This is uncomfortable. Reviewing memoirs is difficult, and even more so when I didn't like anything about the book.

I was looking forward to a memoir from the perspective of someone who practices witchcraft. What I got was something else entirely. I'm just going to put my thoughts out there. Please know this is not meant as an attack on or judgment of the author's personal story; this is only my opinion on the book.

The writing is adequate. The content is jumbled and feels juvenile.

"Witchcraft," as the author sees it for himself, is occasional prescience or predictive feelings. Most of the associations he calls witchcraft are minor and mere coincidences being turned into something they probably are not. Other times it's him acting on show more what most of us call our "gut feeling." Maybe some view that as witchcraft, but I don't. Also, convincing your husband to move when you claim to know he doesn't want to is manipulative, but it's not witchcraft.

The author might want to reconsider telling everyone, in the same sentence, that both witches and mental illness run in his family. I couldn't help but make an association there, though I'm sure that wasn't his intention.

I know Burroughs had a string of bestsellers prior to this book. Some people have loved this one. You might. I didn't.

*I received a review copy from the publisher, via NetGalley.* show less

Amazing!! I listened to this book and loved Augusten's voice. Hearing the person's voice in a memoir really adds another dimension. He is funny. He talks about some very serious things in his life and some things that some of the world may have a hard time believing. I'm a believer and was brought up knowing that I was able to do things not everyone can do. Genetics. His sincere love for where he is at in this part of his life puts things in perspective. His partner, his home, his dogs. He's real.

"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

Thank you Goodreads and St. Martin's Press for a chance to read this book!

I have read Running with scissors a few years back that was also a good memoir. I’m not sure if I believe the whole witch thing show more in general. But I’m also not someone that says something isn’t true because I haven’t seen it for myself. But the stories that were written here are what I would have expected. They are funny and just when you think you will put the book down it pulls you back in. Happy reading everyone!! show less

This book is written as a memoir of two male witches (not warlocks), who live pretty normal lives like most other people in modern America. That's the problem with this book. Who wants to read about your next door neighbor's uneventful life? It's boring, and so is this book.
They almost never use their powers for anything, and a couple of incidents described in the book which (witch?) could have been developed into something interesting were dropped like a hot cast iron skillet. So many books waiting to be read and I wasted the better part of a week reading this one. Scheduled to be released October 1, don't wait up for it.

Fascinating book with a look at pagan/esoteric/witchy life that could open many eyes

I have never heard of or read anything by Augusten before. I truly love this book. It hurts that i could only read it digitally. I have spent 2020 reading many PWW* (pagan,wiccan,witch) books and I hope i continue reading memoirs and books to help me learn more of my faith. I love that there are books about PWW people who function and live in "reality". Though we have many differences when there are similarities it is very comforting. I am born in the year 2000 so most of the references I had to look up or watch and I am glad i did. Gave the book more color (not that it needed anymore). I hope this book helps those who read it if that is what they need. Well done Augusten.

Baby Jessica 1987 - never heard of
I Dream of Jeannie 1965 - show more never watched/familiar
Bewitched 1964 - familiar
Beaver attack- I think of baby Justin beaver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8TSfIILN00
Note: Enjoys tragedy to feel better about his life
Abilities: Being able to find lost things., Knowing when something terrible has happened
Green tapered candle spell to increase money flow.
Black tapered candle to banish negative energies.
"Toxic": Cemetery dirt, tree bark, and thorns.
Candle magic: writing the inscription of a spell onto a candle. Carving into the wax clarifies what you seek.
Call the midwife 2012 - currently watching/ Love it
Rosemary's Baby 1968- watched/ hated it as a PWW (found it silly in general)
My Sisters Keeper 2004- familiar/ One of my favorite Movies
Goddess of love 1988- Unfamiliar/ unable to find free
Murder of Helle Crafts 1986, January 2020 husband halfway house- Interesting case/Bailey Sarian needs to cover it
Aja Newman assault 2017- Glad I have become aware of the case/resonates with me deeply as a black woman
Tattoo parlors illegal in 1961/March 12, 1962, because of a hepatitis B outbreak and became legal again in 1997- Never knew/ Looked up tattoo laws in America (I don't want any just curious)
Star Trek Enterprise (2001) Episode 21 "Vox Sola" Aired: May 1, 2002- Found clip/ never watched/ All the actors in the show who are POC are gorgeous and fairly young show less