A Wolf at the Table

A Memoir of My Father

By: Augusten Burroughs

Narrated by: Augusten Burroughs, Patti Smith, Sea Wolf, Ingrid Michaelson, Tegan Quin

Nominated for the 2009 Audiobook of the Year

"As a little boy, I had a dream that my father had taken me to the woods where there was a dead body. He buried it and told me I must never tell. It was the only thing we'd ever done together as father and son, and I promised not to tell. But unlike most dreams, the memory of this one never left me. And sometimes…I wasn't altogether sure about one thing: was it just a dream?"

When Augusten Burroughs was small, his father was a shadowy presence in his life: a form on the stairs, a cough from the basement, a silent figure smoking a cigarette in the dark. As Augusten grew older, something sinister within his father began to unfurl. Something dark and secretive that could not be named.

Betrayal after shocking betrayal ensued, and Augusten's childhood was over. The kind of father he wanted didn't exist for him. This father was distant, aloof, uninterested…

And then the "games" began.

With A Wolf at the Table, Augusten Burroughs makes a quantum leap into untapped emotional terrain: the radical pendulum swing between love and hate, the unspeakably terrifying relationship between father and son. Told with scorching honesty and penetrating insight, it is a story for anyone who has ever longed for unconditional love from a parent. Though harrowing and brutal, A Wolf at the Table will ultimately leave you buoyed with the profound joy of simply being alive. It's a memoir of stunning psychological cruelty and the redemptive power of hope.

Critic reviews

“Intense, sincere, and passionate, Burroughs offers a deeply felt, intimate portrait of the most disastrous period in his life. He holds nothing back, and in fully giving voice to his emotions, he makes each moment immediate for the listener.” —AudioFile

“In audiobook form, Burroughs's memoir is an unforgettable experience that will resonate with many.” —Library Journal, Starred Review

“...There are books that were born for bells and whistles, and Augusten Burrough's Wolf at the Table is one. This fifth memoir of abuse and excess is read, bleated, rumbled and, at times, tearfully shouted by the author himself. The audio book includes sound effects and occasional instrumental music, and it breaks new ground by presenting four songs written expressly for the productions. There is one each from Patti Smith, Ingrid Michaelson, Sea Wolf and Tegan Quin.” —Washington Post

“I felt that because this book is different than anything I have written before, it deserved a very unique, special treatment and production.” —Augusten Burroughs on A Wolf at the Table

“I wanted an audiobook for the iPod generation – for people who love books but also love music and film. I wanted to bring the book to life as fully as possible.” —Augusten Burroughs on A Wolf at the Table in Publishers Weekly

“Bestselling author Burroughs has written a brutally frank memoir about his father – his difficult, distant, miserable father – which he reads himself, effectively. Original music by Patti Smith, Sea Wolf, Ingrid Michaelson and Tegan Quin – composed for this audiobook – graces the final CD.” —Canada.com

“A flawless audio adaptation of his alternately riotous and heartbreaking memoir.” —Publishers Weekly on Running with Scissors

“[Burroughs's] performance blends self-deprecating black humor with wise-cracking confidence. His natural (or hard-learned) wit and charm keep the listener rooting for his success.” —AudioFile on Dry

Absolutely amazing

The tempo and pace of the book is unusual but warranted. Burroughs matches a childlike wonder with curiosity, and utilizes appropriate timing and dictation to accentuate necessary and deliberate points.

Burroughs has written a masterful memorial of his childhood in relation to his father, and you can feel the pain, missed opportunities, and longing from his voice.

A wonderful work.

Like nothing else

Highly recommended. This is a masterpiece, such clarity of memory from a child's perspective. We can all relate to this, so so human

this was his most dramatic book

I always love hearing his story in his voice
reading all his books, I get a feel for how his story came together and shaped him. and how he took control and made his life better than it's origin.

Not what i expected but worth my money.

This is extremely different than Burroughs other books-It's not comedic, its more drama. Its extremely heart felt. It really feels like he pours his heart out in this book. Also listen to the whole thing, after he plays a song at the end he has an outro that explains why the songs are there, and it may have you listen to the songs differently than you had at first. If you're looking for a comedy, this is not it. Very well written, at time i was unsure of weather I liked the audio and how it was read at time, but over all it grew on me and I enjoyed it very much. I definately reccomend this.

The truth can be so brutally honest.

The story here is very heartbreaking as it is true life. The songs at the end we're good. Sometimes the narration was hard to listen to especially in the beginning. Good book!