Toil & Trouble

A Memoir

By: Augusten Burroughs

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

Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

"...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 best-selling 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. Vampires. Zombies. Homeopathy. Bigfoot. Canola oil, because there's no such thing as a canola. Note that 'witches' and 'witchcraft' are absent from this list. When really they should be right there at the top. 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." (From Toil & Trouble)

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)

©2019 Augusten Inc. (P)2019 Macmillan Audio

Fantastic

I’m listening to Toil & Trouble for a second time immediately!!!
So full of intrigue and laughter,
Rich with vivid language and uniquely performed by the Author with his particular cadence and humor. Thank you Augusten!
~Girl Friday 9/16

Fun but weird cadence

This is a fun ride through witchcraft (what it is and isn't) and his move to CT. His cadence was so slow and halting (was it just in my download?) that I can't believe it isn't mentioned more. I listened comfortably at 1.25 speed, almost half a second faster than recorded! But I enjoyed it a lot at that speed.

Burroughs never disappoints!!!

Augusten Burroughs revelation of his life as a witch is both fantastical and completely believable. His colorful and sharp-tongued memoir brought me in to his black house and not-so-black soul a little deeper than his previous works—with which I felt an intimate connection. “Magical Thinking” took on a whole new meaning! I thoroughly enjoyed hearing him tell his own story (a first for me). Give it a listen; you won’t regret it.

Absolutely loved it!!

His sense of humor is golden and I feel so seen listening to his life story.

Narrator/Author’s voice a little annoying

The author narrates this book. His up speak is almost painful at times, but not enough to put you off the book...which is excellent! It’s the first I’ve read of his, and I used my credits to buy 2 more!

from one dysfunctional witch to another

I love this book! Augusten Burroughs is my new favorite author! I can't wait to download his other books!

The Audio Should Be Re-Recorded

I have to say I have LOVED Augusten's other books. LOVED. I went back to listen to see if he always reads them like this though and sure enough he didn't. I came to read the reviews just to see if it was just me and my boyfriend. Apparently not. I skipped ahead and it looks like it gets better further along, but the first several chapters at least have been like listening to an enthusiastic 7 year old reading to a 3 year old and trying to over-emphasize things one word at a time. It's truly bizarre. I would be surprised if it isn't updated eventually because I could see the first 5 or so chapters turning off readers who then never get through the rest of the book. But I have enough faith in Augusten to persist through it, but yikes. Can't believe no one else, like the audio guy or whoever, didn't catch this.

I love Augusten, BUT....

I have enjoyed all of his books, but this one I wasn't really much of a story per se , just more of an accounting of events in his life. I felt like his reading performance was very... Hhm, what's the word... stuttered maybe.
He can still really do no wrong in my opinion, I just felt disappointed in this endeavor

Fascinating

I have listened to this book several times now.

I love listening to the author read the book as he has a very soothing and comforting way of speaking. He is so entertaining and the book is so interesting, I can’t stop listening.

I definitely recommend this book!

loved it

Augusten is so much fun to listen to.
Great story and plenty of chuckle outloud moments.