Dry

How does denial manifest in Burroughs’s behavior both at work and in his personal life?

Burroughs’s stock-in-trade is humor. What purposes does it serve in the narrative? Give some examples and explain what deeper emotions that humor might be masking.

During his first several days in rehab, Burroughs is aghast at both the Proud Institute’s physical facility and its patients. He admits finding Kavi “disgusting,” and he creates snarky names for others (Dr. Valium, Pregnant Paul, Low Self-Esteem Marion). Why does he emotionally distance himself from those whose help he needs the most?

Over the course of his rehab, Burroughs transitions from aloof, elitist observer to 12-step advocate. What is the initial catalyst in his transformation? What other factors are there?

Burroughs is emotionally honest to a fault. He doesn’t shy away from his own flaws, including drunken behavior that would shame many others. Why is this honesty so necessary for the narrative to work as a story of survival and redemption?

Burroughs’s tone throughout much of the narrative is cool and detached, although that tone becomes more emotionally invested toward the end. He describes his often harmful behavior like he might describe a walk on the beach. How does that tone make an effective bridge between his drinking days and his struggle with sobriety?

Burroughs has been accused of fabricating portions of his memoir. Indeed, he openly admits certain characters and scenes are “imaginative recreations.” Does this knowledge diminish the thematic impact of the book? Why or why not?

Stories of addiction and recovery have become so common in popular culture. How does this affect the reading experience? How does Burroughs play upon readers’ familiarity with addiction in his depiction of rehab?