Very familiar territory here for readers familiar with Burroughs, his writing style and his life stories. Different glimpses at the Christmas holidays that he experience throughout his life, as a young boy whose curiosity about a lifesized Santa doll leads to a rush to the emergency room; the two day blackout spent sleeping with street bums across from his own apartment building and his first steps to recognition of his alcholism; and the final two stories which offer quite lovingly presented prose of two very serious romances in Burroughs life. We can cheer for Burroughs' development as a writer with the last two essays; they are richly and touchingly written. It is marvelous to know this man and see all the transitions and growth he has experienced on his very rocky road to adulthood. He is a marvel for being able to honestly share his life experiences so openly. Thank you Augusten.