Fall to Pieces: A Memoir of Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll, and Mental Illness – A Candid Celebrity Memoir of Bipolar Disorder and Humor

I knew nothing about Mary and Scott Weiland before reading this book. I did not expect this book to be such a page turner. Not only is the writing fact paced and entertaining, it has incredible depth. Weiland chose a very gifted ghost writer to tell her tale, a writer who manages to get out of the way of the swing, so to speak. The writer avoids cliches, platitudes and stereotypes and manages to educate the reader about addiction and depression. I think this book has a lot of integrity and while it is described as a tell-all, it only seems to tell what is important to Mary Weiland. Even if the people involved in this story were not famous, I would find this book riveting and compelling as it explores the connection between depression and the propensity to self medicate, which leads to addiction. One find one's self thinking about one's own life and the people we know and love who suffer from addictions. After completing this book, one will have a new found empathy for those who suffer from addictions while discarding a judgmental attitude. Scott and Mary are star crossed because the very thing that draws them together is also the very thing that could eventually destroy them. Near the end, I found myself weeping for their love which was not to be. This book is extremely well written and not at all what you might expect. I highly recommend it.

I generally pay little attention to the romances of the rich and famous, but a book co-written by the ex-wife of Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland -- who I've always been a big fan of -- was too much for me to resist. Surprisingly, I was riveted by Mary Forsberg Weiland's own life tale and not just what she said about Scott. She's led a riotous and unpredictable existence as a model, to say the least, and her autobiography conveys that to wildly entertaining effect. Readers will get hooked into her story right away during the prologue, where a depressed, anxiety-laden Forsberg tries heroin for the first time -- with her boyfriend, Scott Weiland. The recount dredges up a bunch of observations: It's fascinating to get an intense, firsthand look at what these celebrities are doing in such a sleazy environment, but it's also very sad. As the book proceeds, you eventually see that this encounter is just the tip of the iceberg where drug use is concerned. In fact, if ever a piece of literature could be used to discourage kids from experimenting with drugs, this might be it. There are lighthearted aspects to the book, however. Mary's stories and the way co-author Larkin Warren helps relate them are at times graceful, charming and funny. This is a hard-knock girl who had a rough childhood, a less-than-middle-class upbringing and a penchant for experimentation. In addition to her addictive personality, Forsberg was a prominent model who traveled the world and is still a huge music fan. Fans of Scott Weiland, Stone Temple Pilots and even Velvet Revolver won't be disappointed; there's a lot of fodder about each. Especially interesting is the evolution of Scott Weiland, who Mary met (and fell in love with on the spot) as a 16-year-old model. Through her smitten eyes readers witness a sweet, soft-spoken 23-year-old guy who aspired to sing in a big rock band, worked days as a chauffeur, liked to wear vintage 7-UP jackets and was a genuine friend to Forsberg during her formative years. The first time Mary watches Scott performing onstage, she realizes there's a whole other musical element to him, an enrapturing one at that. What Scott Weiland evolved into was not always so innocent or admirable, but that's the beauty of Forsberg's honesty: No stone is left unturned (pardon the bad pun). In a weird way, Forsberg's book has elements of a ragged love story, albeit one that doesn't exactly end in the storybook tradition. Her meltdown memories at the end of the book put her fragility and bipolar disorder on full display, but the coupon-clipping, down-to-earth Mary makes you root for her. As the dust settles and her tumultuous years get put in the rearview mirror, Forsberg ultimately comes across as hardworking, devoted to her children, ambitious and seemingly level headed, despite a life lived in the spotlight. Hopefully she'll persevere after such a hectic lifestyle, and it would be wonderful to see her become a counselor and help others, like she aspires to.

Wonderful read! This book is raw and honest. Mary has such an interesting life. Definitely would recommend this book. Ya

So sad. As a huge San Diego fan of STP I was excited to read this book from his former wife of a scott Weiland in the wake of his death. Both Scott and Mary struggled with addiction that ultimately got the best of Scott and his brother. This story has no high notes, but is a fast one session read. I feel for Mary as a mom, and just hope that the Weiland kids can rise above the sad fate of their parents. Mary struggles with bi-polar disorder in addition to being a junky, and I hope she can find sobriety for the sake of her kids. I was really hopeful that by the end of the book that Mary found sobriety and happiness. Sadly, she quotes notes left by her young son while she sleeps it off. The book gives graphic step by step detail of how to shoot up if you are looking for that. I was hoping for a happy ending. Engaging story, only giving 3 stars due to the sadness of it all. RIP Scott Weiland, hopefully Mary will be able to pull it together.

Dieses Buch ist eines der besten was ich seit längerer Zeit gelesen habe. Mary Forsberg Weiland - Ehefrau von Stone Temple Pilots/Velvet Revolver-Frontman Scott Weiland - hat mit diesem Buch eine sehr authentische, berührende und brutal ehrliche Biographie abgeliefert, die - auch Nicht-Fans der o.g. Bands - sehr zu empfehlen ist. Angefangen bei ihrer Kindheit auf Coronado Island, San Diego, Kalifornien über ihren Einstieg ins Modelbusiness, das erste Aufeinandertreffen mit ihrem Noch-Ehemann Scott Weiland im Alter von 16 Jahren bis hin zu deren gemeinsamen, chaotischen Achterbahnfahrt durch das Musikbusiness und die Drogenszene (und Liebesbeziehung) ist dieses Buch - gepaart mit Humor und einem Hauch Sarkasmus - ein echter Leckerbissen. Es rührt zu Tränen, bringt einem zum Lachen und nachdenken. Noch dazu ist es - trotz englischer Sprache und umgangssprachlichen Ausdrücken - einfach zu lesen und sehr gut zu verstehen. Also auch die, die im Englischunterricht gepennt haben, können daran ihre Freude haben :D Ein sehr schöner Aspekt ist auch, dass sie mit ihrer Darstellung der Dinge der Klatschpresse einen ordentlichen Tritt ins Hinterteil verpasst und der "ach-so-böse-und-durchgeknallte" Scott Weiland ins richtige Licht gerückt wird. Man darf also auf einige "Aha"-Effekte gespannt sein, wenn man dieses Buch liest. Ich konnte es jedenfalls kaum aus der Hand legen und habe einige Taschentücher verbraucht! *grins* Fünf sehr wohl verdiente Sterne von mir

I didn't find this book until after Scott Weiland passed away. What a sad life it was for someone with a mental and drug problem. I loved this book and Mary seemed to cover everything, the good the bad and the very ugly.

regalo apprezzato

Really great memoir. As someone who deals with both mental health & addiction issues, I found this book really well written. The only thing, it left me feeling very sad knowing this memoir was written before the sad passing of Scott Weiland. I can only imagine how Mary would write it differently knowing what we know now. Highly recommended to STP fans or anyone who enjoys a good memoir on the subjects of addiction & mental health or rock n' roll ...

Gleich vorweg Dr. Larkin Warren (Psychologin) ist die Co-Autorin einiger sehr berührender Biografien. Wenn sich also Scott Weiland Fans auf dieses Buch stürzen, finden sie sich bald in der Welt eines bi-polaren, verletzlichen Mädchens wieder, das als junges Model auf einen charmanten, aufstrebenden Sänger trifft. Mit dem Aufstieg und dem Erfolg der beiden beginnt aber auch der Abstieg in die Hölle des Drogenmissbrauches und der endlosen Spirale der gescheiterten Entzugsversuche. Klar, man erfährt viel über Scott Weiland - mehr als in seinen mittelmäßigen Memoiren, aber eigentlich bietet das Buch einen berührenden Blick auf Mary Forsberg, die geführt von Larkin Warren, einen Einblick gewährt in eine Welt des Glamours und der Selbstzerstörung. Die Ehrlichkeit, die Gefühlstiefe und der Realismus machen das Buch lesenswert, aber für den fünften Stern fehlt der Geschichte des drogensüchtigen B-Models und Ehefrau eines Rock 'n Roll Stars etwas!