I read about The Stones, Janis, NY punk underground and all the drug problems... you think at some point people would say "Heroin, it not really a good idea to start." I am glad she found her way, but the whole bad trip could have been prevented. ( )

This book is featured on Throwback Thursday@ https://readrantrockandroll.com/2017/10/26/throwback-thursday-october-26th-fall-...

Fall to Pieces by Mary Forsberg Weiland is an insightful memoir about Mary and her struggle with mental illness, drug use, and her relationship with Scott Weiland, former singer of Stone Temple Pilots.

My entire life I've loved music and my teen years in the 90's was where music became a necessity for everyday life as I experienced similar issues to what Mary had, although nowhere near as extreme. Stone Temple Pilots was one of my favorites and Scott remained a favorite singer of mine in STP, Velvet Revolver and even his solo albums. When he passed away in 2015 I was shocked. Another great artist was gone and the horrible comments and accusations about him as a person began. People would call him a junkie, loser, abuser, and careless to name few. These words from people who were obviously not fans and those who don't understand addiction and mental disease. They also don't know what Scott experienced in his life. After reading Scott's book, I wanted to see what Mary had to say. To see my review on Scott Weiland's book Click Here

Firstly, this book has much more content than Scott's [b:Not Dead and Not for Sale|10225109|Not Dead and Not for Sale|Scott Weiland|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1344401104s/10225109.jpg|15124898]. This book doesn't highlight everything about Scott, but covers Mary and Scott's relationship from the beginning until their divorce. Mary starts by discussing her early family life and emancipation at 17 which leads into her modeling career. She talks about her struggle with addiction long before her relationship with Scott started.

Mary obviously loved Scott, but it seemed like their relationship was doomed from the beginning. Scott was heavy into drugs and Mary knew it. They both had issues from the past and despite their mental illnesses, they got married and had kids. Up and down and all around is the best way to describe their journey together. It's sad at times and at one point Mary pulls a Bernadine from "Waiting to Exhale" on Scott's wardrobe. There's a lot here you'll never know if you don't read the book. It contains journal entries, photos, and a lot of personal information. I learned about friendships that Mary had with other models, actors, and celebrities that I never knew about. Her bi-polar episodes didn't really appear until the last quarter of the book.

What's sad is that Scott couldn't straighten up despite Mary's persistence. Obviously, it's what she wanted for herself and the kids, but she had her own demons to deal with and it's sad the kids don't have their dad to grow up with. I suppose having kids in this relationship was a bad idea, but I love Mary's "no regrets" attitude. His kids are teens themselves now.

I enjoyed the writing style and the story told in chronological order. It's an easy fast-paced read that's written well. If you want to know more about Mary and Scott, read it. You won't be sorry...

4**** ( )

A gritty, dark, and triumphant memoir. Mary Weiland shoots straight from the heart in telling her story of her drug addiction and living with bipolar disorder. ( )

Mary ended up in a mental institution after throwing her husbands clothes out and setting them on fire. She suffered from depression and would lay in bed for days. A lot of the time, she didn't even know why she was reacting a certain way. Addiction and depression seem to go hand in hand, so Mary was battling both.

It's an absorbing read that hits close to home for me. I too suffer from depression and it is a very difficult illness to live with. I know how brave Mary must be to pour out her life for the whole world to read. She's a strong woman and I hope that her book inspires others to get the help they need. ( )