Memories of John Lennon by Yoko Ono, editor


Memories of John Lennon by Yoko Ono, editor
Publisher: It Books
Genre: Non-Fiction, Biography
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

John Lennon . . . as much a part of our world today as he ever was

He touched many lives in his brief forty years, and continues to move and inspire millions more to this day. Now, invited by Yoko Ono, friends, family, and fans from all walks of life—including some of the great artists of our day—reminisce about Lennon as a visionary and friend, musician and performer, husband and father, activist and jokester.

In their own words and drawings, poems and photos, Lennon’s life from his childhood through the Beatles years to the happiness and tragedy of his final days become stunningly vivid.

Intimate glimpses gathered from musicians who knew John, such as Pete Townshend, Sir Elton John, Billy Preston, and Joan Baez; friends and relatives such as producer David Geffen, publicist Elliot Mintz, and cousin Mike Cadwallader; and artists who followed him such as Bono, Alicia Keys, Steve Earle, Jello Biafra, and Carlos Santana.

And, for the first time, renowned photographer Annie Liebovitz presents every frame of the historic last session with John and Yoko.

Memories of John Lennon is a rich and deeply felt appreciation of a truly great man.

How do you speak about a legend?

I picked up this book because I wanted to read what others had said about John Lennon. I know how I felt about him and his music, but what about his peers? This is a good way to see how they felt and what they thought. Ono adds her own special touches and the little drawings really added to the stories.

I liked the stories about how Lennon affected their lives, but also the court paperwork and the paperwork from the FBI. Lennon was a complicated man and it shows in these pages.

If you’re a fan of the Beatles, then you need to read this. If you like John Lennon, then you really need to read this.

Fall to Pieces: A Memoir of Drugs, Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Mental Illness by Mary Forsberg Weiland


Fall to Pieces: A Memoir of Drugs, Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Mental Illness by Mary Forsberg Weiland
Publisher: It Books
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir, Contemporary, Recent Historical
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

On the surface Mary Weiland had a fairy tale life. She was a successful model married to a successful rock star—Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland—and a world traveler with a home and two beautiful children. But it wasn’t until her rampage in a Los Angeles hotel room and the resulting media frenzy that the world got a glimpse into Mary’s inner turmoil, self-destructive behavior, bipolar disorder, and drug abuse.

In Fall to Pieces, she reveals the extreme highs and lows of her life, the volatility of which long hinted at her bipolar disorder. Weiland tells her story with refreshing candor, unflinching detail, and more than a little humor. Reminiscent of celebrity memoirs from Tatum O’Neill, Brooke Shields and Valerie Bertinelli, Weiland offers a window into the world of modeling and rock’n’roll celebrity while at the same time providing deep insights into a serious and misunderstood mental illness.

Co-written with veteran journalist Larkin Warren, Fall to Pieces is a blistering, eye-opening memoir of Hollywood meltdown.

Together, they’re a hot mess, but everyone wants the burn.

I stumbled across this book by accident, but it’s no accident I read it. I couldn’t put it down. Weiland’s story captivated me with her sadness and utter confusion. I could feel the way she did and understood both her and her husband better.

Mary Forsberg Weiland never set out to rule the wold. She wanted to conquer her little piece. Unfortunately, it took a lot of drugs, pain and self-destruction to realize the issues were bigger than she could handle alone. I admit I sobbed for her at times. Reading the ways she struggled and managed to right herself was darn fascinating and heartbreaking. Putting her together with her then-husband, Scott Weiland (of Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver) was an oil and water situation.They loved each other, but they were toxic, too.

If you’re looking for something that’s sad, but beautiful, toxic, but fascinating, then this is the book for you.