Customer Reviews

Fall to Pieces: A Memoir of Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll, and Mental Illness

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In "Falling to Pieces," Mary Forsberg Weiland, the model ex-wife of Scott Weiland from the Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver rock groups, tells her story--one of a promising modeling career, lavish lifestyle, and touring with rock stars turned into a lifestyle of drug abuse, depression, and divorce. Coming from a working background and a broken family, Weiland has a dark childhood that reaches its climax when she goes to jail. Shortly afterwards, Mary replies to an ad for the Barbizon school of modeling and her life is forever changed.

Still a teenager, Mary drops out of school to pursue modeling. Her driver to assignments, for a brief period, becomes Scott Weiland--who at that point is a struggling musician. When he gets backed by a record company, Mary gets a new driver but can never forget Scott. Fast forward a couple of years, and Mary's touring with Scott and the band, spending time back and forth between the band's schedule and her modeling job. However, as Mary soon finds out, getting embroiled in the rock n' roll lifestyle has its costs--in Weiland's case, exposure to drugs. While Mary's modeling roommates, including future actress Charlize Theron, advance their careers--Mary enters a downward spiral, an increasingly dark frame of mind, and an ugly on/off relationship with her rock star boyfriend Scott.

The writing keeps the story interesting and Mary's occasional name dropping adds some extra flavor. You get to see the kind of world Weiland had access to, and see inside the mind of an addict. Mary's stories about her escalating dependence on Weiland and illegal substances seem to be rooted in her inability to deal with the real world. Throughout the book, there's almost nothing held back--including her breakdowns and dealing with being bipolar. Overall, I found the read pretty solid--too serious for a day at the beach, but deep enough to satisfy the more curious readers looking for a tell-all.

This book is an amazing account of a person's struggle with bi-polar disorder and mental illness with the unusual twist of the life of a model who was too young and unprepared for the type of life that her accidental career provided.

To be honest, I was completely surprised by this book. I assumed this would be a poorly written, boring attempt to cash in on knowing someone famous and having a few moments in the spotlight thanks to an wacko hollywood person's meltdown. Being a fan of Scott Weiland, I assumed that this was just his crazy wife's attempt to make him look worse in the public eye.

I was completely wrong about the intended purpose of this book, the author, and her capability to share her story. Over the course of one weekend this page-turner gave me insight into the world of someone with bipolar disorder, addiction, and no where in the book did she seem like she was trying to capitalize on her husband's troubles or that of other hollywood celebs. Although, I will admit that it is fun to read about people like Dave Navarro, Anthony Kiedis, and Charlize Theron. I would recommend this easy to read book to anyone, especially those like me who know someone who struggles with mental illness and drug addiction.

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.

Unfortunately, we live in a time where addiction is an all too common shared experience. One of the positive things to come out of it, I believe, is the fact that some people who struggle through this hell, somehow find the strength to overcome their demons and have the courage to put it all down on paper - so that other people who are suffering can read their words and maybe, feel as though they are not alone.
Fall to Pieces was exactly that type of book. I love the fact that I had no idea who the author was. This actually happens to me quite often. I see a book on addiction and recovery and I pick it up, only to discover that it was written by someone who is somehow in the spotlight - either directly or indirectly. As it turns out, I had no idea who Mary Weiland was and since I am not a huge music fan, I was pretty clueless about her husband as well.
However, as soon as I started reading this memoir, I instantly connected with Mary and found myself getting completely involved in her story.

Sometimes, when I read a memoir of this type, you can actually see the "addict in the making" and this was definitely the case with Mary. As I was reading, I kept thinking "wow, what were the chances she would come out of that childhood without an addiction?" Nobody really knows why one sibling will become addicted and the other(s) don't - but from Mary's description of her childhood, she sounded so incredibly sad and lost that it made me want to cry.
Weiland is brutally honest about her part in this story and, frankly, she certainly went out of her way to make her life as complicated as possible and makes no excuses for herself. As fate would have it, she would also end up hooking up with both a) the love of her life and b) the man who would end up being a destructive force in her life. I could not help but think that Weiland was, on some level, perhaps looking for a man who represented her father? However, this is MY theory and I could be 100% wrong.

From the moment Mary hooks up with Scott - you can actually feel both the love and the hell that each of them was falling into - and this was, to me, the most fascinating aspect of the "addiction" part of this story. It amazed me to see how two humans could love each other, yet, be so destructive to themselves and each other and Weiland does not shy away from giving us the often gory and always sad details of their lives as both spoiled superstars and stark raving drug addicts. I wanted to hate both of these people - but although they were so obviously off the charts, there was something touching and poignant about them that kept reminding me that addiction takes no prisoners.
The obvious love and struggles that Mary goes through as she realizes that she can no longer live this life, but is in love with a man who somehow "must" continue on this path was heartbreaking. I cheered for Mary as she desperately struggles to find her "true" recovery - and in the end knowing that if she chooses this route, she will end up loosing the man she loves.
I also loved the fact that Weiland NEVER speaks blames all of her woes on Scott - in fact, throughout the story, I have to say that Weiland pretty much always took the high road and chose to tell HER story

If you enjoy non-fiction - YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK!
Easy read. Interesting life and uphill battle. Love reading how other beings deal and dealt with life. You'll enjoy her wit and fight.

This book is well worth reading. This book is honest, straight forward and well put together. The book is never boring. It's hard to put this book down. It draws you in. I have to admit I was a little scared at times! Sometimes I saw myself, other times I just understood. Mary has a way of making you as the reader, understand. I mean really feel what she and the people around her were experiencing during some very difficult times. It's an honest account of her life. I don't think you could ask for any more then this from anyone. A bio like this takes great courage. This book is a revealing, fair account of what was going on in the life and times of Mary and Scott Weiland.

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.

Mary Forsberg, ex-wife of Stone Temple Pilots and former Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland, takes the title of her memoir from one of Velvet Revolver's hits, a song inspired directly by her. I had no desire read her memoir until I read Scott's Not Dead & Not for Sale: A Memoir and heard that his wife's provided a much more in-depth look. While Mary made her living as a model for some time, it's easy to say that this memoir is the result of riding the coattails of her husband. It's true that had she never married Weiland; publishes would have no interest in her memoirs. However, I feel she wrote this out of a genuine need for this information to be heard rather than just as a way to cash in. There is a great story here that details her struggle drug addiction and with mental illness, particularly bi-polar (a disorder both Mary and Scott have). Not only is this book entertaining and thoughtfully written, but it's eye-opening enough that it may actually help people going through similar troubles.

Mary opens the book with the first time she shot heroin, after catching her then-husband Scott doing it. Jumping far back, she details her early family life; growing up poor and misunderstood. Essentially, she covers everything from birth to now. Almost anyone reading this will be most interested in her first meetings with then-fledgling rock star Scott Weiland and, I assure you, there is plenty here to satisfy Weiland fans. The memoir isn't just a book of gossip about the rock star though and there's a lot of interesting information about the woman who is more known to the public through songs penned by her husband. There are two sides to every story and Mary seems willing to go in-depth about everything, particularly her and Scott's mental health/drug struggles. It's nearly impossible to write a memoir without any bias, but Mary comes off as pretty truthful throughout. When she discusses incidents that are well-known to the public, such as setting her husband's clothes on fire, she does her best to take full responsibility for her actions.

The book is co-written with Larkin Warren, so it's hard to judge Ms. Forsberg as a writer. Assuming it's mostly her, she comes off as a casual, intelligent, and humble woman. Her writing feels very personal, due to its informal style. She spares no details throughout (if you want to know what her dad and stepdad's favorite records are, she tells you), yet it never feels too wordy or over-thought, with much of it feeling very conversational. Forsberg has lived an adventurous life and has a lot of interesting tidbits about various people to share, but it never feels exploitative. There is a lot of celebrity name-dropping, but when you are friends with people like Anthony Kiedis and you modeled at a show that you want to emphasize the importance of by mentioning people like Charlize Theron and Mark Wahlberg...It seems appropriate and well-placed.

Mary lays her soul bare when she talks about struggling with addiction, struggling with mental illness, and her desperation to get better. Since Scott Weiland was a huge part of her life since the early 90s, she does share some details that may cause some to see him in a negative light (he gets a massage at one very insensitive moment) but he seemed to support her writing it.

While I'm sure she was offered a lot of money to share these thoughts and feelings, I respect Forsberg for being as detailed and truthful as she is. Reading this book I learned a lot about her, Mr. Weiland, drug addiction, and mental illness. It's a soul-baring, inquisitive memoir filled with fascinating insight into an excessive lifestyle that she claims has only recently returned to Earth. Some may struggle to empathize with Mary, who grew up poor until she was about 18 and has been living a pretty glamorous life ever since, but this is a fascinating, enlightening, and gloriously written memoir that is worth your time.

GRADE: A

I can't say enough of this book. From minute one I couldn't put the book down. Well written and very interesting roller coaster ride through drugs and mental illness. I would highly recommend this book.

When I got this book I had no idea who Mary Weiland is & I am not a fan of STP. However, it is one of the best books I've ever read & I could not put it down. Very well written & shocking!!