39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
If I didn't adore Layne, this would've gotten negative stars, January 16, 2007
This review is from: Layne Staley: Get Born Again (Paperback)
There's nothing I can say about this book that hasn't already been said in the other reviews. It's really sad to know that this is the best the author could do. It makes me want to write my own book on Layne and do his memory and fans justice. God knows I'd do a better job!! It looks as though no one involved with the book cared. I mean, couldn't someone use spell check?! Not only that, but the author keeps repeating quotes throughout the book as if we wouldn't be able to comprehend them if they were said once. She wants to make the words feel intense, but by repeating them she just ruins it!
I have to admit that if she had tried harder to get some of his friends to participate in the book it would have been better. Sure, his mother and sister can give us insight on who he was before the fame, but that doesn't give us the whole story. There's a HUGE gap in this book. She starts out when he's a baby, skips through to his teens for a second, and then straight to his final years. What about all that time we knew him? You can't honestly tell me that NONE of his countless friends wanted to talk about him. I guess she thought the guy only had 4 friends, who happen to be the other members of AIC. Guess again Adriana!
Another thing that ruins this book is the fact that the author keeps comparing her bulimia to Layne's drug addiction. I don't know about everyone else, but I DON'T CARE!! I bought this book because I wanted to read about Layne Staley, not some unknown author. When Layne said "you should write a book about yourself" he meant "leave me alone and write a book about yourself INSTEAD". At least that's my interpretation. And the goat stories and talk of the Renaissance don't help. I know he enjoyed Chinese philosophy, but how do you link that to comparing him to a goat?
After reading his final interview, I found it odd that she glorified his mother so much. Don't get me wrong, Nancy seems like a great lady and everyone who's met her says so (even Layne), but it seems as though he feels betrayed by her. She could've tried getting more of Layne's side of the story.
At the end of the day, I still have to say that I enjoyed looking at pictures of Layne and the things he made (although I do wish the pictures were in color. I know, I'm asking for way too much). I thought some of the stories his mother shared were really cute and his final interview was an interesting read even though I was expecting it to be longer. I also hope that if they actually make a movie about Layne it is better than this garbage and does not involve this "writer". So in conclusion, buy this book for the pictures and the final interview. And you might as well buy it now when it's $20 instead of waiting for it to be "rare" and selling for $135. But if you really want to know Layne, listen to his voice. Buy the CD's and read his lyrics. Then you'll really know his pain, his troubles and his heart.
R.I.P. Layne. We love you
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35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Don't bother, March 7, 2007
This review is from: Layne Staley: Get Born Again (Paperback)
I received this book in the mail less than two days ago and have finished it already. Not because it was insightful or the least bit enjoyable but because I kept hoping the author would redeem herself. Basically, I got through the book as quickly as possible the way a child gets through a plate of forced spinach. The writing is choppy and disjointed. There is no cohesion, only interviews and statements by family members that seem out of context. Layne himself is depicted merely as a pathetic soul. I'm certain that there were happy and fulfilling moments in his life but the author chose to concentrate almost exclusively on his suffering. Layne's mother comes off as a total nut job who didn't have a clue how to handle her son's addiction. It's no wonder that she rescinded her support for this book. The author portrays the other members of Alice in Chains in an extremely negative light, solely because they did not choose to support her project. In reality, they made a very smart decision. I understand there are plans to make this book into a film. God help us. In the end, it seems that what Layne Staley feared about journalists came to fruition. He should have told his own story or trusted it to someone who really knew him.
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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
don't get born again, November 2, 2006
This review is from: Layne Staley: Get Born Again (Paperback)
if you want to spend money getting to know layne staley, buy his cd's and listen to what he has to say. don't waste it on this book.
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