Rating: 
Summary: everything
Review: If You are mildy interested in the life of Kurt Cobain, there is plenty of info on the web. If however you want to know what he really thought, the everpresent ambivalence that was always in his mind, and the closest thing to the written truth on the man get this book. It is excellent, especially in regards to popular rumors it dispells.
-christian
Rating: 
Summary: Very informative and well written
Review: I enjoyed this book. It really de-iconized its subject matter and allowed the reader to see Mr. Cobain as one would an aquaitance from every day life. I particulary enjoyed the journal entries-- although I wish more had been included. I was particularly struck by his style of writing in some of his entries. For example, in one entry he writes from the perspective of his audience (the public)and gives an account of their relief that he has admitted to his drug problem. It amazed me how much he sounded like T.S. Elliot in the way that he expressed uncomfortable, complex feelings in the trappings of austere, over-the-top politeness. A little too much of the narrative was devoted to the details of his drug use-- I would have rather read more of his journal entries. Not that I am discounting his drug use. However, the photographs in this book pretty much tell the story of the drug use. The transformation of his physical appearance is amazing. He appears a ghost of his old self long before his suicide. The most poignant part of the book involves a confrontation between Mr. Cobain and his sister over his drug use. She asks him why he "hates" his family. He replys something to the effect of "Oh, I really hate you." It is a dialogue that many families touched by addiction understand too well. And this book goes beyond Rock genre in that it shows so vividly all of the guilt, pain, resentment, confusion and remorse that is universal in all instances of addiction. It is a powerful account.
Rating: 
Summary: Pulling the wool
Review: To anyone who was a fan or has followed the story of Kurt Cobain it is obvious that this book is full of false information. The last half of this book is the, WHO DOES IT SERVE, spin control version of what happened. This information is obviously without any doubt completely disrespectful to Kurt Cobain as an artist,public figure and human being. I would ask that you question ever fact in this book and examine the true nature of how it was written and why.
Rating:
Summary: A new look at rock legend
Review: Finally, a true portrait of Cobain. A troubled soul with a sweet, generous side few people were able to witness in his short life. Hopefully more books on Cobain are on the way.Also Recommended for Nirvana fans: THE CARPET FROGS by Alan Arlt
Rating:
Summary: This book is great!
Review: All I have to say is I loved this book. I grew up on Nirvana and this book was just great! I really dont get into reading that much, but I could not put this book down. I recommend this book to anybody who wants to know about Kurt Cobain and Nirvana. This would be a great gift for any Nirvana fan.
Rating:
Summary: Great read.
Review: I'm halfway through the book and I'm enthralled. I never knew that someone could be so troubled and self-contradictory and messed up as Cobain was. Of course many people are like that, but the fact that Cobain became famous and used his anger and frustration to make great music for others to cherish, then killed himself at the height of his power is really sad. The state of music coulda been different had he still been around.
Rating: 
Summary: early years are the best years
Review: I have mixed emotions about this book. I thouroughly loved the first half which deals with Cobain's childhood and struggling teen years, and ascension with his music and Nirvana in his very early 20s. However, the last half of the book is more or less a "drugography" more than a biography. Cross goes hogwild describing Cobain's every addictive move, it seems. Everyone knows Cobain was a drug addict, but constantly referring to him as a "junkie" in this book is a little overwrought. Plus, Cross portrays Cobain way way to much as a whiny drug addled jerk who cared for nothing but drugs and his own comforts. I ASSURE you, if this was the case, there would be no Nirvana, no Nirvana fans, and no Cobain bios. Kurt was a thoughtful person, with a sense of HUMOR. Only someone with empathy (as Cross exemplifies late in the book)and great sensitivity could create such art. And while i am sure Cross knows this, he wrongly portrays Kurt as something less that what he was, in my opinion. Other than that, the diary entries are a great plus to the Nirvana canon, very revealing. I also think Cross assumes too much in Kurts suicide, by way of his descriptions of events, as if he the author was there. Only Cobain was there to see what occurred. This is worth reading, althought its quite depressing once Cobain Grohl and Novoselic sign with the major label, however, and it never lightens up from that point on.
Rating:
Summary: Kurt would approve...
Review: This was a great book, a great read for any diehard Nirvana/Kurt Cobain fan like myself. I also have Cobain by the Editors of Rolling Stone, and the fantastic Come As You Are by Michael Azerrad(?), but this is better than both. A great read, a great book to get someone for Christmas, I thoroughly recommend it. the result of four years work, this has interviews with courtney, extracts from kurts diary, and you start to understand the troubled genius that was Kurt Cobain. the final chapter takes you step by step through Kurt's last waking hours and is incredibly vivid. i was left feeling overwhelmed.
Rating:
Summary: the book that makes me wanna read
Review: This is the first book i have read since i was 14. GCSE english examinations made me feel sick everytime i picked up a book. However since i am an avid fan of Kurt Cobain and of nirvana i couldnt wait to get this book, which uses actual journal extracts of kurts and is compiled from 400 interviews that Charles R.Cross did personally in the space of 4 years. I only got the book 3 days ago and i havent been able to put it down to such an extent that my school work is suffering. the book goes into great detail of Kurts childhood to this rise to fame and his tragic death. It is extremely detailed and anybody who is interested in the life of Kurdt Kobain (his alter ego which i learned from my new book) should try to get a copy as soon as possible. Many thanks David Wilson
Rating:
Summary: sad, sad, sad, sad, sad
Review: i finished this book in less then a week and i was considering quiting my job just to finish it faster. i really think that
everyone who was/is a true kurt fan should read this book. it really sets the record straight. most importantly, it will erase all your resentment of courtney love. the book had such an effect on me that upon finishing it i couldn't fall asleep for a whole day and a half. i was scared straight. it was a really good book. take it from somebody who mostly only has the attention span to read magazine articles.
|
