So I got this book fully knowing everything that had come out about the author and all. To me, if it's a good story, I am OK with that. (Though perhaps I may have felt differently if I went into it thinking the guy had really gone through all of it). I'm only about 1/4 way through but I can't put it down. This book has weaved its way into my psyche. I feel emotionally drained, depressed, and some of his thoughts on taking "the easy way out" are actually sounding GOOD! I started the book yesterday and it actually worked its way into my dreams too. I find his use of capitalization weird, but I'm a technical writer, so maybe I'm too picky. But the book, wow. I hope it's OK I post this here, in this forum, because I think most folks would still associate it with memoirs, even though it's a "fictionalized" one.

I have come across this book many times and have been afraid to pick it up because of all the bad stuff said about it. If when your finished you could let me know what you think of it that would be great...

Well, I for one have never let what other say influence me. I think it started in college, when kids would say "OMG, I hate that professor, he sucks," and I always ended up liking him. I actually never heard anything bad about this book- only good, amazing things when it came out, and well, that kind of speaks for itself. Of course, the author did lie and cheat, but if you just care about the book and the story, I would not let it deter you.

PS: Heath RIP one year.

I've read this book, I had no idea that he had lied about things, but I really enjoyed it. I have another friend who lists it as one of his favorite books now - I would recommend giving it a try if you are intrigued at all.

I read this book when Oprah was raving about it and liked it very much.  I don't think he lied like she led people to believe.  I think he changed some things to protect the identities of people but didn't note that in the beginning.  I think Oprah took it as a personal affront and that she crossed the line when she confronted him on national TV. 

It really doesn't matter that he embellished or changed some things to me.  This guy wrote an incredible book.  It was rivetting.  If we were to examine every memoir out there, I for one, am sure that the majority of them have embellishments and changes to help the story.  This one brings the reader into  the chaos of addiction out of control in a young adults life in a way that makes the reader live in side his head for a while.  It is a uniquely powerful read, IMHO.

Please forgive my spelling!!!

I read it a few years ago when all the junk came out about him fabricating, lying, whatever, about it.  I agree it is a great story.  I think if you go into it knowing it is fiction & read it just like you do every other work of fiction you'll see it is a great story.  For those that have read it did you read the sequel My Friend Leonard?  I didn't & was wondering if it was a good story too...

I read this book a couple of years ago without hearing about the controversy before hand.  I assumed it was a non-fiction book because the library had it in the non-fiction section.  I really liked the book until I was getting towards the end where I concluded the author was lying and that this story never occurred.  I still think it is an enjoyable book, but I wish that the book was labeled as a work of fiction and the library had put it in the fiction section.