A beautifully written train wreck. I blew through this in just a couple hours, because I couldn't turn away, I HAD to stay along for this terrible terrible ride.
I've known many Candy's in my life, I've lost many friends to Heroin.
I NEVER understood the appeal of this death sentence lifestyle. I wanted to get inside the mind of an addict. Well, this novel certainly was the epitome of what I was searching for as far as resolution and closure. I am proud of myself for never sinking into this lifestyle, despite many of my friends turning to Heroin to bury the pain of their hurtful pasts.
It was skin crawling uncomfortable, it was absolutely heart wrenching and disgusting, it was HILARIOUS, and I found myself keeling over in laughing fits during the craziest moments.
But there is absolutely nothing funny about this drug, this drug will encompass you and tear your life apart and then spit you out, a skeleton of who you once were.
I immediately ordered the movie. Because there is something about watching this train wreck romance, you keep hoping they will get their shit together, even when all the odds are against them, and you know there isn't a chance in hell they will leave this lifestyle unscathed.
I would read absolutely anything this author wrote. ( )

Really good book that gives a hard look at the life of an addict. I actually preferred the movie which usually it's the other way around. Although this book doesn't sugar coat addiction it didn't bring anything new to the table. Just another story like the other story that's like the other story. What THIS story brings that other books of this subject sometimes don't is connection to the characters.Which, IMHO, was spot on. I felt THERE at times throughout the book. Problem was I could easily set it down and pick it back up couple days later and that is not a 5 star book for me. ( )

23.01.2011;
Ok it's been a while since I read this & only have vague feelings and thoughts on it, feeling it was intense and tedious at the same time. Same old story of addiction and love gone wrong. Tonight I saw the film & like it or not was swayed by Heath Ledger's beautiful lips. Yeah yeah. Ok - I'm probably shallow. In the book I felt his character the typical junkie but the film portrayed his deep love for Candy, his fear, his conscience and his need to finally do the right thing and kick the habit. I could be wrong but don't remember Candy being so off the wall in the book, nor so twisted by drugs not to see his love - he tried so hard to make things right at the end - even his pitiful attempts to make a skylight at the farm, and cook the out of date frozen chicken endear him - while her breakdown(?) more aptly some kind of psychosis kind of frightened me and the hospital setting fairly threw me in a spin being shot at Greenwich Rehabilitation Hospital at Lane Cove (NSW) which happened to be one of the hospitals that my mother was in just before she died two months ago - & that is so weird, seeing a film where you were recently standing that has so many other memories and connections - it makes for major conflict in your brain.

My loyalties to each character were opposite to what I felt in the book. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing - or bad directing I'm not sure. It does enrich ones vision of things, enlarges your perspective so that not everything is black and white. There are grey areas. It makes you think twice about the author's intent, did I miss it or did the director change it?. ( )

If you ever pondered what the big deal about Heroin is, read this book. You will be forever cured from any bouts of wanting to slum it down the lonely trail of addiction. This book is an honest portrayal of romantic love under the influence. I was both horrified and disgusted by the two main characters in this novel and actually hoped that they would wake up from the drug induced nightmare they inflicted upon themselves. Read it and find out what a horrible beast Heroin makes two people become. ( )

A gritty read about the downward spiral of drug addiction. Told in the first person perspective from Dan about his love for Candy, a bright well educated girl who follows him into the world of heroin. Not for the squeamish with harrowing scenes of vein searching and needle use that i found quite disturbing, not to mention a distasteful crab lice incident. Highly recommended as an informative look at addiction and its pitfalls but personally as far as the characters were concerned I failed to care whether they lived or died! ( )