Reviews

Then It Fell Apart by Moby

stefs1974's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.75

usernamemustbeunique's review against another edition

3.0

It’s important to note that this was rather well written. Having said that, I don’t need to hear or read the word “degenerate” for at least six months. Did he bet someone he could use it at least once in every other chapter?

I appreciate a certain amount of self-righteousness and self-flagellation. However, this book took me down a spiral that did not end until the last page, and I was left basically on the floor of rock bottom. A little more balance would have been nice.

Was Moby vulnerable? Yes. It was like reading a list of confessions and transcripts of therapy with someone recounting all of their traumas. For better and for worse, I assume he ignored more than a couple notes from his editor.

I hope there is a third memoir that takes a different approach. The first was definitely more my speed. Reading this one was torture at multiple points, and I had to take a couple breaks.

tetalela's review against another edition

I go to celebrity biographies for a light bit of fun. This is anything but. 

pepeleb's review against another edition

informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

adamrussell's review

reflective sad slow-paced

3.25

Even without the acknowledged misrepresentation of certain relationships, this book has problems. Moby describes events from 40+ years’ ago with a level of detail and familiarity that cannot be accurate. In doing so, he undermines the credibility of his broader narrative. 

This book also wallows - consuming it feels a little like the self-indulgence Moby has indulged in for so much of his adult life. It would be more interesting to hear less about the parties, and a bit more about the shame the morning after and

his subsequent battle with alcoholism, once he admitted his problem

. 

Still, it takes a level of vulnerability to write a book like this. Then It Fell Apart provides a level of insight into the fragile reality of celebrity that is hard to find, and hard to read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism and Drug use

Minor: Vomit

nyzerman's review against another edition

3.0

This review is based on the audio book. I would give it 2.5 stars if I could. I am just now getting into audio books and this was available through my local library on RGB. I thought an audio book read by its author might be a more interesting and genuine audio experience. I liked Moby's album, Play, and knew he was a vegan and recall a vague memory of his tea shop, either from reading about it or seeing it featured somewhere online perhaps. I had no idea how much of a tortured soul he was or that he was an alcoholic struggling with addiction throughout much of his life. His life story is interesting but frankly, his narration was monotone and without passion - there were certainly parts of the book where he was angry or upset and if not listening to the words, I would never be able to detect his change of emotion. I found myself drifting off at times, forgetting that I was listening to an audio book because the narration was very flat (and ironically, I feel badly for being critical because a lot of the issues in his memoir seem to stem from his own self criticism.) I would have liked a more emphatic narration that would allow the reader to feel the emotion rather than just hear it blandly spoken.

yaboigingerino's review against another edition

4.0

As I predicted, it got worse. Way worse.

But at the end of the day, it's just the actions of Moby that make me quiver and feel confused, not the writing or anything.

And because it really ramps up in this memoir, I think it rates a star higher than the previous one.

bc1969's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

woolpierogi's review against another edition

1.0

This book. I had an uneasy feeling the entire time I was reading it. Something didn't feel right about it. It is exceptionally self-serving (but I guess one could argue that a memoir can't be anything but self-serving). Moby had a very rough childhood, yes. It's sometimes hard to read. But everything feels like either "I deserve everything I have because my life was hard" or "how amazing am I for overcoming all of this?"

But, after reading, I read all of the statements by people he referenced in the book and while some he didn't even verify the spelling of - others (Natalie Portman) he just altered the truth to make himself sound less gross.

Do not recommend. 1.5 stars? I guess? I finished it. I could have stopped. So, that's something.

Genre: Arts and Entertainment; Autobiographies and memoirs; Life stories
Tone: Gossipy
Writing Style: Candid

wesleymccraw's review against another edition

5.0

Maybe it's a tale everyone knows, but seeing it played out can still provide insight. A brave book.