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18 of 20 found the following review helpful:
 rolling stones fan Jul 05, 2007
By C. Creed
While the book was interesting to read and the author was obviously interested in her subject, I question the accuracy and where her sources came from, such as Mick Jagger participating in Brian Jones' death, that Brian Jones was raped by Allen Klein's assistant and Keith Richards at Mick Jagger's insistence, that Anita Pallenberg and Mick Jagger plotted to bring Brian Jones down, that Brian Jones was sexually abused by his mother, etc. It is all so much over the top. I searched the back of the book to find the sources for Brian Jones' quotes and some of this information, but it was not clear if Brian was speaking to her beyond the dead or whom was giving these facts to her. Much of the book is not flattering to the other Stones, true or not.
12 of 13 found the following review helpful:
YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING! Aug 10, 2007
By Anonymous J
While this was an interesting read and no doubt mirrors some of Brian's feelings, emotional and mental problems, and experiences, it would appear to be a fictionalized account of what Ms. Shepherd imagines Brian would have said to describe his life. If anybody should doubt that, there are three points that make this apparent:
1. Nowhere is the reader provided with any sources for Brian's "quotes". Yes, read here quote-unquote quotes. Given that the majority of the book is based on Brian's words, you would think that sources would be at least mentioned in the preface. There are supposedly audio tapes that Brian made? There is no mention of this -- why can I find no mention of these audio tapes ANYWHERE? Given the sheer number of quotes provided, there must have been hours and hours worth. WHERE ARE THEY? WHO HAD THEM ALL THESE YEARS?
2. It's all too pat with a plethora of "quotes" that cover almost every facet of Brian's life and controversies that we find in various biographies previously published. It's as if somehow Brian magically foresaw what people would say after his death (or this unknown interviewer did) and managed to have something to say about every single thing. It is just too convenient and feels as if someone read these other biographies and made up quotes to counter them point by point!
3. The ending is POSITIVELY LUDICROUS -- is the reader expected to believe that Brian was speaking into a tape recorder up to the point of his actual death? If not, why is Brian being quoted in reference to the very day he died? It's ridiculous -- while the men who supposedly killed him were there, drugging him, he was narrating what was going on? If I had any doubts as to the sincerity of the source for these quotes, the final chapter clinched them.
Save your money, PLEASE. There are other far worthier books. Check out Golden Stone and Who Killed Christopher Robin? Let's face it, most of Brian's life does not make for good copy. The guy had problems and could be equally horrific as terrific. Any book on Brian will give you tales on both sides of his personality. While the author will kindly explain these things away as keeping the audio tapes from being turned over to the Brian Jones estate, etc., I still say steer clear of this one until someone comes up with those mysterious audio tapes!
16 of 19 found the following review helpful:
 Brian Jones "Straight" From the Heart? Jun 13, 2007
By Constance R. Swift
"Carly"
Although Ms. Shepherd is a capable writer, I refuse to believe half of the "biographical" information in this book. First, she quotes Brian as if she spoke with him yesterday; I couldn't find where she credited anything or anyone with his words...some of which were NOT in use in the late 60's. Give us a break. Some readers are just too smart to fall for that. The other thing I'm not comfortable with is she has Brian sleeping with Mick, and Keith and numerous other men and quotes him as being "bisexual". Maybe he was, and I am FAR from homophobic, but she creates conversations with his partners as if she was in the room!
I am very disappointed in this book, and wonder if Ms. Shepherd just didn't fantasize this entire thing!
9 of 11 found the following review helpful:
The Worst (like the song from Voodoo Lounge) Aug 30, 2007
By Elmo Lewis
I see that a number of reviewers gave this book high marks. I can not imagine why. This is the worst, by a wide margin, of any book I have ever read about the Rolling Stones.
Because there are so many books on the Stones...one can make some fair comparions.
The problem with Mrs. Shepherds efforts are that they are said to be based on audio tapes made by Mr. Jones. After reading the book, there are no mention of these tapes. Instead we get a bunch of fiction, what Mrs. Shepherd imagines Brian might have said. I do not think any such tapes exsist. The tapes some how survived but nothing else made it out of Cotchford? Hard to believe! And so is everything else in this "novel". It should almost be classified as a gay porn novel...which is what Mrs. Shepherd seemed to trying to create.
Up and Down with the Rolling Stones, The First 20 Years, The Golden Stone, Symphony for the Devil, True Adventures, Old Gods Almost Dead,
The Last Decadent, Who Killed Christopher Robin, both Bill Wyman books..these...and several more, are on my shelf. I wish I hadn't paid for this one.
There is a fiction book called "Good Night Sweet Prince". If you want to read fiction about Brian Jones...read that book. It it more credible.
6 of 7 found the following review helpful:
 STEWED & KEEFED Aug 31, 2007
By Clifton White
The honeymoon between Sir Mick and Keith apparently is at its end. Fragile nerves and high tensions have reached their peak and Keef is lashing out indiscriminately. His latest target is once again Brian Jones-the 63 year old Stone finds the band's former leader easy prey since the dead are hardly ever known to fight back. He believes he'll have a better chance of winning the battle of words against a ghost rather than take Mick on full force.
Oddly the open wound growing between Mick and Keith comes at a time when the author of Straight from the Heart is ready to announce the release of Brian's audiotapes. Word is she's finally received permission from the "keeper of the flame" for all these many years-who's mainly led a reclusive lifestyle since Brian's murder.
As part of the British rock scene during the late Sixties to early Seventies, I'd heard rumors flying that Brian had a hidden stash of tapes he'd recorded. We all figured they were only of music he'd put together during his stay at Cotchford. Now it appears that not only music was being composed while he lived the life of a solitary man, but that he had recorded his memoirs. Quite a feat for someone whom the Stones insisted was too incapacitated due to drugs and drinking to play guitar.
In my humble opinion I believe the author did a gargantuan job in re-enacting Brian's life in such an authentic and often tongue-in-cheek manner.
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