The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone

by Adele Griffin

Brilliant young artist. Her mysterious death. Fandom that won't let her go.

From the moment she stepped foot in NYC, Addison Stone’s subversive street art made her someone to watch, and her violent drowning left her fans and critics craving to know more. I conducted interviews with those who knew her best—including close friends, family, teachers, mentors, art dealers, boyfriends, and critics—and retraced the tumultuous path of Addison's life. I hope I can shed new light on what really happened the night of July 28. Fully illustrated.
—Adele Griffin

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Contemporary, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Teen, Art

256 pages, Hardcover

First published August 12, 2014

About the author

from Wikipedia:

Adele Griffin is the author of over thirty highly-acclaimed books across a variety of genres, including Sons of Liberty and Where I Want to Be, both National Book Award Finalists.

Her debut adult novel The Favor explores themes of friendship, surrogacy, and nontraditional family building.

Find her on TikTok at @adelegriffinbooks and Instagram at @adelegriffin or www.adelegriffin.


website: www.adelegriffin.com


Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/adelegriffi...

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adele-G...


Open Road Media interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSa3P...

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone is a gripping read, even though it isn't a pretty story, or a new one. It's a faux-biography in which Addison Stone isn't actually a character. Addison is a stereotype, and telling her story in a traditional format would probably make her both unbearably unsympathetic and (dare I say it) boring.

And so Addison is the subject instead of the protagonist, and her story is told through interviews and magazine photos and newspaper clippings, with occasional insets of her art. It's an amazingly compelling, beautiful format, a great spin on a familiar tale.

By reframing the tortured artist storyline, by painting Addison in her friends' words, in her family's words, and in the words of people who didn't like her very much, The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone becomes much more than story. The novel isn't really about the high-strung young artist who can't handle New York, who takes to to drugs and felonies as if desperate for ever higher highs. It isn't really about her art or the tragedy of her death. It's about the commercialism of her death. It's about the voyeurism of the media and public, about the fascination with celebrity death and with people who don't seem to be afraid of dying. It's about the need to rationalize mental illness and incomprehensible decisions.

In a way, because the end of the story is told first, it's about the inevitable - and the people who don't see it coming - or who look away. And the novel does this without assigning blame, without attempting explanation. Just by attempting honesty.

And in doing so, it arrives, in its own unique way, at truth.

[Melissa McShane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Written as an extended series of interviews with those who knew the brilliant artist Addison Stone, complete with photos and reproductions of her art, this book sketches out the life of a troubled genius whose death is ambiguous and whose life was as fractured as the book’s conceit. Griffin is good at evoking the different personalities and keeping their voices separate, and the whole thing feels very real, as if Addison Stone was a real person whose art you might be able to see in a museum, or in a YouTube video. I’m very impressed with the craft of this novel.

And I really, really disliked it.

If you liked this book, don’t read any further. There are so many good reviews by people who loved it; don’t waste your time reading this one. I’m not kidding. Normally I don’t make that explicit, but I have the feeling that this is the sort of book that will be very meaningful to some readers, and I don’t want to ruin that.

So—I admire the craft, and dislike the content. Some of that is my dislike of Addison Stone herself. For all the excellence of the characterization, this isn’t a book about people; it’s an extended musing on the nature of fame and how we feel about the Beautiful People in the world. It’s, as I wrote, well-crafted and interesting in structure, but all of that conceals the fact that this is not a novel, it is a Statement. To the extent that this is a novel, it's a story about a girl with tremendous talent who wasted her whole life, who was failed utterly by everyone in her life. That’s not laudable no matter how much talent she had or how pretty she was. And yet from the beginning we’re meant to see her life and death as tragic because she was pretty and talented and died young and was tormented. As if this makes her more important, more valued, than other young women who also die young but don’t happen to be cool and interesting.

Some of what I don’t like is the subtext (which is, again, brilliantly done) in which everyone who dislikes Addison does so out of petty reasons, jealousy or greed or thwarted love. But she’s not a very nice person, beneath the veneer; why shouldn’t some of these people have good reason to dislike her? Once again, I think we’re meant to see Addison as truly good and deserving of her accolades, and at this point I have to acknowledge, again, the complexity of the craft. The conceit is that the fictional Adele Griffin curating this collection of ephemera controls what goes into it, so the picture we get of Addison is one constructed by fictional-Griffin. But the novel is also written by real-world-Griffin, which is another layer of complexity, so which one is really controlling what the reader sees? Is real-world-Griffin constructing the fictional version of herself to be enamored of Addison, where she herself has a different opinion? This kind of question is where the novel succeeds for me, because I like complexity, but it’s not enough to make me happy with the story that unfolds.

Central to my discontent is the portrayal of mental illness, which for anyone who is not a fictional tortured genius is a serious, sometimes life-threatening problem that is neither interesting nor clever nor a mark of creativity. While there is some connection between the creative mind and mental illness, most creative people who suffer from it produce their greatest works despite their problems. That Addison’s schizophrenia is portrayed as somehow fuel for her creativity irritates me; it comes across as making her sound cool and tortured rather than seriously ill. But what really bothered me was the conclusion to the story of Addison’s delusions: At the end, Addison’s friend Lucy talks about how the imaginary Ida Grimes and Miss Cal turned out to be real people and shows a photo that pictures Ida in exactly the same pose as Addison had drawn her. What the hell? So Addison wasn’t really delusional, she was just a super creative psychic person whose mental illness made her capable of perceiving things beyond our reality? That’s a slap in the face to every single person who fought and clawed their way out of a nightmare world in which they literally can’t tell the difference between reality and fantasy. It leads directly to the poisonous idea that treatment, particularly in the form of medication, is bad because it suppresses the creative genius the illness really is. I give Griffin credit for accurately portraying Addison’s reaction to being medicated, but that ending ruins the whole plotline.

Though I truly do admire Griffin’s skill as a writer, I found the “Author’s Note” at the end of the series of interviews (Adele Griffin as the fictional interviewer rather than as the real author of the novel) a little disturbing in its attempt to sum up the content of those interviews:

I hope this narrative has sparked an intimate sense of Addison’s life, filled with more scorching creativity than most of us will ever get to experience, even as we cherish, mourn, and remain riveted by her legacy.

Bad enough that I think this undermines the entire novel, which invites the reader to draw her own conclusions about Addison’s life, by essentially telling the reader what she is to take away from it; the implication here is that Addison’s creativity either excuses a multitude of sins or elevates creativity to a virtue the possession of which sets an artist apart from ordinary people. And what legacy, exactly, is it that we’re cherishing? Her art? Her mostly untreated schizophrenia? Her tumultuous love affairs (which, again, are portrayed as markers of what an interesting and complex person she was rather than as signs of a young woman who desperately needs help)? The title is wrong: Addison Stone’s life was finished when she died, because her legacy is not just that of a creative person, it’s of a creative person who was beautiful and exciting and flamboyantly interesting, and had she died at thirty, or fifty, all of that would have burned out and she would have been nothing but a formerly interesting person. Addison Stone is memorable because her life ended when it did. And that’s the real tragedy.

[Hallie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Last new-to-me book for the Book Battle.

I can see two opposing ways of reading this book, broadly speaking. The first is to view it as a critique of celebrity culture, of society’s tendency to worship the Beautiful! The Hot! The Young! The Talented! (and of course even better if those are all rolled into one tortured-artist package), and how that can reduce the person to a consumer commodity. This reading would view the character of Addison Stone as a uniquely gifted girl, who was doomed by her very fame: a tragedy that could have been avoided had society not been so wrong. The second reading, again, very broadly speaking, sees no tragedy at all. In this one, the author has presented the reader with a character who’s merely a bundle of just about every stereotype imaginable, while also making her so astonishingly special that no one who encountered her could fail to be utterly charmed. (With a few minor exceptions who become non-exceptions; a point I’ll address later.) From this perspective, the celebrity culture shrinks to the size of the narrative voice, instead of society's.

If the book had depicted a society that was actually credible, then I might have found the first reading possible – and powerful. IF I’d been able to read and believe that Addison could have been a real person and could have garnered the responses she gets in the book (which is much more than just her winning of scholarships and prizes for her art), then the story might work as her tragedy. It’s important to be clear that I’m fully aware of the many ways in which society does worship at the shrine of celebrity (thereby generating a fortune for the celebrities and not doing too badly for the media either). I’m utterly immune myself, naturally. (Sarcasm! I’m more likely to be spitting brass tacks about bad celebrity behaviour that I hear of second-hand than doing any celebrity following, but I’m not claiming innocence in this regard.) However. I’ll admit that I know less about artists (as, for example, portrait art, like Addison’s) than about actors or musicians (or authors) but what I do know makes the story of Addison’s meteoritic arrival on the art scene of NYC extraordinarily unlikely. Think about the names you can remember as the artists who’ve really shot to fame! – or, do as I did and google “art” and “enfant terrible” – Damien Hirst is the first hit for that, and he is said to have first made his name in 1988 at the age of 23, though it was in the 1990s that he became prominent. Tracey Emin is another of the “Young British Artists”, and was 25 in 1988, while she’s probably popularly best known for the “My Bed” installation that got her a Turner Prize nomination in 1999. The daughter of a friend was short-listed for the Turner Prize in 2014, and she’s in her 30s – the others on the list were in their 30s or 40s. Granted that’s the UK, not New York, but again, I do know people living in NYC in the art world and would love to hear the guffawing that would happen if they were to read the supposed reactions to Addison’s art, as presented both through descriptions and the pictures included in the book. (I still cannot believe that she’s supposed to have won a major prize – scholarship? – for the portrait of her school principal with “MOM” written above her head. Or the puerile “Bloody Sophie”, although that was more “Wow – shocking!!”, since she’d achieved fame by then.)

Even if I were somehow able to convince myself that the art world’s cult of personality/celebrity worship/whatever did actually work as it does in the book, there’s simply so much adulation from everyone in all walks of life that it implodes. How about a partial list of the people unable to resist the magic that was Addison? 1) Her creative-writing teacher in the Pratt Institute (who is, btw, a fictional Adele Griffin): rude, pretentious teen who drops the class after one session becomes unforgettable, just for that. 2) The mortitian who has been “preparing the deceased” for thirty-five years: has never seen “such life” in a dead girl’s face. 3) Her first-grade teacher, who sent an email to all the other teachers in the school about the amazing Addison: “Her presence was older than her years […] She was already destined for bigger things” 4) The psychiatrist who was consulted when Addison became psychotic, and who diagnosed her via one Skype conversation: even in that state she was “charismatic and engaging”. 5) Celebrity DJ who has “spun at countless gigs”: “that night was a standout crowd. And Addison was a standout in that crowd.” I could go on (and on), but I’ll finish with a return to the fictional Adele Griffin, whose conclusion includes “All artists aspire to a kind of immortality […] Addison Stone now seems marked for both death and deity”.

By creating a character who is so, so far beyond brilliant, charismatic, irresistible, one who doesn’t merely achieve immortality through her art but deity, the author has drastically overshot the mark, and as a consequence, only shown how she reacts to Addison. Not how the art world would/has, not how the wider world of celebrity watchers would/has. You simply can’t critique something without having a degree of detachment about what you’re supposedly critiquing. Much satire does work through extreme exaggeration, but it’s usually funny, and always exhibits the awareness that it’s ridiculing by excess. Think Connie Willis’s Bellwether or the film Clueless. The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone takes itself and its subject matter, and indeed, its very form, with quite deadly seriousness.

Given that I’ve pointed out the fact that I found almost every character in the book to be a stereotype, and declared that Addison would have been extremely unlikely to burn quite so bright, so young, I think it’s pretty obvious that I’m not impressed by the execution of the book. What about the form, though? What about the potentially intriguing device of the real-world author appearing as a fictional character and author of the frame narrative? That it’s a biography and also an extended piece of investigative journalism about Addison Stone, attempting to delve into the mystery of her death, with her two ex-boyfriends “possibly culpable”? It is intriguing, and I often love a good frame narrative. I can admire the author’s utter dedication to the format she chose, while admiring much less the lack of upfront credit for the artists who did the sketches and paintings for the book. It was only when I was partway through that it suddenly struck me that it makes no sense on any level. If the fictional Adele Griffin was teaching creative writing and thought of her former student while stuck for an idea for her next book, then biography or investigative journalism seem an unlikely choice. More than that though, who has ever picked up a biography and read just the direct words of interviewees, with a very small number of “Author’s Notes” sprinkled throughout? The inside-the-frame author claims that the interviews have been “edited”, but that still is not a biography, which is in my mind a striking failure, right in itself.

I said I’d come back to the question of the very small number of characters who criticized Addison. Most of the time, they’re shown through their own words to be petty or jealous, rather than clear-sighted, as for example, the ex of Addison’s first boyfriend. On the few occasions when a view of Addison that is actually critical but from a friendly source surfaces, like, say, that she was unkind to her mother, there are always voices “excusing” that, by piling on the criticisms of her mother: saying how useless she was, how ineffectual, how ungrateful of the “extraordinary blessing” having such a brilliant daughter was. That last from the art teacher who, along with his wife, considered Addison his own because he did recognize her genius. Her cousin, who was sometimes critical of Addison, is nonetheless harsh about the mother’s ineffectualness in the face of Addison’s psychotic break. The psychiatrist, who initially missed Addison’s real mental illness, said if her mother had been “truly in a red-alarm state of worry, she should have brought Addison right to me”. And on and on. Addison steals stuff and then sometimes gives it as gifts to other people? Her friend Lucy says she believed that “a clean heist is art”. The lovely gay bff roommate said the attacks on her ex Zachary got out of hand? He wishes he’d been able to stop the worst excesses. (Responsibility shifted again.) Even Lincoln, her last boyfriend and the one she is supposed to have truly loved, talks sadly but truthfully about how he couldn’t either fix her or stay and be sucked into the vortex of instability and destruction her life became. Yet he was introduced to us very early in the book as potentially to blame for Addison’s death, if not her actual murderer. Even though the last Author’s Note says that neither he nor Zachary was still under suspicion, there’s too much loading of the narrative to see him as absolved for leaving her. Or at least there’s a strong implication that if he’d been stronger, less selfish - better, then he could have saved her. (To be clear again, I think the narrative is so caught up in the Addison mystique and tragedy it presents, that it does end up holding him at least partially culpable, even while paying lip-service to the idea that nobody should sacrifice their life to another whose needs the sacrifice will never fill.)

After reading Melissa’s wonderful review, I felt somewhat uneasy about the fact that I hadn't found one thing I admired about the book. Possibly I should have tried harder, but the more I thought about it, the more I found to dislike. At least I read all the way to the final acknowledgments before looking into what the (non-fictional) author said about the impulse behind the book, her muses, and fame. Or, to be honest, before my daughter (researcher extraordinaire) looked into it for me. I'd really had all I could take at that point.

[Neil Franz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

I do like mysteries and The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone is a mystery novel worth reading for, at least in my opinion. I did solely sign-up for the mystery of why Addison Stone's life had been unfinished yet eventually I was lured by the interesting, admiring and kinda frustrating life of her; which has been told by the different people related to her, in one way or another.

Addison Stone is an art genius. Within the book, her arts, especially portraits have been admired by many people and have been described as one of the best; I mean her paintings and drawings have the uniqueness, the depth. She is one-of-a-kind girl. For me, she is like Alaska Young for doing crazies and pranks. She is like Mara Dyer for she can hear voices of dead people and see them. I can feel the same creepiness for the both of her. And her story is like Gone Girl but with a twist. So, in my preference, Addison Stone is an interesting character with an interesting life story. I did enjoy reading this book. And by 'enjoy' it may mean so many things.

Anyhow, just like Peculiar Children and Asylum, this book contained pictures but of Addison of course, and some people in her life. The writing style of the book is in different POVs since it was in an interview-type format which actually delivered. It wasn't boring 'cause it felt like they telling a story. I, actually like how every person related to Addison precisely described her and her life for what they really saw about her. And I like how themselves had been described too.

I just don't like like the ending. I am anticipating a shocking one but didn't get any. But at least it really made sense.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is awesome. It's a mystery, but it's also not a mystery at all. Addison is a hot-to-trot artist everyone wants a piece of, but that's the problem in and of itself. When she dies under mysterious circumstances, everyone wants to tell their side of her story and everyone wants to point fingers at the other people in her life.

But Addison had a number of her own problems, including, but not limited to, the pressure of being a young and upcoming female artist, being haunted by ghosts and by her mental illness , by being torn between relationships she does/not want to pursue, and more. She's built this identity, but can she maintain it? Does she want to? Who is the performance for, herself or for others?

We don't get Addison's voice much in the story. We get her voices through other people's filtered and biased lenses. We see greed and we see what looks like genuine care and concern -- and we also see where there is and is not follow through on each.

The art in the book tells the story as much as the interviews as part of the investigation do. It's a neat and effective use of mixed media, as we see the allure and pull of Addison right along with those owning a piece of a story that ultimately isn't one that's theirs to tell .

This one's a winner. Longer review to come!

[Elizabeth Kiem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer - I read this book as an ARC because I share a publisher/editor with Adele. I picked it up because of the photographs. I am a sucker for docu-fiction. Two days later I wrote to our mutual editor: "This is the best thing Soho Teen has published."

I mean it.

This book will have a cult following. Of this I am sure. It is fascinating, unique portrait ... not just of a talented troubled young artist, but of all the personal prisms through which she is observed.

[rowen ♥︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was incredible, i loved it from start to finish. the formatting was so unique and the photos of addison really gave the character life, and made me feel all the more sad at the ending, even though the whole premise was that she passed. when her death was described, i did cry, because it was so symbolic and beautiful, just like her. although addison passed, i enjoyed getting to know her through those who knew her immensely. her love for lincoln was timeless, and she told him that even in her last moments. she was a perfect portrayal of a tortured artist and in the face of death she never faltered, even when it overtook her. somehow, hearing about her through others was even more powerful than perhaps hearing it through first-person pov or otherwise. the unfinished life of addison stone is definitely one of my top books this year, and i’m so glad i came back to it after originally starting it in 2016-17 and not finishing. i just appreciated its beauty so much more this time around. amazing book. could not have been better.

[Geoff Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Griffin is one of the most engaging, original voices in YA. Incredible characters and her knack for tone is brilliant. Couldn't put it down.

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Addison Stone takes the art world by storm with her hanging drawings and magnetic personality. Her death is a tragedy of unfulfilled talent leaving behind friends, family, fans and detractors. But who was she? Writer Adele Griffin inserts herself into the story as biographer of the fictional character, attempting to discover what made and unmade the teenager through a series of interviews with those who knew Addison best.

I love a fresh or unconventional take on storytelling and Griffin does just that with THE UNFINISHED LIFE OF ADDISON STONE. She includes photos, drawings, newspaper articles to help tell Addison's story. Unfortunately, Kindle doesn't do the best job depicting images, and I gave up trying to read the newspaper articles because I couldn't expand the words to read them more clearly. I wish I could have also enlarged the drawings and photos. I didn't let formatting effect my review, because that's not Griffin's fault. The aspect of the images I do fault is the quality of the drawings. Addison was supposed to be this once-in-a-lifetime artist, but the drawings looked amateurish and not at all deep or haunting.

From the way others described Addison, she seemed quite unlikable, even as a child. Of course, mental illness could have contributed to her self indulgence and narcissism. Diagnosed as schizophrenic, she seemed more schizoaffective to me, with her mood swings, which is ironic because another character was schizoaffective. Addison Stone was a tragic character due to bad parenting, mental illness and being treated special because of her talents. She used people and people used her.

THE UNFINISHED LIFE OF ADDISON STONE shows the versatility of Griffin as a storyteller. If you're looking for a different type reading experience you'll enjoy this.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a story about a brilliant young artist, told entirely from the POV of the many other folks in and around her life (before she died). The result: many, many MANY pages of other characters going on (and on. and on) about how cool and awesome and beautiful and mysterious and troubled this girl was. Gush gush gush. Swoon swoon swoon. I get that this was kind of the point - to consider how everyone took their own ideas of who Addison and ran with it, often to the detriment of Addison's health and well-being - but the praise and idolization was too overblown for me to take seriously.

[ᒪᗴᗩᕼ · Rating 3 out of 5]

BOOK TAGS⤏ 3.5 ✰STARS✰ ⤏ ARTIST WHO BURNS BRIGHT ⤏ MENTAL ILLNESS ⤏ DAMAGED PEOPLE FALLING FOR EACH OTHER ⤏ FANS OF DAISY JONES COULD LIKE THIS ⤏ FULL CAST NARRATION


MY THOUGHTS⇣

When I read the synopsis for this book, I thought, ohhh, this reminds me of Daisy Jones & the Six. With the interview style audio and a full-cast to recite it. Sounds enticing...and the audio does play out really similar to Daisy Jones...but the story overall lacked something...like a definitive ending or just something that pulls you in and gets you invested in the story.

Addison Stone felt like a real person, not a made-up one. One of those people who burns so bright...and then, sadly, burns out way too young. Her story is one that plays out for real all the time, sadly. Maybe, that is supposed to be the pull, but maybe, for me, that wasn't quite enough. The full-cast narration was terrific, though, and that alone made this an engaging listen.

BOOK DETAILS⇣
AUDIO PERFORMED BY⇢ AMY RUBINATE, CAROLINE SHAFFER, HILLARY HUBER, JORJEANA MARIE, WILL DAMRON & KIRBY HEYBOURNE + A FULL-CAST
NARRATION RATING⇢ 5/5
THE COVER STORY⤏ FILM REEL...FOR AN ARTIST
SOURCE⇢ LIBBY AUDIOBOOK (LIBRARY)
AUDIOBOOK LENGTH⇢ 6 HOURS, 54 MINUTES

BREAKDOWN⇣
Plot⇢ 3/5
Characters⇢ 4.3/5
The Feels⇢ 3.5/5
Pacing⇢ 4/5
Addictiveness⇢ 4/5
Theme or Tone⇢ 4/5
Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 4/5
World-Building⇢ 4/5
Originality⇢ 4/5
Ending⇢ 3/5

[Brittany Bee Books · Rating 1 out of 5]

No. Just no.


I hated this "book" (using that term loosely here, folks...)

There were a lot of issues I took with it, but the two biggest ones were the AWFUL characters and the romanticizing of mental illness. Gross.

I would skip this one. (Book club read)

[Paige Pagnotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book. Wow. I really did not want to put this book down until I had reached the end, so going to work when I was halfway through it felt quite torturous. As soon as I got home, I sat and finished it.

This may or may not contain spoilers (depending on your definition of the term)...so just to be safe...

First, I adored the visual components to this book. They really contributed to the overall mood and helped me form a solid picture of the characters as well as Addison's talents. I can see why some may feel that it takes away from their ability to imagine the characters in their mind however they want, but I love that the author chose to include so many pictures and really feel that it suited this novel nicely.

That being said, the pictures were a little deceiving (at least to me)! I started this book knowing very little about it...to be honest I just loved the cover and some "book people" whose opinions I trust had it on their to-read shelves, so I figured WHY NOT. I paid little attention to the genre, not realizing it is a fiction novel. Throughout the prologue and entire first chapter, I thought Addison Stone was a real person. The pictures that are included made her seem even more real, so I didn't even question it. It wasn't until I googled her name that I realized she is purely a work of Griffin's imagination.



This surprised me at first, because as you read the book you get such a full picture of who Addison Stone was (at least in relation to those in her life who chose to interviewed), that she seems so tangible.

Even though I quickly realized The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone is a work of fiction, Addison still felt real to me throughout the rest of the novel. Adele Griffin did a great job writing realistic, fascinating characters. I found myself interested in what each of them had to say. I also liked the interview format of the book and the way it allows you to hear so many varying perspectives...though it did take a little getting used to.

I loved this book and will likely remember Addison Stone for a long time.

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book through the Amazon Vine program to review. This book was a breath of fresh air after reading a number of rather mediocre books over the last couple weeks.

This was a very well done fictional biography about an eighteen year old girl named Addison Stone who was gaining fame as an artist when she died. The book is a series of interviews with people who knew her and excerpts from interviews with her. There is a lot of speculation as to whether her death was an accident, suicide, or something else.

This book was incredibly engaging and impossible to put down. I just had to know Addison Stone's history and had to understand her and how she died. I could not put this book down.

I really really enjoyed this book. As mentioned the book is a collection of interviews with friends, family, and Addison’s agent. There are photos and interviews of Addison Stone taken from art magazines that interviewed her. I really enjoyed the candid photographs of these imaginary “real-life” people, they make the story and history feel completely real.

This book takes a look at a number of topics: the art world, fame, and mental illness. Addison Stone is a genius at art, but it comes with a cost. She is constantly haunted by voices, especially the voice of a young girl named Ida. Addison descends into madness but then comes back and goes on to be a wildly successful artist. Of course her success is only half the story.

Overall I really loved this book. It was cleverly done, different, and absolutely engrossing. By the end I was convinced that Addison Stone was a real person (even though she’s not). This book was impossible to put down and I highly recommend it to readers of all ages.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read many docu-novels. In fact, I could count how many on one hand. I have to say that after reading this one that there should be more docu-novels. This book is my first introduction to author, Adele Griffin. Wow, Mrs. Griffin can write. For a spilt moment I actually believed that this book was based on a real person. This is kudos to the author's writing skills and how well this book was put together. I read that the author was thinking of just writing the docu-novel and then she imagined Addison as a real person, so she added pictures and artwork of Addison's. This is what pushed the book over the top for me. If it had just been a book it would have been fine but the pictures really helped tell the story.

I liked the way that the author presented this book in interview format with the interviews being short. It was like having conversations with the people. I felt like I was there listening to all of Addison's friends and family remember her life. No matter how you slice it up, the end result is still tragic. A young life was taken so soon in the peak time. Addison is forever remembered in The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone.

[Nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel a little generous giving this three stars. I didn't dislike it, I guess, just found it kind of directionless and uninspiring. I felt many of the characters interviewed for the book had voices that were either stereotypical or just so weirdly out-there that they didn't sound like real people to me. There must be some balance in between "cliché" and "too bizarre to be believable," right? And while I felt for Addison, especially in her struggling with mental illness, I also found her frustrating.

Oh well. I was grateful to be given an ARC of this at an event where people from Soho Press were speaking. I like the concept, with the photographs and paintings and so on. Just didn't end up being that into the writing or Addison's story.

Next book!

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

wer schreibt den bitte eine Biografie über eine person die es nie gab? und warum hat diese Person soo viel illegales gemacht ohne je ärger dafür zu bekommen?
irgendwie war sie einfach nur ein verwirrtes mädchen.

[Jillian Ferry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is quite a different book. An artist dies and those that knew her are interviewed to tell about her life. The book has pictures and paintings that make the characters seem like real people.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer- I received a copy of this book as a part of a Goodreads giveaway. However, the opinions expressed in the following review are entirely my own.

Firstly, I loved this book. And would and probably read it again. I had never read Docu-fiction before, so that was intriguing to me. The story-line was the second thing that made me what to read this book.

The story outlines the young life of Addison Stone and her journey as both an artist and a young adult struggling with mental illness. The reader meets Addison through the eyes of others- interviews, emails, text messages and candid photographs. I believe this is what I loved most about this book - the way the story is told in itself. We meet all of these unique characters with their own opinions of Addison - some not entirely positive. Each character is so developed with their own personalities that it is sometimes difficult to keep track of who is who and how they relate to Addy. I believe that this enhances the reading instead of confusing it. After all, there are countless people in our own lives that we have trouble keeping track of.

The reader is introduced to Addison as an artist through visual aids throughout the book- if a sketch, drawing or painting is discussed in an interview then we see it within the pages. I believe this element breaths life into Addison making her seem like a real person. At times I quested whether of not Addy was real - and even searched for her on the internet. (I think that proves fantastic storytelling right there!)

I thought the plotline was moving and kept me wondering what happened to Addison even after I finished the last page. In another review of this book it is said that the story is a sad one - ultimately because of Addison's untimely death in the end. And since opinions can't be wrong, I have a different one. The end of the story doesn't feel like the end of Addison's life. She is alive in the hearts and minds of all of the character's in the book, as well as in all of the visual aids. It feels like life has been breathed back into her through the telling of her life. So I don't feel saddened by the end of the novel- I feel lucky to have met Addison- which knowing her and her love for attention is what she would have wanted.

I can also sympathize with her struggles through out the novel, whether it be with her mental illness or her broken heart. I can relate to the character which I think it is important in any story - but especially in this story.

So as I said previously, I really enjoyed this book. It comes highly recommended from me.
I would also like to tip my hat at Adele Griffin - fantastic storytelling.
*She also signed my book, and that personal touch made me love her as an author even more.

[Margarita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the most unique and creative book that I have ever encountered. With the help of model pictures and donated pieces of art, Adele Griffin has been able to create the most realistic fictional-documented story I have ever read.

It always amazes me when I read a book where the main character's voice is barely present in the story, but, her presence, essence and livelihood is. With the supporting characters, the model who poses as Addison Stone, the website, etc. - they all bring together an unforgettable story dedicated to a girl who was, who could have been and who will live on.

Addison Stone's story is told by multiple points-of-views, her parents, brother, best friends, ex-boyfriends, colleagues and others; and when you start to think that the author could not possibly introduce us to another 'person', she does, and does so brilliantly. There never once was any confusion as to who was who. Each character brings in their own voice and gives life to who Addison Stone was. Often times I found myself wanting to go on the internet to connect to their stories and timelines, just to be reminded that this is all fictional...

The mystery as to what happened to Addison Stone, how and why she died, starts to unravel very quickly. She was consumed by creativity and passion. So much so, it became difficult to read her low and manic points... it becomes obvious as to who her true friends are; those who cared the most speak freely and genuinely. Others who were guarded and too frank were too quick to point the finger and claim innocence to any negativity in her life, it was obvious that truths were being twisted and reimagined. But overall, everyone's take did add up to create a realistic personality.

There is so much to say about this book! I could go on and on, but it would be so much simpler if you all were to go and read it for yourself so we can discuss it! I highly recommend this! Especially to those who love contemporary and/or documentaries.


* An ARC was sent by the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Unfinished Life Of Addison Stone
By
Adele Griffin



What it's all about...

Addison Stone...a rather very dramatic artist...is dead. This is a book about her life and also about how she became dead.

Where it all takes place...

This book begins at her death and at her funeral and meanders throughout her life...through interviews we are able to see all parts of her life...school, family, and friends.

When much of it happens...

Most of the book is the story of her life...her brief life.

Which characters had the most impact on me...

I think Addison herself had the most impact on me. I literally stopped midway through to google her to see if I was reading a biography or a novel. She seemed to be one of those highly aggravating people who could charm as well as annoy her friends and her family. She was an amazing artist. She was a model...she designed her clothing...she stole clothing...she performed scary stunts...swinging on chandeliers was one of these stunts.

Whom did I appreciate the most...

While reading this book I felt my heart go out to Lucy...her best friend...when she needed to just be normal...she could always crash at Lucy's house. Oh...I loved Erickson, too. The perfect New York friend for Addison...wealthy, gay and sweet.

Whom did I appreciate the least...

Probably I appreciated Addison the least but that is always the way I feel when talent is wasted.

Why I wanted to read this book...

I loved the cover of this book and the idea of it was fascinating.

What made me truly enjoy this book...

What I really loved was reading it up to its halfway mark and then stopping to google Addison Stone. The way this book is written...clippings, interviews, photos and Addison's artwork...is truly brilliant. I loved it and I don't like reading biographies This is not a biography but it sort of reads like one and I still loved it.

Why you should read it, too...

Truly...this book should be read because it's fascinating...simply put it's a fascinating way to read a novel.

[ExLibris_Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading The Unfinished Life Of Addison Stone, I had to stop and look up whether this was actually a true story or not. (It’s fiction, by the way.) Complete with artwork, photos, and excerpts from interviews with friends, boyfriends, and family members, Addison Stone’s brief and tumultuous career is laid out like a tell-all book. The mystery surrounding her last hours is the impetus for the fictional investigation and it quickly paints a picture of a very talented artist, but one who suffers from mental illness. We also get to hear about Addison in her own words through old interviews from magazines that cover the New York art scene. It would have been very easy for Addison’s character to go the way of the “quirky, disturbed girl with the tragic ending” but I think the approach of this book saved her from becoming that. Rather, we get to know her from every angle; best friend, art student, lover, and ‘wild child’. That multi-angled view of her made the story of her unraveling extremely engrossing.

For those who love reading non-fiction, this is a perfect bridge book because, although it is fiction, it reads like investigative journalism. In fact, it’s so well done that I had to remind myself a few times that this didn’t actually happen. While the style made me feel a bit disconnected from Addison, I am awed by the amount of world building that had to go into writing this story. It’s one thing to write in a narrative style, but to create an event and drill down deeply enough to create an investigative story seems like an entirely different type of world creation. The photos and art samples that were a part of the book added to the feeling that you were reading about a real life that was cut short. The Unfinished Life Of Addison Stone was interesting and compelling. In the hands of any other author I’m not sure how it would have played out, but Adele Griffin managed to write something that made me wonder where the line between fiction and non-fiction was located or whether it even existed at all.

[nightlyreadingheather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was initially intrigued by the blurb of this book and was interested to learn all about Miss Addison Stone. What I learned was that this young girl, so full of life, had her share of problems just like the rest of us.

Addison was an up and coming brilliant artist. One to watch and boy did people watch. When she walked in the room, every eye was on her. It wasn't that she was beautiful, which she was, but the way that she carried herself with confidence that not a single person was better than her.

This book is chalked full of interviews from every person that had a hand in Addison's life, trying to piece the time she spent here back together and let the world know whom she really was.

I thought the way the book was written was BRILLIANT!!! I loved every second of it and found myself reading every chance that I could get to find out more about this mysterious girl.

The story itself is very sad and it is kind of a wake up call to all of us to keep an eye on our children, friends and family at all times. you never know when we could lose them and to cherish the moments that we have together.

Check out my video about Addison & her best friend Lulu on Youtube:
http://youtu.be/7HILIP8Lt-s

[Erin Cataldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED the concept for this book. It was totally engrossing and unique. Tens are going to eat this shit up! This story pieces together the life of Addison Stone through interviews, emails, articles, photographs, and paintings. Addison was a famous New York Artist who tragically died when she was only 18, this book attempts to piece together her life from people who knew her best or thought they knew her. Addison came from humble beginnings with a broken home and some severe mental problems. Art was her escape. When she was 17 she won some major art scholarships that enabled her to study in New York. She promptly became a splash and the next IT girl. New friends, new lovers, and new artwork awaited her, but her mental problems followed her to the city. This is her story, not in her own words but in the words of the people that surrounded her.

I loved the mix of narrative and art in this book, it makes it read even faster. For fans of young fiction and the New York art scene.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here's the deal. I didn't like this. It entertained me a little, during the actual reading process, but I didn't like it, or anyone in it. No one felt real; rather, every character seemed to be the glimmering archetype of every cliché. And ultimately, it's kind of a flat journey. I didn't feel any highs or lows, and while the conclusion isn't strictly unsatisfying—there are no unanswered threads or sudden improbable leaps—it does feel just...meh. I'm only giving it two stars for two reasons: the format was interesting, something I haven't seen before (not saying it's inherently unique and the first of its kind; it's the first I personally have stumbled upon), plus hello pictures and inserts (I am shallow and actually a 5 year old, I like pictures sometimes okay??); and it was at least well written enough that I didn't want to claw my eyes out halfway through or feel like I absolutely couldn't read anymore.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love!

Addison Stone is a young artist who makes it big--she's the talk of New York City, dating the high society darlings, and her artwork sells for thousands. But, underneath it all, she's suffering from mental illness. The first page begins with a copy of her obituary. Was she murdered? Did she commit suicide? Was her fall from the bridge an accident?

Told in snippets of interviews, the book seems oh so real. The book is a piece of art--photographs of a striking Addison with her friends, copies of emails, and her paintings and drawings. This book is getting some Printz attention, I'm sure, for voice and design. It's unique and I loved it.

[Lindsay Coppens · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept of this book is so great: a writer trying to piece together a young artist's life and tragic death through a series of interviews with everyone who knew her. The result is a book of transcripts, media clippings, photographs, and paintings that feels almost like a case file. The images are vibrant, the paintings gripping, but the problem was pretty much every voice and every article didn't sound real. I was never convinced that if these people were real that they would actually speak and think the way the author presented them. So many of the characters felt like caricatures that I could never get lost in the narrative.

[Sarah Ludwig · Rating 2 out of 5]

Literally closed the book and said "meh." This is a gorgeous book and well-made. There are a few plot holes that I noticed, but I would have gotten over that had the story been satisfying. I kept waiting for the big reveal, the big piece of the mystery. But that never came, and so the ending felt incredibly flat. I wasn't sure what we were supposed to think about Addison. She's a complex character, but unsympathetic, in my opinion. I think this would hold my students' interest, and it actually did hold mine, too, but that's because I was waiting for a big payoff that never came.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'ai totalement adoré! je crois que ce sera mon coup de coeur du mois de janvier!

Addison Stone (Même étant un personnage fictif) a eu un si grand impact sur moi, tout comme sur les personnes qui l'ont côtoyé! Elle est belle, talentueuse , elle sort des normes & surtout assez perturbée.

Ce n'est franchement pas mon genre de lecture habituelle mais là, je suis choquée de voir à quel point ce roman m'a plu!

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool concept well designed and pulled off successfully. I am too old and grumpy to suspend disbelief about this young lady's many art achievements, so I didn't read the whole thing. But it's inspired by the oral history of Edie Sedgewick that I devoured as a teenager, so points for style. Kids, once you are done with this one, read that one for actual art star misbehavior.