Pineapple Abyss: A Memoir

by Steve Zappa

From his time in the Marine Corps, living in Hawaii, Japan, and Iraq; to his days at Cal State Fullerton, studying literature and philosophy; to half a decade of bingeing on vodka in his unkept apartment, surrounded by grime and empty bottles; Steve Zappa ultimately becomes a patient at a Los Angeles psychiatric hospital during the summer of 2021. As time passes in the psych ward and the fog of excess drifts out of his mind, clarity guides his thoughts toward possibilities beyond the tragedy that awaited him in the days leading up to the police knocking on his door.

Pineapple Abyss is a memoir about deterioration and the will to derail irreparable self-destruction.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Mental Health

114 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 6, 2022

About the author

Steve Zappa is the author of Alma Mendoza: A Novella, and of Pineapple Abyss: A Memoir. He studied literature and philosophy at California State University, Fullerton. He lives in Orange County, California.

Reviews

[Roxy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir is filled with heartache, love, hope, and desperation.

Extremely relatable - especially if you have experience with addiction or addicts - but even on a simplistic human level. Zappa eloquently described some of the most trying experiences any person can endure.

I was engrossed and immediately invested in his personal demons. It is gut wrenching in the best possible way and a very important read.

[Corrine Steck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting story! Beautifully written

[Jenny K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to GoodReads and the ever-so-talented author, Steve Zappa, for my complementary Kindle edition of Pineapple Abyss: A Memoir.

I fell head-over-heels in love with this book… Never wanting to put it down.

It’s such a beautiful thing to witness… When a brave soul shares their personal struggles with the world. Assuring so many individuals, like me, that we are not alone… It’s Priceless! From the bottom of my heart, Thank You Mr Steve Zappa! The world definitely needs more memoirs like THIS!!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pineapple Abyss

A real look at one man’s travels before, during, and after his trip to the psych ward. Brutally honest but not so heavy as to be depressing. But it does give a brief glimpse into mental health struggles, addictions, and fighting for yourself.

#GoodreadsGiveaway

[Elaine Reinhard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent sensitive book. Honest, open and beautifully written. Thank you goodreads for my winning this book.

[Sophia LK · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brutally honest memoir about one man’s experiences with love, loss, depression & hope all while battling addictions. Despite the heavy subject matter, this memoir was a humorous & entertaining read!

[MaryAlice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got Steve Zappa's memoir "Pineapple Abyss," Kindle edition free from a Goodreads giveaway.

I liked it enough to give it 5 stars, but one person's "amazing" is another person's "blah." I decided I would reserve 5 stars for books I would read more than once.

The memoir is short, but powerful. I would love if the author wrote: Memoir Part 2, to see how the rest of his life turns out. I hope he stays sober and finds his special lady.

A very good read.

[♏ Gina☽ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A glimpse into the mind of a man who is an alcoholic - the effect it has on his life, career, mind, and family; his stint in a psych ward in an attempt to get clean and reclaim his life after he calls for help while threatening to take his own life; and his ultimate recovery after being on the brink of death more than once.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a book I received through a Goodreads giveaway for which I had high hopes for. Unfortunately it wasn't at all my cup of tea. I am a lover of personal memoirs but this book bounced back and forth through different stages of the author's life too often for me to keep up with, let alone hold my interest. I found myself not even a quarter of the way through wishing for the end.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this too disjointed to easily follow along with, and it wasn't intriguing enough to want to put in the effort to build the outline.

That said, kudos to the author for making the change and putting in the work.

[Sue :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure about this book but...

I was pleasantly surprised. I hope that someone who needs Steve Zappas message will read this book. Will they be at the place in their lives to get the message? I hope so.

[LibraryLove · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I wanted to like this book, it read like fiction. It was also confusing and needed an editor.

[Misty Biesinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just couldn't get into this one. DNF.

[Julie Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was heartfelt about one man’s struggle with alcoholism. He just tells history, his story as it unfolded for him.

[Terri's Dangerous When Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal, honest, heartfelt. The writing style pulled me in. I wish to thank the author for sharing his difficult story.

[Brandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley, won this from a Goodreads giveaway.

The writing fell flat for me in this one. I usually enjoy recovery stories, but this was really hard to get into.

[Madelynn Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. very easy read that makes me want to give up alcohol forever.

[Haley Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not for me.