Gray

"Sometimes, late at night in the hotel room, after the lights have gone out and the mistakes have already been made, when it is heavy and silent and still, I like awake and listen to my pulse on the pillow."

Not to be mistaken as an autobiography, Gray is work of fiction that bears a strong resemblance to Pete Wentz's life. While some characters were puzzling to place, such The Disaster, the character nicknamed "Animal" shares very similar qualities to Fall Out Boy's drummer Andy Hurley. Several factual events develop throughout the novel, such as Wentz's long-time, emotional roller coaster of an affair with an ex-girlfriend and his overdose. Fans of Fall Out Boy's music can catch several references to songs within the text, specifically in relations to how the narrator portrays the situation that he is in.

Gray is an excellent portrayal of the trials of stardom. Throughout the novel you follow the narrator's struggles to come to terms with the new life he is given, as the demons from his past still continue to haunt him. He battles with a drug addiction that leads to an eventual overdose, and fights against the mental anguish of depression. The narrator gives crippling accounts of the toll this all takes on him as he battles through the highs and lows. He has no difficulties coming to terms with his own issues when he skims rock bottom: "...I'm crashing, and I need help. Call the doctors. Bring on the meds. If I'm going to lip through life, I might as well use a chemical crutch."

While some fans were disappointed that Gray was not a piece of non-fiction, it should not be discredited. It is a fairly easy, yet emotional read that can draw you in and envoke some of the stronger emotions within you. It is definitely worth the read.