i've always been really fascinated by james dean's story. there was something about him that spoke to me on a personal level, something i could relate to. whether that was about his constant fight with himself, his intense passion for the arts, and a search for meaning in life, i'm not sure. but in any case, reading this novel was practically life-changing. it opened the floodgates of an intense interest in dean's story that i don't think would have been as strong as it is now if i hadn't discovered this book and started reading it online. i was so in love with it i had to dig through the internet for a copy, even going to my local B&N at the time to see if there was any possible chance they had this book there (of course, they didn't, as it isn't in print any more).

bast's account of his life, dean's life, and their lives together is insanely intriguing and presents a unique perspective on the narrative of dean's life, which, from other biographies i've read and articles i've gone through, doesn't rehash the same stories a lot of people repeat. it's honest, vulnerable, and critical while also being loving of james dean as a person. he was, insanely, flawed. bro NEEDED a therapist. DIRELY. and there were so many parts where i went woah. james. lord. that's queer af. and parts where i went Woah. James. That's WEIRD af. 

in conclusion, since i could probably go on for ages talking about this book, if you are interested in the story of james dean, read this. a lot of biographies and accounts of his story are hard to know if they're true or not. i would say this is the case for this book as well, but given the honesty and rawness of this book it would be hard to say it is completely false. if anything, it's probably the most honest-seeming account of one's experience with dean that i have read yet. anyway. READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!