"Exceptionally informative and thoroughly ''reader friendly'' in organization and presentation, this detailed and in-depth biography of Kurt Cobain by Kelly Catlin is a ''must'' for the legions of Cobain fans. '' Kurt Cobain: Forever In Bloom'' is especially and unreservedly recommended addition to community and college/university library 20th Century American Biography/Memoir collections." --Midwest Book Review "My fondest, most lasting memory of Kurt is the slight, yet profound and intelligent smile he would share with you. He could be sullen, bedraggled, and troubled but that smile would always arise like a gentle ray through a thicket. It would even shine through his eyes like some holistic essence. It allowed you to feel his genuine kindness and concern for all the misfits of the world, those victimized by any aspect of injustice. Kurt exemplified their voice, a raging, heart-struck, beautiful tenor. Thank you Kelly Catlin for celebrating this remarkable boy in such a loving, passionate book.
" --Thurston Moore, Sonic Youth "Kelly Catlin''s book, Forever in Bloom , takes a look at Kurt Cobain in a vastly different way than the dozens of other books about my friend Kurt Cobain. It showcases the compassionate and thoughtful human being that he was rather than the cliched depictions of Kurt as a vastly depressed genius. This amazing book on Kurt Cobain will be remembered forever because of its pure empathy and humor within its pages! Catlin pulled out all the stops on how down-to-earth that Cobain actually was! Genius!" --Carlos "Cake" Nunez, Kurt''s friend and writer for fLiPSiDE Fanzine " Forever in Bloom : I usually don''t endorse a book about a subject I know nothing about but guess what? I know about this and I''ve got to say it''s a pretty good read and you should pick up a copy." --Original Nirvana drummer, Aaron Burckhard "This book remembers my friend Kurt as the kind, funny, compassionate person he truly was. It''s nice to see something that finally celebrates him. Read this book if you want to know just how important Kurt was and still is to so many people." --Greg Hokanson, Kurt''s friend and drummer for his first band, Fecal Matter "Kurt Cobain exists like a silhouette in this book. His presence and persona casts a shadow that you can almost feel exuding from these pages.
" --Raymond Flotat, mxdwn.com "You would expect a book about Kurt Cobain to make you cry. But Kelly Catlin''s Kurt Cobain: Forever in Bloom pushes it a notch up by making you feel hopeful, too. Released on what would''ve been Cobain''s 58th birthday, this rock biography has become a tribute that reckons and rehumanizes. Catlin, a first-time author and musician, was inspired to write the book after losing her relative Walter to suicide. "Had [Walter] been famous," she writes, "I would have wanted him to be remembered for all the good that he did, and not just his depression." That became the heart of her mission: to show that Cobain wasn''t just a "tortured artist," but a father, feminist, cat midwife (yes, really), and fierce advocate for the misunderstood. Through interviews with people who knew him before and after fame, his bandmates, indie artists, and childhood friends, Catlin turns "Cobain" into "Kurt.
" She writes about his vulnerability, his humor, and his empathy with subtle reverence. One quote stood out to me from the MTV Unplugged section: "There''s a concealed pain that''s evident as he sang, a pain that no amount of music or art could release." The book unearths Kurt and finds him like never before, while uplifting a part of him that reflects back to our own hidden, fearful truths. Catlin also puts her money where her message is. The book donates half of its proceeds to suicide prevention, wildlife protection, and food programs in Kurt''s hometown of Aberdeen. She''s even leading the charge to save the iconic North Aberdeen Bridge, arguing, "The point isn''t whether Kurt slept beneath the bridge--it''s that Kurt is synonymous with this location and his ethos is felt deeply in this spot." This fan''s homage reclaims the star''s legacy. If you''ve ever loved Nirvana, questioned the cost of fame, or needed a reason to believe in people again, this book is for you.
Forever in Bloom roots for the mourned star, keeping it burning and blooming alive forever." --Illustrate Magazine.