Zoo Station: The Story of Christiane F. (True Stories) Paperback – January 1, 2013

This genre is not for the faint-of-heart. It is dark, gritty and exactly waht you would imagine. It is sad because it is real and true and it happens everyday. It is even sadder because the entire situation is brought-about voluntarily, the intial scenes are all self-inflicted. The rest of addiction isn't though... So it is a timeless story, always was, and always will be true. But the creepiest thing is that it is very haunting. Snippets stick in your mind, cluttering around with really harsh details that last a very long time, emblazoned in your memory. I wish things would work out. After every re-laps I wanted Christiana to get better, you want her to get help and to stay clean. But she can't. Sadly she can't quit. She is a dope fiend forever. It is a great book to understand this position and this harsh reality. The reality is in-your-face, screaming at you, driving 90 miles an hour down a freeway, and no hears it. I really really recommend it, if you can overcome the cruel dark, monster aspect of the belly of the beast, and how humanity succumbs and feeds its addictions and vices. What an absolutely remarkable story. It is a fantastic book for this genre.

I came across the film first before I knew there even was a movie and WOW. The film was pretty spot on with the occurrences with Christiane but a lot of differences too. The book is far more detailed and gives more insight of Christiane’s downfall and in more in depth of how her addiction started. The book was absolutely heart crushing, depressing, dark and helpless. But also you feel hope that maybe they’ll get their happy ending. I couldn’t help but feet so much pity for Christiane and Detlef, as well as all the other children who were involved throughout the story. It’s a MUST READ.

What an unbelievably sad documentary of this girl's innocence lost to Berlin's underground heroin and child prostitution scene circa 1978. Even though this story was translated from German to English, the details and prose are not lost and are plenty sufficient to get into the mind of this girl and her tragic life. One has to step away from this memoir and lay blame where it belongs. Regardless of the struggles and financial hardship of her mother, there is certainly no conceivable excuse for her allowing a 13 year old girl to wander the streets, subways and clubs of Berlin or to start sleeping with a 16 year old boyfriend in their own home. No amount of secular parenting at any level could conceive of such permissiveness, especially 35 years ago. That her mother tepidly acknowledges the error in her ways will never bring back the childhood innocence that Christiane never gets to experience.This is a harrowing account of one girl's desire to be accepted and loved and her willingness to risk anything for it. It's a disturbing read that one must be at least partially prepared for.

Great book! I first saw the film Christiane F. on YouTube (with English subtitles) and really enjoyed the film for how honest it was. It was definitely difficult to watch but nevertheless it was a very well made film. It was also nice to see Bowie in it. ;) After watching the film I knew I had to read the book. I was happy to see that there was an English translation so I bought it asap. It is a VERY graphic book, perhaps more graphic than the film, and it is absolutely brutal at times, but it is a great read for any fans of the film and for those who are into 'drug stories'. I especially recommend this book to fans of the film because obviously because it's a book, it goes more in depth as to why Christiane got into drugs. She describes her relationship with her mother and her father, her childhood in Gropiustadt, her stay at NarcAnon, and of course her friends from the film, Detlef, Stella, Axel, Babsi etc. There is even some pages where her mother tells her side of the story which is heartbreaking. The film mainly touched upon her time when she first started going to The Sound and trying drugs whereas the book starts from when she is a child. Anyways, this is definitely one of my favorite books I've read so far!!

Excellent book.I bought it used and it was in decent shape .story itself was better than movie , ofcourse.They always are but I am so impatient waiting for her second story to be printed in English now. It is a little close to home. Zoo station right here in my home town except I was 15 and my path started at 11 in the suburbs of a middle class neighborhood. I couldn't believe "I was reading my own thoughts and feeling ". I am writing my own book . This has giving me more inspiration.I am clean and sober now but have health issue from my unhealthy life but I have found recovery .I really hope Christiane finds Sovaldi , it's a miracle drug. If so, Maybe she will write a third book about her recovery.

Great service highly recommended

Loved the book! It's tough in content, but easy to read because it's writen in totally plain language.It descrives perfectly the Berlin of the 70s and the drug scene in a total natural way. Worth reading if you want to travel to those times.

Got this book last week and already reading through for a second time. As a 23 year old male heroin addict whos been addicted for several years there is nothing that I've seen or read that comes close to this. Its a great read and especially the times when wed here Christianes moms side of the story it really hit close to home. I cant say it makes me motivated to get clean but my lifelong bestfriend died 3 days ago from an overdose and like Christiane I've also beat the odds while many around me died. Everyone should read this to get an idea and some insight into the addicts mind. 5 stars for both the book and movie.