This book is poorly researched and contains innumerable errors of fact. Alan Clayson may be a wordsmith but a true researcher he is not. For almost all his research for this book he relies on secondary sources. No serious fact-finding for this book, I'm sad to say. Suggest he sticks to tabloid gossip columns and leave the biographies for those equipped to write them. If you want to read the real story of Roy Orbison do yourself a favour and purchase Ellis Amburn's "Dark Star - The Roy Orbison Story".

How this book was ever publshed is a wonder in itself. It is filled from cover to cover with mistakes. It appears no research was attempted at all for the book. Too bad there is not a rate to show how bad it is. I was forced to give it a star just be able to give this review. therefore do not count it please.

Am I the only one? I just started reading "Only the Lonely" and find it terribly confusing. The author jumps topics often then goes on long, lengthy narratives not related to what he had started to discuss. I love Roy Orbison's music and wanted to know about his life and career but this book has been a disappointment from the start. I especially do not like the frequent and negative references made about Roy's physical appearence. This was a kind, sweet, gentle man with a wonderful voice, so what if he did not look like Elvis!