Ray Manzarek (1939–2013)

This is the best Rock autobiography I've ever read. Sensitive insight into the personal cost of fame for Jim Morrison. Manzarek makes it abundantly clear the disdain he held for Oliver Stone and his portrayal of The Doors in his movie. Nice insight into what it was like to be young in the '60s-'70s.

Yes, it is nice to image Jim Morrison alive and living in the Seychelles islands with a beautiful angel of a wife and two beautiful perfectly behaved kids, and finally being at peace with himself and life. But after the first two chapters, the rest of the book was really superfluous. As Ray (Roy in the novel) flies to Seychelles, he remembers and recounts some of his past experiences with Jim (Jordon in the novel). That is nice, but if I wanted to read about that, then I would just read show more Manzarek’s book Light My Fire. Then most of the remainder of the novel (the bulk of it) is Jim (Jordon) explaining to Ray (Roy) how he reached his peacefulness. This is really just a lengthy explanation of Buddhism, meditation, and yoga. If I wanted to read about that, then I would have gotten a non-fiction book about it. So I just really don’t get the reason for this novel. The person that owned this book before me had written on the last page of the second chapter: “Should it end here?” I can answer that. Yes. That would have made a sweet little short story. show less

The blues rock band's first album, featuring "Break on Through" and "Light My Fire."

3/4 (Good).

It's inconsistent, but it's the archetype of a genre. If you're in the mood for classic rock that sounds like it's fighting depression with drugs and alcohol, this is your album.

When I say that I really liked this book, I actually mean to say that I loved parts of it and other parts were just kinda 'ok'. And the funny thing is, the parts I loved were unexpected, while the 'just kinda ok' parts were what i picked the book up for in the first place. Ray Manzarek writes about music with rare passion and clarity. He writes about The Doors like I write about trios of redheads at some rave at Pigeon Point...all soft and sad and sappy.