Product Description
Compiled from the literary estate of the singer who brought a wildly lyrical poetry of the damned to the world of rock 'n' roll. Includes unpublished poems, drawings, photos, and a candid self-interview. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (45)

Modern poems by Jim Morrison
This book contains random poems and writings by Jim Morrison, singer/songwriter for the DOORS.Wilderness let's you see a little more into the mind of one of the greatest songwriters.I would recomend this to any mature reader who likes obscure poetry and fans of Jim Morrison and the Doors.

Not received by me yet..waiting, waiting..
Why am I requested to submit a review of something I haven't received?Ordered and paid for about a month ago.

may surprise you
Poetry is so personal. I recommend to those curious about Jim Morrison's poetry to try to find some samples of his work in the web to see if they like it. That's what I did. The quality of what I found surprised me since I was one of those people who never took his poet persona seriously. I ended up buying this book and it has become one of my favorites. I find his verses fascinating; they are open,layered, therefore each reading seems to reveal something new, a different meaning or idea. Very cool.

poetry, lyrics, and musings
I bought this as a gift for a friend, and was so fascinated while flipping through the pages, I ended up reading the whole thing. I will probably buy one for myself after Christmas.

Thoughts in time and out of season
Jim Morrison's poetry appears often not very accesible..surely not at a first reading. But if we take into consideration Jim Morrison's own comment about poetry we are perhaps able to see his poetry in a different light. In Jim's self interview which is published in his first book of poems -wilderness- he explains to us: "listen, real poetry doesn't say anything, it just ticks of the possibilities, opens all doors and you can enter anyone you like". The symbols that Jim uses are very universal and are therefore in most cases not bounded to any particular 'zeitgeist' or a defined period in our time. That's why even today but probably also in a 100 years from now his poetry will remain interesting, challenging and at times disturbing. When one of Jim's best friends, Frank Lisciandro, who also published 2 books with Jim's poetry, was asked what he thought Jim meant with his writings, he also answered that this is a question which is hard to be answered. Jim's poetry can be read and re-read and you'll be able to find different meaning each time you read it. This answer in my view, relates back almost directly to jim's own comment that 'real poetry' doesn't mean anything. It's some sort of contradiction..but when something doesn't mean anything..it can mean everthing at the same time as well. It becomes 'infinite'. And here-in lies the power..... people who seriously try to read Jim's poetry cannot do anything else than ask themself questions about the meaning of the poems and if you believe you do find meaning...it will be very personal as you'll undoubtly colour your interpretation of the poems with your own experiences, opinion and imagination!

One of the most fascinating lines that Jim wrote in my personal opinion is also a great illustration of what i tried to capture in this short review. Read it and think about it...this is at the same time a snapshot of just a moment in time -the ultimate now- but at the same time an undeniable 'infinate' image.

Thoughts in time and out of season
The hitchhiker stood by the side of the road and leveled is thumb in the calm calculus of reason.


It is exactly because of this that Jim's poetry is likely to remain timeless and relevant for a very long time.... ... Read more

Product Description

Intense, erotic, and enigmatic, Jim Morrison's persona is as riveting now as the lead singer/composer "Lizard King" was during The Doors' peak in the late sixties. His fast life and mysterious death remain controversial more than twenty years later.

The Lords and the New Creatures, Morrison's first published volume of poetry, is an uninhibited exploration of society's dark side -- drugs, sex, fame, and death -- captured in sensual, seething images. Here, Morrison gives a revealing glimpse at an era and at the man whose songs and savage performances have left their indelible impression on our culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (39)

I have as yet not received the book... waiting, waiting...
Why am I requested to review this order when it is not in my hand? In other words, a delayed shipment or one that wasn't sent? Ordered and paid for about a month ago..

way over my head
maybe its because when i took lsd i didnt read this book is the reason why i dont understand it. i have all three morrison poetry books an this by far is the weakest, its seems to me to be just a whole bunch of imagery tied together with no real meaning or direction. if you want imagery poetry done right read rimbaud. If you want good morrison poetry read wilderness vol 1 an 2 especially an american prayer, where it seems to me that jim found some real direction and meaning in his poetry.

Cool Book.
Being a Morrison fan I just had to have it. It was in decent shape for being 36 yo.

strange but decent
this is for a die hard fan of the jim he was the poet songwriter and ppl just don get what hes saying half the time this book is styrange the poems are sshort alot of space all in all this book is good

A political magnum opus of lexicon splendor:
Morrison was indeed the William Blake of his day. His poems come across like the proverbial Quodlibet; promulgating a cognitive catharsis with visceral overtones that in many ways has an affect on the soul. Like many other poets such as Langston Hughes, Morrison goes for the jugular, and holds back nothing. His commentaries on sex, politics, and social injustice are on par with today's civil rights movement and conspiracy theories abound.
A case in point: On page 19 Jim writes:

Modern circles of Hell: Oswald (?) kills President.
Oswald enters taxi. Oswald stops at rooming house.
Oswald leaves taxi. Oswald kills Officer Tippitt.
Oswald shed jacket. Oswald is captured.

He escaped into a movie house.

Reading into this it's plain to see that Jim thought the Kennedy assassination was an inside job. What Jim was saying was that the official story didn't add up. Take a look at the question mark after Lee Harvey Oswald's name.
Furthermore, on page 123 Jim writes:

The Assassin's bullet
Marries the King
Dissembling miles of air
To kiss the crown.
The Prince rambles in blood.
Ode to the neck
That was groomed
For rape's gown.

If you start reading from pages 116 to 123 it becomes painfully obvious that Jim was writing about the Watt's riot of August 13, 1965 and the black civil rights movement. The poem on page 123 seems to be in reference to the Martin Luther King Assassination.

There is one more passage that needs to be cited.
On page 112 Jim writes:

Fear the Lords who are secret among us.
The Lords are w/ in us.
Born of sloth & cowardice.

Question?
Could Jim have been referring to the New World Order? It's something to think about, but I will say this; "The Lords and the New Creatures" is the most thought provoking collection of poems you'll ever read. Jim's lexicon about the world we live in is extremely oblique, but in the last page Jim ends his cri de coeur on a quixotic yet hopeful note. ... Read more

Product Description
THE AMERICAN NIGHT presents Morrison's previously unpublished work in its truest form.WIth their nightmarish images, bold associative leaps, and volcanic power of emotion, these works are the unmistakable artifacts of a great, wild voice and heart. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

I'm glad I bought this one
I really dig this book. If you're trying to get into Jim's poetry, I recommend buying "The American Night" and not "Wilderness"
Both books have printed copies of his actual journal writings in them, but The American Night felt more complete.

HENRY IS WRONG!
This book is great.The only reason why Henry wouldn`t be able to appreciate the book is because he recalls Jim as any normal person.He IS the most talented person I have ever heard of. Besides I want to see you(HENRY) WRITE POETRY ANY BETTER, WITH THE PROBLEMS HE HAD.POST IT AND I WILL READ IT.Also, whoever said that the book was bad ART, THEY DONT KNOW WHAT ART IS IS.Do you like Rimbaud or Nietzsche?I have read about them and I am SURE THEY would appreciate his work!One thought to everyone,if you buy books based on crimes or your own ill vision on art, YOU MIGHT WANT TO RETHINK YOUR LIFE!PAL

use your imagination
Jim Morrison's poetry appears often not very accesible..surely not at a first reading. But if we take into consideration Jim Morrison's own comment about poetry we are perhaps able to see his poetry in a different light.In Jim's self interview which is published in his first book of poems -wilderness- he explains to us: "listen, real poetry doesn't say anything, it just ticks of the possibilities, opens all doors and you can enter anyone you like".The symbols that Jim uses are very universal and are therefore in most cases not bounded to any particular 'zeitgeist' or a defined period in our time. That's why even today but probably also in a 100 years from now his poetry will remain interesting, challenging and at times disturbing. When one of Jim's best friends, Frank Lisciandro, who also published 2 books with Jim's poetry, was asked what he thought Jim meant with his writings, he also answered that this is a question which is hard to be answered. Jim's poetry can be read and re-read and you'll be able to find different meaning each time you read it. This answer in my view, relates back almost directly to jim's own comment that 'real poetry' doesn't mean anything. It's some sort of contradiction..but when something doesn't mean anything..it can mean everthing at the same time as well. It becomes 'infinite'. And here-in lies the power.....people who seriously try to read Jim's poetry cannot do anything else than ask themself questions about the meaning of the poems and if you believe you do find meaning...it will be very personal as you'll undoubtly colour your interpretation of the poems with your own experiences, opinion and imagination!

One of the most fascinating lines that Jim wrote in my personal opinion is also a great illustration of what i tried to capture in this short review.Read it and think about it...this is at the same time a snapshot of just a moment in time -the ultimate now- but at the same time an undeniable 'infinate' image.

Thoughts in time and out of season
The hitchhiker stood by the side of the road and leveled is thumb in the calm calculus of reason.


It is exactly because of this that Jim's poetry is likely to remain timeless and relevant for a very long time....

The best poetry I have ever read.
This book inspired My entire life. I read it first when I was 13. It's stunning and beautiful work.

Revolutionary
These poems have been underated since they're release.If one considers the fact that Jim Morrison was protesting the Vietnam War while his father was an Admiral in the United States Navy; I think the reader will come to understand the value of Morrison's work. He's always been a poet first. ... Read more

Product Description
Produced with the full cooperation of the Morrison estates, The Jim Morrison Scrapbook captures the wild life, mysterious death, and enduring work of the Doors' legendary leader. New interviews with friends, family members, surviving band members, and music industry figures complement a selection of rare and never-before-published photos, including shots of private moments with his "cosmic mate" Pam Courson and his last days in Paris. The book also features 24 pieces of removable facsimile memorabilia, such as Jim's handwritten lyrics to "L. A. Woman," his teenage artwork, and a letter to his father concerning Jim's infamous arrest in Miami. An exclusive 60-minute CD comprising rare interviews plus Jim telling candid stories and a never-before-heard original poem caps off this incomparable collector's package. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

The best!!!!
Loved the book.....the handwritten wassssss.....so cool.......loved the pics, the entire book, doors fans must have!!!!!
Gotta love Jim!!!!

this book was damnaged!
The Jim Morrison Scrapbook's Book that i ordered is arrived damnaged , with NO CD inside!!!!! I've not reclame and resend you the damnagedbook at the moment just because i read that this book is not available now,but i'm hungry with you and i'll never buy another book with amazon!
Regards
Massimo Di Cataldo

Couldn't Get Much Higher
The Jim Morrison Scrapbook is essentially a history of the musician, artist, poet, and, of course, rock star, Jim Morrison.The book is printed on heavy paper with many photos, an audio CD, and reproductions of documents form Morrison's life.I liked the ticket to an early Doors concert.Too bad I cannot use it today.

What struck me about Morrison were the adversities which he faced through his life.His family seems to have given him an environment which accepted alcohol, "show me the way to the next whiskey bar," but not Jim's musical pursuits.His father is said to have told Jim that he had no musical talent.I wonder what else he may have said.

Morrison was the prototypical "rock star."However, being a rock star did not let him challenge authority.The authorities of the 1960-70s were faced with a youth rebellion which embraced mind-altering drugs and was opposed to their war in Southeast Asia.Morrison represented all that they feared."And it's all over for the unknown soldier."Behavior and attitude that were not viewed as acceptable were used as an excuse to persecute Morrison.He was arrested for alleged lewd acts on-stage that he may never have performed.The FBI hunted him, driving him out of the country.

For those who did not live through the era, it is hard to understand the antagonism towards youth, their mores, and their music.You can get a taste of it in the Doors movie.I do recommend the Scrapbook for its great background information to better understand the music.

In the end, it is the music that really counts. As Morrson says,
"Well the music is your special friend
Dance on fire as it intends
Music is your only friend
Until the end."

VERY COOL
I am a huge Morrison fan and this book has cool little inserts that add to the fun of reading this book.Old letters, grade school report cards, drawings, ticket stubs....a must have for any Morrison fan!

A great buy!
I gave this book to my husband for Christmas and he absolutely loved it! It's well worth the money. ... Read more

Product Description
As the lead singer of the Doors, Jim Morrison’s searing poetic vision and voracious appetite for sexual, spiritual, and psychedelic experience inflamed the spirit and psyche of a generation. Since his mysterious death in 1971, millions more fans from a new generation have embraced his legacy, as layers of myth have gathered to enshroud the life, career, and true character of the man who was James Douglas Morrison.

In Jim Morrison, critically acclaimed journalist Stephen Davis, author of Hammer of the Gods, unmasks Morrison’s constructed personas of the Lizard King and Mr. Mojo Risin’ to reveal a man of fierce intelligence whose own destructive tendencies both fueled his creative ambitions and brought about his downfall. Gathered from dozens of original interviews and investigations of Morrison’s personal journals, Davis has assembled a vivid portrait of a misunderstood genius, tracing the arc of Morrison’s life from his troubled youth to his international stardom, when his drug and alcohol binges, tumultuous sexual affairs, and fractious personal relationships reached a frenzied peak. For the first time, Davis is able to reconstruct Morrison’s last days in Paris to solve one of the greatest mysteries in music history in a shocking final chapter.

Compelling and harrowing, intimate and revelatory, Jim Morrison is the definitive biography of the rock idol in snakeskin and leather who defined the 1960s. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (61)

interesting
i could not put this book down...i also have a thing for the doors and jim morrison...what an incredible person..this book takes you through his life with detail. loved it

Fairy Tales
The book was quite entertaining and included a number of stories I hadn't read before, some of which may even be true.The number of obvious and glaring factual errors give it a credibility somewhere short of Mother Goose.

Tiresome
Basically, this book is a compilation of Jim Morrison's drunk, drugged, and violence-prone episodes that become repetitious and tiring.Jim Morrison the artist and human being gets lost in the mayhem. The author touches on Jim's music and poetry rather lightly, and for anyone interested in a serious examination of Jim the man and his work in music and poetry, I would go and read elsewhere.

Very insightful and interesting.
If you're looking for an in depth book about the life of Jim Morrison, you've found it.

Worst book I've EVER read
I went into this book really excited because I am a HUGE Morrison fan and have read everything on him as well as have loved his work seemingly as far back as I can remember.I find him to be one of the most charismatic, unique and talented rock & roll icons in the history of modern music.I feel that when he died, he took with him HIMSELF, and that his death was, and continues to be, a terrible loss for my generation who grew up with the DOORS.But for what it's worth, this book seemed to me to be nothing more than a desperate and childish (and somehow the word "disgruntled" and also comes to mind) attempt to literally ruin Morrison's reputation in some sort of in-arrears frenzy ... although I'm pretty Jim Morrison's reputation is immune to such absolute nonsense and blatant mean-spiritedness. This book is quite strange.Not only does this author say things like "so and so's rep was cred" (I guess that means someone's reputation was credible," or so it would seem.The language of this book gets even more childish from there,which begs the question, HOW OLD IS THIS AUTHOR? He uses a strange plethora of "cool" language, like you're back in 8th grade, and he just walked straight out of "hep cat" heaven from the 1950s.)But, regardless of that, the author trashes EVERYONE - not just Morrison.According to this author, Morrison is the biggest loser on the planet, everyone hated him, and he had no talent.Which left me scratching my head wondering if this guy understands that Morrison's reputation is already pretty well set in stone.He treats Morrison with utter disdain and, yes, even contempt and possibly even hatred.He also does this with anyone who ever knew Morrison, played music with him, was friends with him, had a professional relationship with him; and yes, who even merely contemplated Morrison's existence.He did NO research; he plagiarized straight out of "Light My Fire, Ray Manzarek's firsthand account book depicting both his personal and professional relationship with Morrison; and he even goes so far as to make up entire dialogs as if he had been a fly on the wall when these so-called conversations allegedly took place - which, unless he copped them out of other people's books, they did NOT.He condescendingly calls Jim "Jimmy" throughout this book of fabrications.This author seems to have a personal ax to grind here - and Morrison has been dead for nearly 40 years now, so ... I don't know .... it's just weird. Fortunately, I do believe Jim Morrison will stand the test of time as he ALWAYS has.This author's strange (and excessively lewd for lewdness' sake), book will go down as a "weird deal." This man's mentality seems to be that of your typical 6-year-old child (no offense to six year olds).Waste of good money, waste of time ... unless you care to visit the strange world of the author's, I hate to say it, REAL hatred of Morrison, I'd skip it. EVERYTHING about this author's vehement, seeming hatred of Jim Morrison rings loud and clear; but, unfortunately, Morrison's actual story does not.Jim Morrison is and always WAS amazing.This book is an absolute travesty on Morrison. Which begs my next question:WHY? (don't answer).Thanks. ... Read more

Product Description
THE AMERICAN NIGHT presents Morrison's previously unpublished work in its truest form. WIth their nightmarish images, bold associative leaps, and volcanic power of emotion, these works are the unmistakable artifacts of a great, wild voice and heart.


From the Trade Paperback edition. ... Read more

Product Description

Since his death in 1971, friends and band members have produced several biographies describing various aspects of Jim Morrison's life and career. Now James Riordan and Jerry Prochnicky examine with insightful clarity the entire story of Morrison's roots, his early family life, the intellectual foundations of his music, his wild days with The Doors, his private life, and the mystery that still surrounds his death.

In Break On Through, we see Morrison's angry relationship with his father and how a horrifying, deadly car accident Morrison witnessed as a small boy influenced his songs and poetry. We witness The Doors' exhilarating early days of struggle and the infamous Miami trial, where Morrison stood charged with obscenity. And here is the real story of Morrison's death in Paris, based on interviews with new sources who conclusively disprove the official finding of death by heart attack.

Break On Through is more than an insightful look at a rock legend whose cult following never stops growing. With dozens of rarely published photographs, this is the authoritative portrait of the man and his career.

Customer Reviews (47)

Really Great Read
I read this book this past August and couldn't put it down.I don't know where my obsession for Jim Morrison came from, but it really hit hard!!This book made me love The Doors so much more.It also made me think about my own life in comparison to Jim's.When I went out to bars I began to think to myself, "I am the Lizard King, I can do anything."I had a much better time enjoying the "Chaotic, Disorderly" side of life while reading this book.If you like poetry, music, The Doors, and a man with a fire inside, then you need to pick up this book!!

Caveat: The only part of the book that I felt dragged just a smidge was the middle where the authors went to great lengths to describe sequential concerts night after night.But this really didn't take away from how great and real this book was.

The One to Read
This is a very well written and well researched book by a man who obviously loved Jim Morrison.He gives great respect to his enigmatic subject and thoroughly documents what could be known about such a colorful person.The opening imagery of Jim on the rooftop is fabulous!Giving insight on Shamanism also provides understanding of some of Jim's actions. This is the best one I've read yet.If you only have time for one book on Jim, get this one!

The best book on Jim!
I have read many books on Morrison and this is by far the best one.

The Definitive Morrison Biography!
Break On Through is the definitive biography of Jim Morrison, so far. It doesn't possess the shortcomings of the other Morrison biographies, such as the near idolatry and hero worship of No One Here Gets Out Alive which did serve its purpose in resurrecting The Doors for a new generation (of which I'm one), or the more derivative renditions of Morrison's life in more recent biographies. Break On Through has the focus of objectivity in looking at Morrison and his work in The Doors, and the original source material they generated bring forth new anecdotes and fresh insights into Morrison.

As in most biography we do go in knowing the outline of the subject's life. In Morrison's case that's the son of a career Navy man who has a mystical encounter in the desert at a young age and believes the soul of an Indian leapt into his soul. The young Morrison grows up to be a rather bookish kid who gets the attention of his peers as much as for his classroom antics as his good grades. He disobeys his father's wishes and registers at UCLA film school where he proceeds to write essays on the history of film and make a couple of films nobody seems to interested in except Ray Manzarek. Morrison quits school two weeks before graduation, retreats to a rooftop in Venice Beach, ingests a whole lot of LSD and manages to write some of the most seminal and original lyrics by seeing "a rock concert" in his head and taking notes. Later that same summer, Morrison seeks out Manzarek who Morrison knew was in a rock band and where Manzarek lived. Morrison sings him a couple of songs and the two decide to start a band, call it The Doors and make "a million dollars." They work their way up the club scene on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles and Morrison proceeds to become one of the most original and provocative singers in Rock `n' Roll history, becoming even a rock star's idea of a rock star.

The difference in Break On Through from other biographies is that the authors James Riordan and Jerry Prochnicky examine the influences in Morrison's thinking such as Antonin Artaud's Theatre and it's Double, Nietzsche especially The Birth of Tragedy which reads like a veritable blueprint of The Doors, and the film noir influences on both Morrison and Manzarek and how this all relates to the music of The Doors.

Everyone who is into The Doors or is getting into The Doors is trying to understand why Morrison did the things he did, and how he came to write the things he did. That may be a little beyond biography, but Break On Through is the place to start.

Best Book on Jim Morrison!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This isa must have for all Jim fans...No other book comes close to this one!!!!!!!!!!! And, when you are thru with this book....check e-bay, and get the best photo book on Jim, called My eyes have seen you!!!!!!!!!! both done by Jerry Prochnicky ... Read more

Product Description
In an intimate biographical memoir, Kennealy describes the music scene of the '60s and '70s, never varnishing over her experiences with sex and drugs that were such a driving force in Morrison's life, and explores the translation of the Morrison myth into Oliver Stone's film. Photographs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (133)

Great Read
This is a great read.It's hard to put down the book.Also, the shipping service was excellent.

who knows? but, doubtful
This book reads like her Druids in space novels...a fantasy/historical fiction/romance novel. She seems to insert all the right things every woman wants to hear and claims that he said them...and she just knows. Perhaps he said a variant, but I'm leaning towards she misinterpreted many words, gestures, glances, etc., as what those in one sided relationships do.

I don't know where to begin with this woman. I feel for her, but as many here have said, she seems delusional. Additionally, she comes across as jealous, spiteful, angry, and narcissistic. She obviously did love Jim. I'm just not convinced that he felt the same because there simply is no other record from the many people who knew Jim, only her. Diane Gardiner was a force in this debacle. Did she ever remark on this book? I believe she is now passed. From what I gather about Jim, he was an 'in the moment' type of guy. I can see how her intellect and well-read demeanor challenged and attracted her to him. She tries to portray herself as completely independent, but the relationship was very unhealthy. She continually pursued a guy who was with someone else, and no strong, independent woman would do that. She is as weak as she likes to bash Pam for.

There's just so much ridiculouslness throughout to list here. Her jealously towards Pam is very sad and pathetic. No true pagan would be so negative and disrespectful of other beings, especially those passed. Jim nor Pam are here to give their say. I truly doubt that Jim would be 'proud' of this book. I can see how Jim and Pam were maybe growing apart based on other readings, including "Angels Dance and Angels Die", but I do feel that Pam is the one he loved deeply. The intimacy between them could have surpassed what Patricia writes, we just won't know, because they're not here.

Who really knows anything? Jim wasn't one to talk about his 'women', but my intuition tells me that Patricia made more out of what the relationship really was.

Very Well Written
So many people thought the author was cashing in on the Jim Morrison franchise with this book, but that is NOT the case. Patricia Morrison gives us a wonderful glimpse of her experiences with Jim, both good and bad. I came away from reading this book with a richer fondness for Jim, and decided respect for the author. With the wealth of books on the market about the Doors, this is the one I like to recommend to people. It has a soul to it.

Controversial, but I still like it.
I know there has been a lot of controversy over this book because some of its details do not square with the accounts of Jim's other close friends, nor with an interview the author previously gave for a book called "Rock Wives" (which she later disparaged as being incorrect).I chose to take the book with a grain of salt and just enjoy it for what it is, the perspective of one close ladyfriend of Jim's, said ladyfriend being for the most part excluded from Jim's normal group of running buddies.It's just another side of a story that seems to have about 500 sides.

One problem in evaluating the truth of what goes on in the book is that Jim was not only a consummate actor who enjoyed putting people on and testing them, and thus would have been perfectly at home pretending he loved - or pretending he DIDN'T love - a particular woman, but also he was impaired on substances much of the time, as were most of his friends of that era.So not only do you have a complicated man involved in a lot of complicated relationships, but everyone's judgment was a bit off.

I don't really think Patricia Kenneally was the great love of Jim's life (I tend to think that was Mary Werbelow, the ex-girlfriend who very rarely talks) but I also don't think Patricia was just a deluded stalker who made too much out of a one-night stand.No doubt she knew that by writing this book she would get a lot of attention and not all of it positive, but she wrote it anyway.What I do think is that she may have had to re-think or re-imagine aspects of the relationship in hindsight just to deal with the pain she suffered at the time when Jim went away and left her with a pregnancy that she was forced to abort.Although her constant recitations of how strong a woman she is can get on one's nerves, she's clearly a survivor and went on with her writing career, as opposed to Pam Courson, who appears to have lived a bit of an aimless life after Jim died before passing away herself.When I was in high school and a group of us were into Jim Morrison following the release of "No One Here Gets Out Alive," we were interested in both Pam and Patricia but definitely felt like Patricia was the better role model for the simple reason that she had more of an education and viable career and most of all, she didn't die.

Having said that, Patricia's book can be grating.I notice that the current edition features a big picture of Jim on the front, as opposed to the edition I have that had pictures of Patricia on the front.Having a pic of Jim on the front is to me misleading because this is not really a book about Jim.He's frankly not around that much in the author's life, as she's in New York and most of the time he's either on the road or in California with Pam Courson, and a lot of the time Patricia doesn't really know what he's up to.The book is more about Patricia and how she was affected by her encounters with Jim (including a handfasting marriage ceremony that they don't bother to legalize) and what happened to her as a result. Patricia is clearly very intelligent but also a very strong personality (she is definitely a New Yorker) and doesn't hesitate to tell Jim off, which makes sense as he seems to have been attracted to assertive women with long red hair.She does seem to go a little overboard with the Pam-bashing at times, which can be attributed to both jealousy and the obvious gap between an NYC career woman and a California flower child's personality.

You get the feeling Patricia really didn't want to abort Jim's child but felt she had no choice.I wondered if she felt that getting rid of the child might create more likelihood that Jim would come back to her.I could also see where she was annoyed by her portrayal in the Oliver Stone doors movie, which seemed to bear little relation to the real Patricia (his characterization of Pam was reportedly also off).Where the book gets super-annoying is in the author's complaints about Doors fans after Jim's death - she acts like she somehow owns the rights to Jim's memory and it's an act of criminal infringement for some young fan who didn't know Jim personally to walk down the street in a Morrison T-shirt 20 years after his death.Come on, lady.If you really loved Jim as much as you say, I'd think you'd be glad that other people still appreciate his life and art.I understand it can be painful to keep seeing reminders of a love that you've lost, but that's part of loving and losing a public figure such as a rock star.

Overall...too long and hard to believe.
This is the 3rd book I bought over the last 30 yrs on Jim Morrison's life...the others being "No One Gets Out Alive" and "Riders on the Storm". The latter two were far better. First of all, the book is wayyyyyy too long. She writes the book mostly based on quotes...on actual conversations between herself and Morrison. I can't remember a conversation I had a year ago much less 20 yrs ago. And on top of that...the author was stoned most of the time. How could she actually come up with the quotes? It's a bit hard to believe she could remember such details. She is also not a very likeable person in the book. Her petty comments on Pam Courson especially her appearance seem so childish to me. I cannot dispute her love for Morrison or his love for her...but it seems she is probably only one of many many lovers he had. Maybe she was more special than the others but her credibility is in question. Her love for drugs is also very questionable. She makes no apologies and maybe she shouldn't considering the times but she should have said something against them since it was drugs themselves that claimed her lover's life! Overall...I would recommend skipping this book. John Densmore's "Riders on the Storm" is far better written and far more believable. ... Read more

Product Description

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Customer Reviews (87)

Rings with Truth
This book is a wonderful read. People who have watched someone they love destroy their lives with drinking/drugs/lifestyle can really relate to John when he talks about his headaches and rashes. It's difficult to watch someone self-destruct especially when you care about that person. Also, his feelings about straying from his Catholic roots shows his very human side. His drumming is wonderful and you can tell that he is very proud of that. This is a great book written by someone who was part of a wonderful rock band and came away still normal!! He doesn't condensend and doesn't constantly tear down his fellow band members. I loved it.

Great Read!!
After reading several books on The Doors, and Jim Morrison, this book really gets to the heart of the The Doors.I think that Jon Densmore does a great job in telling his story from the inside. Although, reading the book you can tell the love/hate that the memebers of The Doors had for Jim Morrison, the book gives you a journal like response from Jon, talking to the late Jim Morrison.I would highly recommend this book to anyone that is interested in The Doors.

a good perspective on morrison's antics
riders on the storm is an amazing book it's not a biography of jim or john but a dive into their world of music. i would recomend this to anyone who likes the doors or 60s music in general.

A Good Account From Behind the Throne
As a drummer and musician this reader and fan enjoyed how this story was told from the perspective of someone who is passionate about music in general and specifically about the great music he made as one of the key instrumentalist of The Doors.I enjoyed the honesty with which the story was told and the special fun delightful, insightful and charming special stories that were unique to the authors experience.However, what really worked for me in this book was the how beautifully and passionately the author describes the crafting of the music, both live and in the studio.The groove, power and majesty of the music was felt by this reader.Well done John Densmore! A well told and honest story that you obviously crafted very carefully to make sure that the most important character remained the central focus of your account of The Doors legacy: the music!!

Mixed feelings
On the one hand, I concur with the reviews that say that Densmore's book is filled with more than enough whining. And while it is a natural thing for a human being to wish to share their pain and frustration in order to get past it, I often find the public displays of such raw emotional honesty and revealing of deeply personal feelings to be embarrassing and uncomfortable. Even something perilously close to emasculating. Densmore was the embodiment of the weakness and vulnerability of the 60s counterculture that permitted itself to be ruined and exposed to forces that exploited and perverted it. Fortunately for Densmore, he survived with his emotional scars and an interesting tale to tell.

That said, I must say that the book provides an interesting and honest view of a perspective of that legendary rock group that needs to be seen. Morrison was a complex character: brilliant and talented, yet troubled. A lunatic, if I were to speak bluntly. His early death was inevitable.

The book also showed the complex dynamics in the Doors; especially between Morrison and Densmore. The friction between them was instrumental in producing some brilliant music; but also contained the seeds of the project's self destruction.

The cover of this book is perfect. To the left, Densmore, looking young, vulnerable, inexperienced, and terrified; wanting only to please others and be loved.A California flower child utterly incapable of understanding the dark, atavistic side of human nature. To the right, Morrison, looking like a demented satyr, unpredictable as a Tasmanian Devil, the Dark Side incarnate. Two seconds away from plundering, raping, and beating anyone in a street fight or a philosophical debate. A greater contrast cannot be imagined.

It's worth reading. Once. ... Read more

Product Description
On July 3rd, 1971, one of the most popular rock stars of all time, Jim Morrison, died of a drug overdose. Or, did he? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

Don't waste your money...
If you're looking for an interesting, thought-provoking what-if glimpse into the supposed faked death of Jim Morrison, this AIN'T IT.Highly disappointing.Yes, this is fiction ~ I *get* it. But this isn't GOOD fiction.This author is reaching, and not in the right direction.Too many dropped names, too many cliches. A helluva lot of wow-Jim-Morrison-predicted-Elvis'death/Nixon's downfall/etc- moments. Oh that's just so *FASCINATING*. Wish I could get my $$ back.

It does seem that author does not equal intellectual
Can it be that the author is expressing himself through the persona of Jim Morrison?That an author, himself, might be able to see this expression and celebrate it.I find it mistifying on how unsophisticated some people are.The reviews here either take the book too seriously or they take it for what it is and then completely miss the point.This book is clearly and existential treatise in narrative form.Multiple references to Nietzsche and nihilism?Hello!Could it be that some neophytes, so called authors are missing the point altogether?How can a so-called man of intelligence see it otherwise?It is true that the voice is not Jim, however did the so-called intellectual author understand that it was the voice of THE ACTUAL AUTHOR?Maybe he needs to stick to more re-runs of the Monkeys rather than pontificating arrogance like some idiot that thinks Christina Aguilera has some musical signifcance.Jim Morrison, like the Beatles, was a thought in someone's head.Each with their own interpretation.Even this so called intelligent author referred several times to his own imagination when thinking about Morrison.Is it possible that people, thrown into this world, actually think differently?Or rather, is this purely an author that only thinks about his own ego and how "I would have wrote the book"?I pray now on bended knee for anyone, someone to actually engage the book and its content...not to waste time on "whether it is real", not to spew their ego "on how I would write it", but rather argue the merits of this literature!It is literature and written by someone that knows a heck of a lot more about philosophy, post-modernism, and writing then these bozos that don't get it...

A massive disappointment
Seldom have I encountered such a yawning gulf between the idea for a book--which in this case was a great one--and the book itself. Judging from some of the reviews here, which baffle me, I gather that some readers have loved this book enough to toy with the idea that there could be some glimpse of reality buried here. I, on the other hand, find that it doesn't even stand up as what it is: a work of fiction. *Nothing* about the narrator's voice would convince any serious Doors fan that this is Jim Morrison--even a fictional version of him.

I spent a lot of my formative years hearing the voice of Morrison--not only his literal voice in the music, but also the figurative voice of the man I imagined him to be, who in my childhood was one of my greatest heroes. The Doors' first album, which came out when I was three, was the first record I can ever remember hearing, and for the next 13 years or so, very few things in this world meant as much to me as Jim Morrison and his music. In fact, I only began to lose interest in him about the time the rest of my peers discovered him--i.e., in 1980. So I speak as someone who has a little something to bring to this discussion, and I say again that nothing about this book sounds like Jim Morrison.

Listen to the way he talked, as evidenced in his rap sessions between songs on live recordings, and in any number of print and electronic interviews; and read his writing, not only in his songs and *American Prayer*, but also in *The Lords and New Creatures* and other books of poetry. And ask yourself if there's *any* connection between that persona and the clumsy narrative voice you encounter in this book. The fact that the narrator manages to throw around a discount imitation of Morrison's own supreme bullcrap does nothing to further the ruse. Nor does the fact that he discusses Pam, John Densmore, etc. I'm reminded of other writers' sophomoric attempts to create a sense of time or place by throwing in a few details that the most uneducated reader would recognize.

I hate to dis another writer's work, and especially someone who apparently is so sincere in his ardor for his subject matter. But I also feel a little swindled, because I was excited by this book, and it turns out to be something I'll probably end up including in my next donation to the local library. So that's however many bucks down the drain, and that, combined w/ the more serious matter of unfulfilled expectations, motivates me to warn others.

an artistic episode of debauchery Morrison might have led
The author of this book, Marshal Lawrence Pierce III, has used the character of Jim Morrison and the mysterious circumstances of his death as the basis of a literary journey.This book stands on the legend of Jim Morrison, but leaps forward into a poetic adventure in which one can imagine a Morrison-like character living.This is a poetic work by an erudite author.The book is full of wonderful intellectual bits, using Nietzsche, Rimbaud, Kafka, and others.It abounds with references to significant artists and landmarks.

It's easy to get caught up in the existential malaise of an intoxicated man (the ubermensch?) wandering Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Florence, Venice, Yucatan, and finally, back in LA.

Dispel the rumor of The Diaries' authenticity, and embrace the work for what it is: a masterful artistic episode of debauchery of the likes we can assume Morrison might have led, had he not died on July 3, 1971.

A lot of talk, no walk
I was excited about this book when I first stumbled upon it and read the reviews here. Then came the disappointment. Marshal Pierce III claims the book contains authentic pieces of Morrison's diaries after Morrison's "death". However, the book seriously lacks credibility if the setting of the events is put under serious and not so serious scrutiny. The action takes place in the early 70's--this is a peak period in the Cold War era. And somehow an American without a passport roams freely all over Europe. He even goes to countries that belonged to the Soviet Block. This is rediculous. I come from Bulgaria, one of the countries Morrison visited according to these diaries. Back in the 70's a foreigner who spoke no Bulgarian and just popped in the country wouldn't have gone unnoticed. Plus we aretalking about Jim Morrison here... By the way people in the Communist countries in this period were imprisoned and persecuted for listening to the Beatles. You can figure out what the atmosphere was in those countries.

What's most annoying in the book is the main character's lack of development. Morrison from the book seems to be stuck in "pre-death" state of mind. At some points his thoughts contradict what he had said in rela life in various interviews right before his death. His thoughts on his relationship with the other members of The doors and his role in the band sound like plain speculations already expressed by various journalists and scholars researching Morrison's life.

The direct references to Elvis and the speculations surrounding his death are alos annoying. I found this to be a lame attempt to explain and back Morrison's reasoning for staging his own death.

It's not a secret that there were numerous thinkers and writers who had great impact on Morrison, his art and ideas. However, I couldn't recolect any occasions when he directly referenced theirworks and ideas. He always managed to give the ideas he borrowed a personal touch,analysis, and modification. The diaries were full of examples where Morrison substituted thinking for direct acceptance and quatation of other people's ideas.

Don't get fooled into buying this book. Buys couple of biographies from different authors. This will give you different perspectives on Morrison's life and art and a chance to creat your own image and uderstanding of the Lizard king. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (10)

Great On Rimbaud, Not So Good On Morrison
Wallace Fowlie was a professor of French Literature at Duke University when he received a letter from Jim Morrison thanking him for writing a translation of French Symbolist Poet Arthur Rimbaud's poems. Fowlie, not knowing who Jim Morrison was filed the letter away with other correspondence. In 1980 a student of Fowlie's gave him a copy of the Morrison biography, No One Here Gets Out Alive, he made the connection with the letter he received 12 years before. He read the bio, and noticed all the references in it to Rimbaud and like many aging teachers trying to connect to students who might otherwise find the subject of French poetry dry or irrelevant, he started lecturing about Jim Morrison and his Rimbaud connection, and after a decade of expanding the lecture he committed it to a book, Rimbaud and Jim Morrison: The Rebel as Poet.

As a professor of French Literature it is to be expected that Fowlie would be more knowledgeable about the life and work of Rimbaud, and indeed he is, he writes an informed and interesting biography of Rimbaud, tracing his birth and upbringing in rural France whose military father was frequently away, and whose adventures Rimbaud fantasized about. And a domineering mother whom Rimbaud sought to escape. Rimbaud's early success' in academics and interest in wanting to be a poet aided in his running away to Paris and London in pursuit of his dreams, and Fowlie offers an in depth analysis of the poetry Rimbaud created between the ages of 16-19.

The shortcomings of this book become evident when Fowlie focuses on Morrison, his life, and his poetry. Fowlie gets facts of Morrison's life wrong, and doesn't offer much into any insight or meaningful analysis of Morrison's poetry. Reading the sections on Morrison's poetry you feel shortchanged at the ephemeral nature of the analysis. You almost can't blame Fowlie for this, he was already in his 60's when Morrison wrote to him, he was in his 70's when he started the lectures that would become the book, so you can hardly blame Fowlie for not being that interested or knowledgeable about Morrison. Fowlie readily admits that during his lectures students frequently added to his knowledge about Morrison. And, of course, the genesis of the lecture was to get his students interested in Rimbaud's work via Morrison, but when you write a book with dual subjects you have a duty to give equal consideration to both subjects.

This book is for The Doors fan who knows The Doors and Jim Morrison's story well, and is intrigued by Rimbaud and his poetry and would like to dive into the deeper waters of what Morrison called "pure poetry," but still wants or needs The Doors/Morrison connection.

Beyond the legend of the Lizard King
Wallace Fowlie gives us a fascinating comparison of the life and writing of Jim Morrison to Rimbaud. In 1968 Fowlie, a college professor of French literature, received a letter from Jim Morrison thanking him for his translation of Rimbaud. Morrison's name was meaningless to Fowlie, who was not familiar with the music of the Doors. After a student gave him a copy of No One Here Gets Out Alive, Fowlie noticed the references to Morrison's interest in Rimbaud, and recalling the letter, he started researching Morrison's life and his writing. He discovered many instances where lyrics were obviously influenced by Rimbaud. Using the mythical Jim Morrison as lure, Fowlie made French symbolist poetry come alive with his innovative lectures. By exploring the social and political conditions leading to the powerful poetry of both writers, Fowlie perpetuates their legacy of protest and rebellion.

As a teenager in the 60s, the music of the Doors slammed into my soul. Morrison's lyrics defined many of my generation as we deciphered and discussed them for countless hours. It has been well documented that Morrison wanted to be known as a poet rather than a singer/lyricist. He seemed to view poetry as the more intellectual pursuit. He is certainly correct in his belief that poetry can bear witness to the ills of society as well as the pain of an individual. Morrison is granted the credibility he craved in Fowlie's carefully researched and richly detailed analysis. The scholarly tone makes this book a welcome addition to the bookshelf of those who believe in the transformative power of poetry and music.

A Nice Introduction to Rimaud
This book is a nice way to introduce the younger Morrison fan not already familiar with Rimbaud to his work, life and times.Someone already well acquainted with both poets will probably be disappointed.I applaud Mr. Fowlie's efforts, however, and the parallels drawn between the 2 men are well presented.

An Interesting Memoir Padded With Derivative Commentary
Wallace Fowlie, a French scholar, translator and commentator on many French poets, has written this short book on the connections between the lives and writings of Rimbaud and Morrison, two symbols of youthful, creative rebellion who lived more than a century apart. Unfortunately, while the short memoir of how Fowlie first came to connect these two figures is interesting and worthy of a short journalistic piece, the bulk of this book contains nothing more than truncated and regurgitated biographical sketches of Rimbaud and Morrison and disparate commentary on some of their writing.

Fowlie, who published an English translation of Rimbaud's collected poems in 1966, first heard of Morrison when he received a letter from him in 1968 thanking him for the English translation. Morrison implied that Rimbaud was an important writer for him: "I don't read French that easily . . . I am a rock singer and your book travels around with me." Fowlie didn't know of Morrison until, many years later, he heard some of the music and lyrics of The Doors and recognized the influence of Rimbaud on the writing of Morrison. Fowlie's memoir relates how his discovery of these connections led to a series of lectures on Rimbaud and Morrison, lectures which were (not surprisingly!) received with enthusiasm and interest by his young college students at Duke and elsewhere.

Fowlie's discussion of Rimbaud's poetry, in addition to being cursory, can only be understood with a copy of his poems close at hand; without reading the poems in their entirety, Fowlie's commentary is largely unintelligible. With respect to Morrison, Fowlie does nothing more than regurgitate biographical details gleaned from other authors and discuss a few of Morrison's poems. Again, understanding the discussion of the poems suffers if you don't have the texts of Morrison's poems available.

While Fowlie's prose is wonderful and his brief anecdote of the way that Morrison and Rimbaud connected in Fowlie's own life interesting, the bulk of the book in unremarkable and derivative.

an interesting novelty, but nothing special
if wallace fowlie was going to write a book about the similarities between arthur rimbaud and jim morrison, couldn't he have at the very least learned just a few things about morrison and wrote some new thoughts or little known facts about rimbaud, rather than just cutting and pasting from his old study of the surrealist legend?anyone who is even mildly acquainted with his work on the adolescent rimbaud will have at first a strange but strong sensation of deja vu while reading this book, and if they have a decent memory, will realize that most of the passages in this book were lifted from his earlier work. some people will see this as acceptable because most of the info and commentary is poignant and accurate (if not very penetrating and a tad superficial), but i find it a little disrespectful to the reader.as if we're not going to notice it when he rewrites, word by word, his previous work. it does have it's merits, and it is fairly entertaining to read his accounts of college lectures given on the two poets of youthful rebellion and the ideological similarities between the 60's counterculture and the philosophy of the surrealists, but there simply isn't enough substantial, original stuff in the book to make it truly memorable. it is worth reading, but only just. ... Read more

Product Description
THE LIZARD KING WAS HERE is an in-depth study of a greatly overlooked period in the mercurial life of Jim Morrison, the late poet and lyricist-vocalist of the rock and roll band "The Doors" who died at the age of 27 in 1971. Examining Morrison’s life from January 1959 to August 1961 - the years he resided in Alexandria, Virginia and attended George Washington High School - author Mark Opsasnick reveals a wealth of experiences that served to influence the singer’s poetry, lyrics, and work as a performing artist with the Doors. The end result is a fresh look at a formative period in the life of one of rock and roll’s greatest superstars. Dedicated fans of Jim Morrison will be enthralled with THE LIZARD KING WAS HERE. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

the young lizard king
this is a good book about jim's high school days.opsasnick did a good job
of interviewing jim's classmates and friends from that part of his life.
i give it five stars!!!

Great book.
A very interesting look at the Washington D.C. music scene of the late 1950's early 1960's with memories shared by those that knew a young Jim Morrison.

High School Years
I've read a number of Doors books and whenever they talk about his school yrs I often wondered if anyone would investigate it. This book covers Jim's High School yrs from 1959 to 61 graduation. Some of these stories make sense to a number of antics Jim has later done as a rock star. I remember reading that Jim would just leave The Doors for days & no one would know where he ventured. Jim as a 17 yr old done this as well. Plus talking to his high school friends about faking his death.No one ever remembers Jim even talking about forming a band or shown any interest in rock music. Besides influences of philosopher Nietzsche, French poet Rimbaud, British Poet/artist William Blake I liked the chapter that talks about Jim's books and favorite authors like Kafka, James Joyce, Camus, and the Beat Generation Kerouac, Burroughs, Ginsberg to name a few. They also list some the of titles w/ a brief discription. Very interesting to see where Jim got his influences.

The Most Scholarly and Erudite Book on Jim Morrison Yet!
WOW! Mark Opsasnick's new book "The Lizard King Was Here..." is by far the
most scholarly and erudite book on Jim Morrison yet! So much factual
never before released information on Jim's life and times in Alexandria,
Virginia that it boggles the reader's mind. One on one interviews with
dozens of Jim's former high school classmates and exhaustive research has
opened awhole new wonderful vista on Jim Morrison's life before he turned
his attention to the west and LA and his cofounding The Doors in 1965.
If you are a Doors fan or not this book is required reading! Puts to shame
all the other efforts by dubious authors to get to the psyche of The
REAL Jim Morrison.If you read this book you will come away knowing a lot
more about Jim than you ever thought you would. The book is packed full of
details about Jim and his Alexandria milieu that will keep you turning the
pages for more and more. This is a FUN book! Rare photos too! Add it to
your library today! This IS the real deal!!I'm on my 3rd reading!!
-Richard Castleton,VA.

An exceptional book that is not just for Doors fans
Many of Jim Morrison's influences have been well documented: the French symbolists, James Joyce, the Beat writers, and the 1960s Los Angeles scene. Still, there are gaps in understanding his terrifying genius and talented rage.

Mark Opsasnick highlights the influences of one of the most misunderstood periods in Morrison's brief life, his high school years in the once-sleepy town of Alexandria, Virginia--right outside of Washington, DC. Opsasnick documents these influences with plenty of cultural history and numerous, skillful interviews with people who knew Morrison, or perhaps knew him as well as anyone did.

Unlike some other accounts of the band, the author's scholarship and attention to historical detail are simply exceptional. He is thorough, though never pedantic. Opsasnick, a talented cultural historian, makes these languid years return, alive again in all of their strangling proventialism. Yet he does this without bowing to cheap nostalgia or contemporary cultural haughtiness. He writes like someone who is intensely interested in his topic, the times, and his town. Maybe this is why this book book is so hard to put down.

Opsanick does not try to solve the mystery of who Jim Morrison "really was". (In fact, he lets the reader ponder a delightful new enigma as an epilogue.) Instead, he describes a key developmental period of a petulant introvert, who would later reinvent himself and shock the world.And in doing so, the author wrote an immensely enjoyable book for anyone with even a casual interest in the Doors, the DC area, or the cultural hollowness of the late 1950s. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (19)

An Abridged No One Here...
Without Jerry Hopkins writing No One Here Gets Out Alive The Doors might still be languishing in the obscurity they found themselves in, in the 70's. Hopkins researched and wrote No One Here after Jim Morrison's death but was unable to find a publisher for the manuscript so he shelved it. Danny Sugerman came across the manuscript and asked Hopkins if could see if he could find a publisher, Hopkins said "ok," and Sugerman along with Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek either did some `editing' or rewrote portions of the manuscript (depending on whose story you believe.) Sugerman did find a publisher and it spurred The Doors revival.

The Lizard King, The Essential Jim Morrison is a stripped down biography of Morrison's life and career. Hopkins breaks the chapters more or less into archetypal periods of Morrison's life. Most of the stories are familiar to Doors fans and does include a few new ones. In the introduction of the book Hopkins says this book isn't one of his original manuscripts for No One Here (there were two) but that he was taking a "second pass at the legend" and was based on new information and new interviews. Some of the information contradicts that in No One Here and other biographies, whether that's due to correcting of bad information (that now seems to be canon in the Morrison legend) or just bad fact checking.

The subtitle of the book The Essential Jim Morrison is a bit of a misnomer, usually books that are titled `Essential' are compilations of a writers work either his most influential work or his complete works. One of the unique features of The Lizard King are the seven interviews that follow the biography. The interviews are from different journalists and different publications (including Hopkins own interview with Morrison that was in Rolling Stone) from approximately Morrison's mid-career to ones that were shortly before he left for Paris. In the age of CD's and DVD's these interviews seem like bonus features but ones that aren't usually present in Morrison biographies, Jim Morrison in his own words.

TLK: The Essential Jim Morrison
The Essential Jim Morrison is a well written and concise account of The Doors' history and complex dynamics. The author is close enough to the subject that important details are shared yet thankfully without coming off as a sycophant as happened in a previously coauthored book. I can recommend, without hesitation, The Essential Jim Morrison.

Sorry - But it is a money making sham.
Fortunately or unfortunately I have read almost every Morrison book ever published.I respect Jerry Hopkins, but this book is so obviously published just to make money off of Morrison's name that it is somewhat embarrassing.There is nothing new in this book at all, just a bad rip off of "No one Here Gets Out Alive", which wasn't even that good to begin with.

What I found...
In "The Lizard King" by Jerry hopkins was a really good book but there were some mistakes that can confuse first time readers..
Like on pg.80 it said "'Strange Days', the song that insisted that people were ugly when they're alone".But we all know that those lyrics come from the song "People are Strange" not "Strange Days".Also on pg.100 it said that the documentary the Doors made (Feast of Friends) came form the song "The End" but those lyrics come from "When the Music's Over".And, finally on pg.127 it said "In the summer and fall of 1989, Jim rented first the second and then the ground floor of a building across the street from Elektra offices".I wasn't aware that Jim was alive in 1989.But besides the mistakes I thougth that Jerry did an excellent job on the book.

The Lizard King
The Lizard King by Jerry Hopkins is a very interesting book.It is filled with wild stories of being on the road, performing at concerts, and taking part in the Los Angeles party scene.The book is well written, and really held my attention.Any person who enjoys a nostalgic trip through the groovy 60s will enjoy this book.It gives a sense of how society was affected by music and the changing times.
The Lizard King clearly depicts Jim Morrison's entire life; starting with his fairly average childhood in a military family, his wild college years, and the fast paced years with his band, The Doors.All of the events that are chronicled lead up to his untimely demise, which is still somewhat of a mystery and is widely disputed.There are several interviews at the end of the book, collected from various magazines that were popular in the late 60s, which show the intellectual side of Jim Morrison. I highly recommend this book to all fans of The Doors, or anyone that is interested in Jim Morrison- the rock star poet. This page-turner is sure to captivate anyone who reads it. ... Read more

Product Description
Part devil, part angel, the specter of Jim Morrison has haunted America's consciousness since his premature death in 1971. His spirit seemed dark, and the graphic despair of his Lizard King persona reigned supreme in his lifetime, but Jim Morrison died with a smile on his face. Was his journey through the afterlife as tumultuous as his journey through life? This is the question Mick Farren answers in his fascinatingly complex novel based on one of the twentieth century's most enigmatic figures.

Jim Morrison's Adventures in the Afterlife picks up the story of Morrison as he hurtles through a purgatory-like afterlife in search of some way to bring his soul to peace. Along the way he finds Doc Holliday--and together they find themselves chasing the restless fire-and-brimstone evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, whose soul has broken after death into two warring halves. McPherson's sexier half becomes the object of Jim's obsession, and as the two struggle to find each other in this disordered land, their wild, careening chase through a dozen dystopiae recalls imagined worlds as diverse as Burgess's A Clockwork Orange or Terry Gilliam's Brazil.

This is a daring, hilarious romp through the landfill of millennial society. Possessed of an imagination that rivals that of any of our edgiest fantasists, steeped in the detritus and ephemera of three decades of pop culture, Mick Farren has crafted in this new novel a bizarre and compelling fantasia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Hilarious and introspective
I've rarely read a book that made me laugh out loud, but this one did...over and over and over again. The juxtaposition of anachronistic characters onto surreal settings with a fine undertext of spirituality made for a quick, interesting read that kept me laughing and ultimately startled me by capping entertainment with a thoughtful statement. From the moment Jim Morrison rides a boat with Doc Holliday through the gates of Hell to hire Virgil as a guide through the brothels and casinos of the commercialized fire and brimstone, I knew this was a book I'd always remember and have to read over and over.

For Us "Non-Morrison" Fans
Being a little too young to be a true Morrison fan, I came across this book by a friendly recommendation.One word - Fabulous.The idea of Jim morrison hanging out with Doc Holiday in Hell while a sexy Dominatrix watches porn inside Godzilla's brain with Jesus and a goat is more than simple "light-reading".(The hardcover is a nice conversation piece on your coffee table as well.)I highly recommend this book to anyone who can truly take a joke.
I just wonder what form of chemistry author Farren studied in school.....

Sci-Fi Fantasy and Wit
Despite the title this book is about a rather Hell-ish Afterworld, not Jim Morrison. The Door's aficionado looking for a book about Jim Morrison will need to look elsewhere.

This amusing and very readable book has A LOT in common with the Riverworld Saga by Philip Jose Farmerwhich beganwith the Sci-Fi novel: "To Your Scattered Bodies Go" , written sveral decades ago. Or early Vonnegut (especially Slaughter House 5).

Don't expect deep ruminations of cosmic signifigance. This is a book filled with sarcastic wit, a complex plot, a sense of humor. It isn't about Morrison, or Doc Holiday or Aimee Semple McPherson. (However ASMcP's doppleganger "Semple" is one of the more amusing characters I have encountered in American fiction in the last 20 years.

If you were able to read "The Hitchhiker's guide to The Universe", or any Vonnegaut novel, you may enjoy this novel. The humor is certainly a notch above watching re-runs of Seinfeld.

It is a light-weight novel.. a great summer read. You'll score no points with the literati, but it worth reading. ESPECIALLY if it leads you back to the PJ Farmer "Riverworld" saga.

You don't need to be a SF buff to enjoy this book.

Romping into the Afterlife
"Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here", displayed above the entrance to Hell, might be a good subtitle for this book.It was richly entertaining, but don't open it up expecting any deep meditations on redemption, the nature of the soul, suicide by stardom, or any of thesubjects Morrison himself might have written on.No, this is just good,clean fantasy, a romp through the Afterlife, with Sex, Drugs, and a Rock'n' Roll attitude.If you don't like this kind of wild fantasy, don'tstart, because this is a *long* book, one that demands a hefty suspensionof disbelief and a good commitment of time.

"It might even be more extreme.Plus we'll have the honey!"
I will try to refrain from wasting space by tearing apart Mr.Price's inappropriate review...but-a brief retort: Considering that Mick is,in no small part,a prominent 60's personage himself,and quite likely at least metMorrison,I feel he is uniquely qualified to use Jim's spectre and essenceas a FICTIONAL CHARACTER!Let's face it,if you want biography andretospective,Danny Sugarman said it all.This story is about Jim's,and manyothers, purported afterlife,where anything goes...except trying to attainGodhood-the only no-no in Farren's cunningly crafted cosmology...or is itcosmogony?In Mick's topsy- turvey creation,hedonistic excess seems to bethe order of the day.You are allowed to punish yourself,if you sodesire,but what for?You're already dead! My fondest wish is,when I die,Ican end up in a game of five-card stud with Doc Holliday,Lucifer,and MickFarren! Mick has yet to write a stinker.I have never met one of his booksI didn't love,and I've read them ALL! Hunt them down,you won't bedisappointed! ... Read more

Product Description
Linda Ashcroft offers an intimate memoir of Jim Morrison at the height of his career. This vivid portrait is based on her diaries from the four-year period when she knew Morrison. "Wild Child," one of Morrison's most popular songs, was written for Ashcroft. Morrison's dreams and demons, and the meaning behind his lyrics and poems, are revealed through Ashcroft's evocative writing. Wild Child is a richly detailed and passionate account of what life was like with the legendary Doors singer. It is also the first book to illuminate the mystery of Morrison's death through the words of the woman who was with him when he died in Paris, Pamela Courson. Before flying to Paris, Morrison told the author: "It may have been in bits and pieces, but I gave you the best of me." In return, Linda Ashcroft gives us the best of Jim Morrison. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (67)

Not a True Story...
I have read every book written about Jim Morrison, and the story that Ashcroft writes does not mesh with any of Morrison's life history. I have kept every single book about him, but this book was so unbelievable, that I threw it away.

Ashcroft portrays Morrison as a pedafile that wants to marry her, and she claims to be the only woman (really a child @ 15) that he wants for all eternity.

My guess is that Ashcroft was one of his want to be groupies, that never got anywhere with him, except in her childhood fantasies. I doubt that she ever met him, or even attended any of his concerts.

Oh, and I almost forgot. She claims to have written his music with him, and she claims to be a genius just like him. LOL...

If you like a fictional story about the fantasy mind of a 15 year old child, then it is a fairly good book. If you want a book about Jim Morrison, this is not it. I hope this review helps you in your choice.

Maybe yes maybe no
To be sure this is a controversial book.For a 15 year old girl Miss Ashcroft was certainly extremely sophisticated and she also made it appear that she was in great control of her emotions.Adolescents rarely have this level of savvy.The one question I have not seen in the reviews of her book is the most OBVIOUS of all -is it not common practice to date your journal entries?Come on!For someone who can conjure up such great detail in remembering things, how is it she would leave off the beginning step to any journal entry.But to be fair one should look at the Morrison journal entries - his songs!I think this guy was sooo famous, he may very well have needed a 'hidden person' in his life who wasn't 'connected' to his everyday goingson.I liked the book alot.It was much better written than PK's.It has some pretty terrific stories.Morrison Hotel may very well validate how he really felt about this girl.The lyrics fit with her view.I'd like to believe she was the 'real deal' for him but there are too many unverifiable claims - dead people and stolen property.Don't real thieves rifle through more than a box in the closet?The book is worth the read whether or not any of it can be accounted for.Apparently Morrison promised to come back for PK too after he ditched Pam.In essence what you end up with is the mighty question of the old short story - the lady or the tiger?You decide.

Wild Dreaming
I'm giving this 4 stars for the beautiful writing, what a pity Linda Ashcroft & her publishers labelled this book as non-fiction. She has the capabilities to be a wonderful writer of novels, which is of course what this book is. A powerfully evocative recreation of the intensity of teenage feelings & fantasies, with barely a fact in sight. I know the saying is "if you can remember the 60s you weren't there", but it's too unlikely that nobody from that era remembers Morrison's underage friend.Forget the outrageous claims & enjoy the classic story of the unawakened girl & the man nobody knows except her. Perhaps the writer will make enough money to get some therapy & develop her undoubted talents.

Well-Written, But A Suspicious Memoir.
Jim Morrison has become such a mythic figure that it is almost impossible to take ANY biography about the man 100% at face value, but there are some excellent books which have come close to being complete records of the rock star's turbulent career, most notably James Riordan's epic, brilliant "Break On Through: The Life And Death Of Jim Morrison." Linda Ashcroft caused quite a stir with her own contribution, "Wild Child," not because it revealed anything of concrete value, but because from the first chapter it is obvious that this more a work of fiction than an actual memoir. Ashcroft is one of the many attractive, now aged beauties who claim to have had a passionate love affair with Morrison when his band, The Doors, was changing the rock world with it's dark blend of music and poetry. Before Ashcroft the most famous lover (aside from his famous girlfriend Pam Courson) was Patricia Kennealy, a wiccan who married Morrison in a pagan ceremony. Kennealy has photographs and even Doors band members admit Morrison did have some sort of relationship with her, but Ashcroft's book plays more like a well-written fantasy, a poetic daydream without any evidence to ground it in reality. Notice that she includes typical, basic concert photos and official Doors studio shots, and a photo of one curiously handwritten note "from Morrison." The book itself is a literate take on the virginal teenage girl meets wild man story as Ashcroft recalls meeting this poetic, yet dangerous leather-clad singer who breaks down her fears and takes away her virginity. Ashcroft even attempts at inserting herself into Doors history by claiming that Morrison wrote the song "Wild Child" for her, eventhough by better accounts it was written for Pamela Courson. There are some typical Morrison moments where he reads her from Ginsberg's "Howl," or chats about Kerouac. As a novel it is also well-assembled, but as biography it is just undigestable, especially when Ashcroft places herself in specific moments and events that Doors sources have already discounted. One should be impressed at how Ashcroft can keep it all going for 499 pages, as the affair tears her apart inside as Morrison dabbles in hard drinking and drug binges, and of course the 60s swirls around them with Vietnam raging etc. One of the disappointments in terms of fictional writing is Morrison's dialogue which is never believable, it never reads like a normal man talking, but Ashcroft simply writing lines for the mythical icon we've all come to know as The Lizard King. He says exactly what we would expect the Jim Morrison of the album covers, posters and Oliver Stone movie to say, never do we feel like these are two individuals sharing real, intimate moments, maybe because they never did. "Wild Child" has earned it's place among the notable Morrison books to be published in the last 10 years, at least because its so bold in it's invention. Three stars because it is a fun read and Doors fans would get a kick out of it, especially with Ashcroft's referencing of song titles and lyrics, but as a work of truth, this one doesn't pass the test.

Must read for any real doors fan
gives u a view of how jim really was and what made him great beyond his music career ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

not that great!
This book does not have any new pictures of Jim Morisson. It is more likea scrap book ofmorisson pictures, concert posters etc.. Overall there areother better books to buy beforegetting this one. One I would recommendwould be Jim Morrison:My Eyes Have Seen You by Jerry Prochnicky & JoeRusso. Ofcourse there are others too.

Bad poetry, poor quality pictures
Okay, it was the 70's, so maybe the newsprint-quality photos are all the Wicentsens had to work with. The ultimate offense of this book are themooning, pathetic, high-school quality poems that accompany the muddyphotographs. And these are not Jim Morrison's mooning, pathetic poems(which are execrable enough in their own right) but the poems of...?Ihave no idea who. Perhaps the Wicentsens have neices or teach high schoolwriting classes. This book is not worth the $8.95, and Half-Price Booksonly gave me 50 cents for it, even though I only looked through it once. Ican't believe these people had the gall to present this book as an attemptto jump on the Morrison Death Cult bandwagon. Want gorgeous Morrisonphotos? Try Dark Star.

images of the unknown archetype
This book contains not only pictures of Jim Morrison but also rare interviews.This is a totally unbiased book on the part of the author and is critical in the objective understanding of the man behind the myth. Out of all related books I rate this one by far as the best. ... Read more

Product Description
The Jim Morrison you know, unlike most public figures, is largely based on accounts of the last five years of his life. More than forty books have been published about him, and each one reveals nothing more than the last. The reason for this is because no one in the Morrison clan has ever revealed the true details (nor will they ever) about Jim's life inside the family. My personal account of these events provides rare glimpses and intimate insights into the other side of Jim Morrison and the people who loved him. All profits from this edition go to the Kimberley Graham Cancer Recovery Fund. --A. R. Graham ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A Perspective of Jim Morrison Not Ordinarily Seen
In Alan Graham's, I Remember Jim Morrison, there is an afterword by Scott Graves which says, "The statement, "I remember," is an existential one..." and Graham has stated that he would like the reader to consider I Remember Jim Morrison; "I wanted to present the book as if it were just a group of people at a gathering sitting around telling memorable stories, tales, anecdotes, jokes, etc.," these states of remembrance can add shadings of their own. The hearth may provide the warm softening glow of nostalgia, or hardens with bias, the picture of Jim Morrison may or may not be "factual," but it is Alan Graham's Jim Morrison.

Alan Graham was Jim Morrison's brother-in-law, he married Morrison's sister Anne in 1966, and he and Anne lived in close proximity to the Morrison's parents. Graham met Jim in 1968 and they seemed to have hit it off pretty well, Graham provides quite a few anecdotes about him and Morrison taking off and having adventures (or misadventures) that perhaps only someone like Jim Morrison was able to provide. Al Graham's Jim Morrison isn't one we're unfamiliar with, the Jim Morrison who is erudite, quick witted, the Jim Morrison who does something outrageous and laughs at the situation.

There's no linear narrative in I Remember. The book also strives to give us a feeling for and some insight into the players we haven't seen much of before namely, Jim's parents, and Anne and Andy Morrison, each are given a couple page synopsis of their lives and what they're like. Graham also offers the origins and meanings behind some of Morrison's lyrics. Jim Morrison may well have told Graham these anecdotes on how the songs were created but Morrison had a habit of telling different people different stories about the origins of the songs. Just about every book you read on Morrison and The Doors will have witnesses testifying about the origin or meanings of songs, some more authoritatively than others, and every story will be different!

I Remember falls into the same trap as other books that say "the real story of Jim Morrison has never been told! Other books only tell of the drunken, sensationalized stories of Jim Morrison, this is the first book that tells the whole truth about Jim Morrison." And they proceed to tell their Jim Morrison stories that have exactly that, the author going out with Morrison and the trouble they got into, or the outrageous situation they found themselves in because of something Morrison did. That's exactly what happens here, the first sixty pages are stories of Graham roaring off into the night with Morrison and drinking.

A problem I had in reading I Remember Jim Morrison is that Alan Graham seems to have a lot of axe's to grind and grind them he does. Pam Courson seems to be nothing more than a grasping, shrewish, drug addict, which it may have seemed to Graham, but at some point, if your brother-in-law is hanging around with this type of person, wouldn't you ask him why? Obviously, Jim Morrison saw much more in Pam Courson than this, but if Jim ever mentioned it to Alan Graham it's not reported for us. Regarding others thatsurrounded Jim, Graham doesn't have a good word to say about any of them. Ray, Robby and John seem nothing more than Morrison's backing band and Graham does refer to them this way even though Graham puts himself at a couple recording sessions with The Doors. The only people who do seem to come off well are Graham, Anne Morrison, and Jim's parents who Graham seems to have a lot of respect for (especially Jim's father). Some of these family anecdotes are endearing and funny but some times they left me mystified as to why they were included.

The structure of the book seems a little ad-hoc, it jumps from one section to another and back without much reason. It may adhere to the spirit of the book like sitting around a table and telling stories but Jim Morrison remains out of focus, a fuzzy silhouette of memory, it doesn't allow us to see the real Jim Morrison or even the one Alan Graham knew.

The persona Jim Morrison presented to the world is a fictional character, everyone who knew Jim Morrison knew a different Jim Morrison, but it is the persona Jim Morrison created for public consumption. For those of us who didn't know the living breathing man and try to figure out "who the real Jim Morrison was," perhaps it's like trying to figure out what Shakespeare's voice sounded like. Soon all we'll have left are these not so silent witnesses to Morrison and it will be left to us to puzzle which is the "real" Jim. That proposition may only be possible through reading about the "Jim Morrison" each author knew and come to your own conclusions on who Jim Morrison was.

A must for every Doors fan!
This book gave me a lot of new information about Jim Morrison which made him more "human-like" in my eyes. I have the feeling that the author is not into this only for the money. I just loved this book!

A Must Read for any Jim Morrison Fan
"I Remember" is a delightful, anecdotal series of vignettes involving the author, his wife and her brother, Jim Morrison. Previously unpublished Morrison family history is revealed and immediately draws one back into the life-renewing and tumultuous times of the late 60's and early 70's. So many families experienced similar flashes as their offspring endeavored to learn who they were, and what life and this world were all about. Alan Graham echoes the truth of those times that were indeed changing.A must read for any true Jim Morrison fan.

Rip off and totally disappointing
Well. What can I say. Being a Doors collector I had to buy this book as the author promised some new insights in the Jim Morrison and aimed at trying to tell "the real" story of "the real" Jim Morrison. First of all the book looks like it was typed and printed on the author's home PC with a font size of approx 36. Thus the book can be easily read in 45 minutes and is already not worth the dollars. But the really embarassing thing is that the author does not tell us what the real Jim was like...It appears that he only met him 3-4 times (at least only 3-4 meetings are described in the book). Obviously there contact was not as close as the author proclaims. Whereas the author certainly was married to Jim's sister it appears he not really had an intensive contact with him. And so the book does not contain ONE photo with Jim and the author. Funny, isn't it? But we have several pictures of his father and mother (what does this tell us about the real Jim Morrison?) or pictures that have been published in tons of other books. And everytime the author describes a meeting with Jim he tells a story of Jim being intoxicated or freaking out. This is already covered in tons of books and the Doors Movie. I am still desperately trying to understand what the new insights are on Jim other than that he contacted his sister every now and then.

So - totally disappointing and way to pricy. If you want to learn about Jim's youth buy Mark Opsasnicks book ("The lizard king was here") which gives you tremendous insights into the pre-doors Jim Morrison.

A Wonderful Recollection

I am a sixty-year old woman, born and bred in Liverpool, England. Looking back on my youth, the Sixties were most certainly an unforgettable and magical era. I recall sneaking off to my clandestine lunchtime sessions at the Cavern Club where the not-yet-famous Beatles would gig almost daily. My three big brothers, John, Alan, and Frankie, were in the thick of that magical time and I used to follow them around like a puppy dog.

John was the first to depart Liverpool and head for London where all the action was. He went on to become the road manager for a then famous group known as Johnny Kidd and the Pirates.

Alan followed soon after where he met his American girlfriend whom he later married. I travelled from Liverpool to Surrey in London where they were living to meet their beautiful new baby boy, ''Dylan''. Shortly after, they left England for a new life in America. I was heartbroken. My two big brothers had gone from my life. Only Frankie remained in Liverpool where he met and married his childhood sweet heart, Lana...

But I digress -- never a real Doors fan, I read every book that was ever written about them. The reason being was that the American girl my brother Alan had married in 1967 just happened to be Jim Morrison's sister, Anna. After reading each and every book, I would call Alan and ask him, ''Is this true or fiction?'' His reply would always be the same. ''Norma it is lies, all lies. Nobody outside the Morrison family ever knew the real Jim. One day when the time is right, I am going to write my own book and tell it like it really was, who the real Jim Morrison was''. Like a mantra he would repeat, ''One day when the time is right I will tell it like it really was.''

Well, lo and behold, he did it! Alan's new book, "I REMEMBER", is an amazing read and an absolute must for the millions of Morrison fans all over the globe. It is extra special to me because over a forty-year span, Alan had already told me all those crazy stories especially as those concerning Jim. My brother, Alan Graham, was then and still is a lunatic of Olympian standards. He is also a true humanitarian and works tirelessly devoting his time and energy to numerous charities.
In my opinion, it is like he brought the Lizard King back to life for a while. He told it like it really was. Well done, our kid! Your family in the great city of Liverpool, England beams with pride.

Norma Veronica Malins ... Read more

Product Description
The softcover edition examines the turbulent relationship between legendary Doors frontman Jim Morrison and his common-law wife, Pamela Courson, tracing the lives of Courson and Morrison before their fateful meeting in 1965, their lives together until Morrison's death in 1971, and Coursin's life without Morrison, including her fight to gain the rights to his estate until her death from a heroin overdose on April 25, 1974. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (111)

She's Still a Mystery to Me
Having already read several Morrison-Doors related bios in the past, including the excellent "No One Here Gets Out Alive" and the book by Jim's alleged "wife" Patricia Kennealy, I got the sense that the story of Jim Morrison and his relationships definitely had three sides - his, hers, and the truth - or maybe even more than that.I was eager to read this book in hopes of solving another piece of the puzzle.As some others have noted, it's clear the author did much research and made a concerted effort to tell the intimate story of Jim and Pam, as well as present information that hadn't already been done to death in other Morrison books, such as interviews with childhood friends.Unfortunately, much of the key information about this couple either was private to them and died along with them, or else has been denied/ protected by their families (although some family members reportedly cooperated to some degree with the author).Therefore, the reader doesn't get a clear picture of Pam, her background, her motivations and her thought processes beyond simply being the beautiful, wild and possessive consort of a famous and doomed rock star.

For example, we learn that Pam, like Jim, had a murky and possibly dysfunctional childhood that may have contributed to her "acting out" behavior as a child, teen and adult, but most of the details of Pam's early life are unconfirmed or missing.The first couple of chapters of the book focus on Jim and provide information that will be familiar to anyone who's read up on him elsewhere.When Pam finally enters the story as a little girl growing up in suburban Orange County, we hear that she misbehaved frequently, was considered a "bad seed", lacked friends and along with her sister was isolated from playmates, but we never find out exactly why or what was going on in the household to make her act up.Following Pam's abrupt departure from high school, the story fast-forwards to her meeting with Jim, giving the impression that this anorectic "ugly duckling" suddenly moved to LA and immediately became the beautiful belle of the ball with men, including Morrison, falling instantly at her feet when she entered the room. While Pam was undoubtedly lovely, there had to be more to the story than that.

Most of the rest of the story describes Jim's rise to fame with the Doors and retells all the familiar tales of Pam as veering between a playful child-woman and a screaming harpy who spent Jim's money profligately, threw plate-smashing temper tantrums and never ceased demanding that he stay home with her instead of staying out all night.It seems clear that while Jim loved Pam and turned to her for excitement and inspiration much the same way that F. Scott Fitzgerald relied on his Zelda for excitement and challenge, he also had many other women (probably including Patricia Kennealy) who he turned to for intellectual companionship and, well, peace and quiet.The book keeps suggesting that Pam had intellectual capacities that past portrayals have missed, which may well be true given that Jim kept returning to her for years and didn't get bored, but the book fails to cite any actual examples of Pam's alleged brainpower.

In the end, the impression is that of a beautiful couple-of-the-moment who, like F. Scott and Zelda, were mutually dazzled with each other's gifts and clung to each other out of a shared insecurity and need for risks, kicks and stimulation.It's an interesting story, but a short one due to both parties having untimely passed, and like most Doors books, it presents a wealth of information on Jim but not as much about Pam as I would have liked.She remains a tantalizing and slightly murky mystery lady.

Surprisingly, the book also contains fewer pictures of Pam than I would have expected.Many of the pictures are of the Doors, of Jim performing, or of inanimate story locales such as houses, schools and graves.A couple of times, photos of Pam are mentioned in the text but not actually shown - might the author have had trouble getting permission to use certain photos?Pam was definitely gorgeous and I would have loved to see, as well as read about, much more of her.I hope this won't be the last book that focuses on her.

WHAT I WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT PAM AND JIM TOGETHER AND AS INDIVIDUALS...EXCELLENT READ
I am just amazed at how Patricia Butler got all the information. Job excellently done, Ms. Butler. Thank you. Ever since the 1991 movie "The Doors," I have been curious about not only Jim, but Pam as well and have purchased a book or two (by different authors), but Patricia Butler certainly fills in the holes and tells the story many times better. Patricia Butler is a fantastic writer. I have about 20 pages yet to read, and I can't wait to get to it. I am very glad to know the reason Jim died, what Ms. Butler writes --the truth, I'm sure-- makes total sense. These two are very intriguing people, thanks for the great read.

Story of Pam & Jim
The book of the romance of Jim Morrison and Pamela Courson was an interesting book to read although didn't contain anything new. It was interesting,however, to learn more about Pamela, as much isn't known about her apart from her being Jim's Girlfriend. Doors fans will have heared the story before, but the book does give a vivid account of life in the 60's L.A

Themis is a place of magic, where the mind and body meet
Butler has found some people who remember Pam and Jim the way they were, and uncovered some new information, yet seems incapable of performing any analysis at length.Her chapters are choppy, like bursts of a pneumatic air hammer.I have to give her credit for wanting to write this book in the first place, and for making Pamela Courson, so mysterious in other accounts of her life, and so oddly played by Meg Ryan in the Oliver Stone movie, into more of a three dimensional character--who, as it turns out, was rather like one's own idea of Meg Ryan in the first place!

We hear a lot about Pam's other two famous boyfriends, and in both cases Patrica Butler has new information.The actor Christopher Jones, once married to Susan Strasberg and on his own Hollywood's "It Boy" for about three months, seems as if he could have been a contender for bumped Jim out of the picture, but he wasn't really all that into Pam in the long run.Then there was the recently deceased actor John Philip Law, from BARBARELLA and SKIDOO, here denying that there was ever anything between him and Pam, but I get the picture he was trying to ge a gentleman and remove any ammunition her detractors could use against Pam.I'm not so sure things werem't more serious than Law later copped to.

Best part of the book?The "Themis" photos--color photos for which Jim and Pam posed as supermodels to advertise Pam's boutique THEMIS.How I would have loved to go to THEMIS!I like the way all the clothes were super expensive anyhow, and when the wives of the other Doors would go to try to help out business, Pam would delight in charging them extra!Now, that's just mean.But the photos are very beautiful, even though the sheer crassness of them made me lose a little respect for Jim who really seems to be selling out.That kind of selling out I usually associate with the 80s and 90s, not the 60s!But there you do, the book is a real eye opener in every way.

Wow! Great read
There is not much else to say but this was a great book. Great pics. of the cosmic mates. Paticia Keenealy, eat your bitter heart out!!!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (133)

JIMMY NEVER MADE IT
I ORDERED IN GOOD FAITH UNFORTUNATELY IT NEVER MADE IT AND NO RESPONSE FROM SELLER.THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME TO ORDER FROM AMAZON AND TOO BAD IT WILL BE MY LAST.

No One Gets Out Alive
This is a good read - of course any information obtained regarding Jim Morrison is okay w/me as I am trying to learn all I can about the man.This bio goes into some depth of events and character profile but it's not a book I can't put down as was w/Ray Manzarek's "Light MY Fire".If you are a Morrison fan read this - lots of interesting details - you can't go wrong.

Experience is what you do with what happens to you. Or with what you read?
I wanted to give a shout out in the title of this review to Aldous Huxley "Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you." Since the Doors name was inspired by him "There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception"

I first read this book when I was 17 and almost in one sitting. It is an adventure.If you are a fan of the band, the man and or the music this is the book to read.

Since then I have made a pilgrimage to Jim's grave in Paris, consulted on the movie and met the remaining members. I never mention the book to them but on the way to a show in Los Angeles in a van full of friends and new acquaintances the subject did come up. One young guy around my age excitedly proclaimed "That book changed my life!"I replied "I know it is a really good book" "No you don't understand." he said. "That book changed my life. That book is the reason I moved to L.A., the reason I joined the CIA!" The van went dead silent. After a brief pause he went on to add "Yeah, I'm gonna change it from the inside!"

The takeaway is not only is this a great book for fans, with a perfect title, but one could say it certainly has the potential to be influential as well.Going full circle back to the Huxley quote regarding "experience".[...]

Outstanding Bio!
This biography was incredibly well written. Spanning the entire life of Jim Morrison, the book covers most sides of Jim Morrison's public (and private) persona. I walked away from Oliver Stone's 'The Doors' thinking that Morrison was an insane drunk who really didn't feel much love for anyone but himself. This book changed my attitude. Yes, Jim was a raging drunk who did some really stupid things, but there was also a human side to him...whether it was in quiet deep conversations with friends or getting Rolling Stone's tickets for one of his workers, Morrison did have a loving side to him.

The book delves into his young life as an almost fatherless child. It talks a great deal about his literature influences at a young age...and when you read what his influences were you start to understand his music more. The book covers the start of Morrison's musical career as well as his career in poetry.

I especially loved the pictures scattered throughout the book...there is a section in the middle of the book of glossed pages full of pictures, as well as tons of photos throughout the book itself. Through these pictures you really see the physical toll that alcohol was taking on him during his short time of being a 'rock star/poet'

Another great feature of this book was that I came to learn that Jim was more of a poet than a rock star. He was a great performer but was sick of it...He wanted to be poet first and foremost.

Anyways, to anyone even remotely interested in the Doors, I 100% recommend this book. It is well researched and well written, and shows a side of life most aren't accustomed to.

A good introduction to Morrison
I read this book in high school when it first came out.At that point Morrison had been dead for about a decade and had faded from the general public memory except for the occasional playing of "Break on Through" or "Light my Fire" as classic radio oldies.Therefore, when people my age (I was about 15) stumbled on old Doors albums or any information about Jim's seemingly tragic life we tended to be intrigued that there was more to Jim than just a couple of Top 40 hits and we wanted to know more. Those of us who happened to be girls were also mesmerized by the photos of Jim showing an incredibly sexy and attractive man.Needless to say, when this book came out we were all over it.I remember at least two copies of this book circulating among my Catholic girls' high school peers for weeks, even being read by girls who were not normally into rock history.I would say this book contributed quite a bit to Jim getting a latter-day cult following of people way too young to have known who he was the first time around.

This book is a fast-paced read, co-written by Danny Sugerman who knew Jim and the Doors personally and worked for them before and after Jim's death. If you don't know much about Morrison this book is a great place to start, as it covers all the major events of his life from his childhood through his untimely death.

Since this book was written and Jim proved to be a hot commodity (anyone remember the posthumous Rolling Stone cover, "Jim Morrison:He's hot, he's sexy and he's dead"), many other Doors books have followed, including ones by ex-bandmate John Densmore, ex-girlfriend Patricia Kennealy, and another by Danny Sugerman.These books for the most part expand on or give more details about events already recounted in "No One Here Gets Out Alive".As such, people looking for more details about Morrison might be more interested in the later books and find this one lacking now that many other references are available, which was certainly not the case when the book first came out.This book is still good as an introduction to Jim's life or for the casual reader just looking for a good rock book with the requisite doses of glamour and excess.

One interesting aspect of this book is that while Sugerman knew Jim personally and (as shown by his own memoir, "Wonderland Avenue") had generally positive experiences with him, the book doesn't try to sugarcoat Jim or play down his bad points.In fact he comes off worse in this book than he does in a lot of other Jim/ Doors books.

... Read more