Light My Fire by Ray Manzarek
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Book Reviews of Light My Fire
Book Review: You've lit my Fire, Ray!
Summary: 5 Stars
Just as Patricia Kennealy's "Strange Days" is overwritten, Manzarek's book is definitely underwritten. But don't get me wrong - this is a great book and Ray does a great job taking us along with him down memory lane. However, Ray could and should have written more, considering he was in the most prominent band of the 1960's. Doors' keyboardist Ray Manzarek includes the reader on his journey from his roots in Chicago to the end of the Doors as a group in Los Angeles. Moreover, he writes to us, not at us, like some other author(s) who have written about Morrison/The Doors. I was disappointed that Manzarek did not describe to us his first visit to Morrison's grave: what did he feel? what did he think? Surely someone who spent as much time with Jim as Ray could have provided us with such insights. When he recalls the time Morrison walked into the Doors studio with a woman named Sable who had a bruised thigh and told Manzarek that Jim had hit her with a board, Manzarek doesn't even mention it to Morrison - at least he doesn't tell us in his book. Furthermore, Manzarek doesn't even go into the relationship between Morrison and Patricia Kennealy. He simply states, "she fell in love with him. Madly." That's it? How did he know this? Or does mean to imply by his choice of the word "madly" that she took it far too seriously than Morrison did? Hmm . . . I wonder. Anyhow, despite these shortcomings, the rest of his book is superb - written well with a lot of humor, honesty, and love. It is clear that Ray loved being a Door, loved the times (good and bad), and loved Jim Morrison - and he still does to this day. Ray and Jim were/are both intellects and got along very well. I would go so far to say that Ray was the only person who understood Jim, and for this reason, I think he could have written more. In any event, Ray Manzarek is my favorite member of The Doors and always will be. I recommend "Light My Fire" very highly - whether or not you are a Doors fan - it's a great read.Book Review: What it was like in the sixties
Summary: 5 Stars
What a fun read this is: the Doors from the perspective of the keyboard player who was the most distinctive part of their sound. Manzarek was also a founding member, as it was the meeting of him and Jim Morrison that led to the formation of the band. The name was Morrison's idea, and it predated the addition of Robbie Krieger and John Densmore to the lineup.
This book focuses heavily on Manzarek's background and the earliest days of the band. Some reviewers have complained about that, but these are the areas where Manzarek has the most to offer. I especially like Manzarek's insights on the music. Most Doors accounts are so Morrison-obsessed that little attention is paid to the music. There is certainly no shortage of Morrison worship here, but at least it is balanced with some discussion of the music itself. Manzarek's insights into the musical structure of "Light My Fire," in particular, are fascinating.
John Densmore does not come off well in this book, and I have no idea whether Manzarek's portrayal of him is accurate. Manzarek's crticisms of Oliver Stone ring true, however, as we can see the evidence in Stone's movies. Thankfully, Manzarek only occasionally interrupts the flow of the narrative to offer criticisms. His tone is mostly very positive and joyful.
There is a lot of hippie philosophizing, which I take with a grain of salt. This is a book about the sixties, after all. The music was fantastic back then, and the Doors were at the top of the heap, so Manzarek has earned the right to wax philosophical. Like them or not, the LSD and the Eastern religious mysticism are essential parts of the story, and Manzarek makes you feel what it was like to be there when it was all happening and anything seemed possible, including Jim Morrison becoming president someday--seriously!
Book Review: Light My Fire: My Life With The Doors
Summary: 5 Stars
Undeniably one of the greatest dimensional rock bands ever formed, The Doors were a force not be reckoned with, and that statement stands as true as it did in their 1967 heyday, as it does now in 2004, thirty-seven years after-the-fact.
Made up of four seemingly indestructible units, The Doors, (named in homage to both mid 1800's poet William Blake whom mentions the "doors of perception," in his book The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell, and early 20th century novelist Aldous Huxley whom penned The Doors Of Perception and Heaven and Hell,) The Doors were a controversial band whom through their six official studio albums, displayed an impeccable artistry and vision of both musical and poetic direction; this story of a too-short career is documented brilliantly and quite possibly best in organist Ray Manzarek's auto-biographical memoir, "Light My Fire: My Life With The Doors."
Through it's three-hundred-fifty-two pages Manzarek's personable form of writing is radiantly displayed as he recalls everything from his warm upbringing in Chicago where he found boogie-woogie and the blues, to 1971 where he received an absurd phone call from manager Bill Siddons announcing his singer's death; along the way inserting large portions of philosophical meaning to everything from Jim Morrison to life as a whole.
In conclusion if you're looking for a luminous account of an extraordinary man and an extraordinary band, look no further than, "Light My Fire: My Life With The Doors."
Book Review: Take a step through the psychedelic portal!
Summary: 5 Stars
This has been one of the best books about The Doors I have read thus far. It is so refreshing to finally find a book that doesn't portray Jim Morrison as a raving, drunken lunatic, bent on destroying the American foundation and all that is good. Ray gives such an amazing, unparalleled view point to information that has been presented numerous times by many authors. He also includes touching recollections of Jim and his true personality that could only be unique to someone so close to that mysterious figure. Ray's honesty and actual first hand experience have to be appreciated. While this book definitely does not follow conventional form, it is very much worth reading. Would any true Doors fan be content with the mundane telling of such an intriguing story anyways? If you are simply looking for a date by date, information only based book, this is probably not the one for you. It does have many great factual details, but Ray also delves a lot into his own views of life and of situations he describes. This book must be approached with an open mind and heart, otherwise its brilliance and insight will be easily lost. If you're ready for a thrilling psychedelic journey with The Doors, then open this book and hold on tight! You're in for a great ride! ENJOY!Book Review: ultra candid, disorganized, multiple themes
Summary: 5 Stars
Please dont read this review unless you are unsure of buying this book!
First lets talk about the cons:
- Disorgnized (throws various unconnected ideas in different places)
- Multiple Themes (Some might have difficulty understanding the themes that Ray dabbles in and find this painful)
- Very black and
white descriptions of people
pros:
- Unbelievably frank and very personal
- Very insightful into Jim's personality
- Beautiful ideas such as self discovery, living life for what its worth, being the creator of existence.
- Some superb use of words such as "aural orgasm"
- Hard hitting, almost like a mind f***
Tough to summarize this book but its a collectors item. Loved it to the core. This is by no means a book about truth nor do I believe Ray was trying to get to the actual truth. He is just conveying his ideas/thoughts/experiences. This is definitely not a book if one just wants the facts and timeline. Its one for the open minded.