Light My Fire by Ray Manzarek Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Light My Fire
Book Review: Not your normal kiss & tell
Summary: 4 Stars
Anyone who has been exposed to the music of The Doors knows Jim Morrison's name. I knew all the names of the band, but not much about them. I felt Ray's memoirs to be poignant, interesting, truthful, and bittersweet. He doesn't pull any punches, but is incredibly diplomatic. I appreciate the warm words Mr. Manzarek had for his lovely wife Dorothy. Thanks for a very readable autobiography.Book Review: Of the Doors, Ray was the closest to him.
Summary: 3 Stars
Mainly an autobiorgraphy covering his early childhood till the demise of Morrison. Manzarek's charm is clearly evident in the writing. Insight into Morrison's personality as well as his personal motivations are offered. Manzarek is one of the very few people who truly knew Morrison well enough to write intelligently about him personnaly and is willing to talk about his experience. A must read for anyone interested in The Doors. Very much a man of his times, Manzarek also provides some insight into the mindset of psychedelic hippie philosophy.
I was however, after reading the book, left wondering why Manzarek (who seems to have clearly been a father figure both to Morrison & the other Doors), was so tolerant of Morrison's destructive behavior. Manzarek expresses a fear of Morrison's alter-ego, which has a ring of truth to it...but still?
No matter how you slice it Manzarek, The Doors, us and even Morrison himself, all suffer from a tragic and senseless loss.
Book Review: Patronizing and narrow-minded
Summary: 2 Stars
First and foremost, I am a HUGE Jim Morrison fan. I am also an avid seeker of truth and am interested in seeing how the other members of the band perceived Mr. Mojo Risin. While John Densmore's book was very candid and dealt with the effects Jim's alcoholism had on The Doors, Mr. Manzarek attempts to justify Jim's behaviour by claiming it was part of his persona. Ray is also very haughty throughout the book citing several examples of their audience "not getting it"-the "not getting" it parts were the audience responding to poor performances. His constant reminders of being antiestablishment grew weary after the first couple of chapters. Raymond does everything he can to glorify Jim, despite Jim's obvious destructive behaviour. If you're a true Doors fan, don't waste your time with this one. I wish Robby would write one, in my opinion John's book coupled with Break On Through gives the best window into what Jim's life with the Doors was like.Book Review: Plays Keyboards Way Better than He Uses It for Words
Summary: 2 Stars
I suppose the book would be VERY readable if one were completely zonked on acid throughout....Most people just don't write, think, read or speak the way Ray writes. Well, most people post-1968...There is a "charm" factor to the nostalgia, and The Doors often bordered on genius. But Morrison DID succumb to excesses, and Ray soft-pedals everything stupid, self-destructive, boring and depressing about him. It is as if he is afraid to somehow "betray" sex/drugs/rock-and-roll so it is better to adopt an "orthodox" hippie party-line...
O.K...acid is great -- I'm going to guess Ray encourages judicious use of the same for his family? -- and Jim's death was...some sort of cosmic coincidence not really caused by lots and lots of alcohol and/or stupid behaviors.
Anyway...if you want to read a really honest book about The Doors, read the John Densmore's book. He pointed out, quite accurately (it would seem), that one never knew if one was going to be dealing with Jim the Poet and Genius, on a given day, or Jimbo, The Raving Alcoholic Idiot.
I guess that's not as mystical and uplifting though...
Book Review: Priceless insight from a principal member of the band.
Summary: 4 Stars
Ray provides priceless insight into how his musical influences combined with Morrison's poetry to create the music of the Doors. I was particularly interested in how significant the jazz influences were on their music, and Ray confirms this as no one else can. I've had the experience of playing with musicians who are Door's fans that love rock and blues, but are close-minded regarding jazz. Ray's testimony should convince them that they've been playing, listening to, and enjoying music richly informed by jazz approaches for years whether they've realized it or not. I first heard Monk through Manzarek's clever musical quotes in Door's songs, giving me that sense of deja vu when I first listened to Monk himself. Thanks for all the great music, Ray, and thanks for the good reading. The struggle to expand human consciousness must go on!