Light My Fire by Ray Manzarek Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Light My Fire
Book Review: Tripping down the 60's with the Doors
Summary: 4 Stars
A fascinating walk down the drinks, drugs and flower-strewn path of 60's rock n roll. Manzarek has written an autobiography that captures not only the birth of The Doors, but the language, philosophy and anti-Establishment mentality of the times. He spares no one but his wife yet manages to rehabilitate Jim Morrison's bad-boy persona into one of a genius post-beat poet who falls into the dual crevasse's of alcoholism and psychological despair (though that was always evident in Morrison's writings). Particularly moving is his epilogue where he writes about Jim Morrison in such a personal, intimate way, that one gets a visceral feel for the qualities and humanity that have Manzarek still grieving the loss of his friend 30 years later.Book Review: Very insighful look into the Doors minds & souls
Summary: 4 Stars
After Reading Riders On The Storm and No One Gets Out Of Here Alive, and now Light My Fire, I found all 3 books very different and liked them all in different ways because they pretty much all take your mind down different paths. I thought Rays book was very good except for I have to agree with alot of other people as to the parts where he seems to have alot of animosity toward John Densmore and Oliver Stone..I thought Oliver Stones movie of the Doors was a very interesting and awesome movie, but I guess for Ray, alot of it was untrue and therefore does not look at what a awesome performance Val Kilmer and the other actors really did! But otherwise I thought he did a great job with the book! Revealing alot of what really happened from start to finish, gave alot great insights on each Members personality and spirituality and without everything being just being about Jim. He does not really get into Pam all that much and pratically leaves Patrica's name out of it almost competely..All & all the book is very interesting, but mostly insightful, just when you thought you knew everything. It's still a hard book to put down once you get started, not to mention great photos too..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: Yeah Right Ray
Summary: 2 Stars
Ray should just live life as he really is and not try to rewrite history and make himself more than he is. He was a very great musician and an integral part of the Doors. Yet he seems to be trying to convince himself and everyone else in this book that He should have been the "Rockstar" and not Jim.Book Review: You've got to be kidding me
Summary: 1 Stars
This was the worst take on The Doors that I have read...(and I have read well over a dozen books on the band). It is clear that Ray's main interest was to make a buck on the experiences he had in his 30s. His treatment of John Densmore is inexcusable and his mentions of where one can buy certain recordings within the editorial text was highly unprofessional. Real Doors fans will find Patricia Kennealy-Morrison's book "Strange Days" to be a much more telling look into Morrison's life.