Customer Reviews

Lost in Hollywood: The Fast Times and Short Life of River Phoenix

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Any River Phoenix fan would be amazed at the River you didnt see when reading this book. It tells all the "what the media didnt tell you". From before being born tohisdeath,learn about friends, family, and the unfortunate life of River that brought it to end. As a River Phoenix fan still, I enjoyed every word. I highly recommend reading it!

Let's talk about the good stuff first. The book is in depth about River's life. The author did alot of research and wrote a pretty good book. The titles of the chapters kept me going, eventhough I already knew most of the information. The pictures inside were rare and candid, sortta. I found out some new info about River that I didn't know before, but I still have to find out if the book has the facts correct. Now the bad parts. There were huge basic mistakes in the book. First they kept spelling Joaquin Phoenix's name wrong. In the beginning it was Yoaquin, then Toaquin. Second, they left out River's 2nd sister Liberty, she was born July 5, 1976. The do mention her later, but many times they leave her out. There are more mistakes throughout the book, but I'm not going to bother with them....Enjoy the reading P.S. Since this book is out of print, you might want to look for another edition titled: River Phoenix The Biography, it's the same book (by the same author), but with a different title.

As a description of the chonology of River Phoenix's life and work, Glatt's work excels. So many of the questions which plagued those of us who followed Phoenix's work with interest are answered here, plainly and with little glitz. River's birth, life, and sad death are conveyed journalistically through summaries of interviews with those in the Phoenix "inner-circle," summaries of articles by other authors, and through Glatt's unadorned narrative. As a River Phoenix fan I suppose I expected a little more passion from this book, possibly something mirroring the actor's own passion and zest for sensation. Ultimately, it gave me the information I sought, and it did cause the memories and emotions following the actor's death to resurface. I wept, though I would not expect any but the most devoted fans to react similarly. I am grateful to Glatt for passing on this story with an objective and truthful spirit. The media's shredding of River's legacy was unfair and unjust. Glatt has removed some of the tarnish from River's name and through this biography reminds us all what a prodigious talent this young actor shared through his films. This book has made me once again mourn the passing of this human being for whom stardom led not to the answer of dreams and wishes but to the reality of his greatest fears

I am a die-hard fan of River Phoenix but when I read the first three pages of the prologue I didn't know if I could trust everything that John Glatt had to say. Yes he had interviewed 60 + people for the book but only one of them was a Phoenix family member (River's grandmother). In the author's note it specifically says that he had tried to contact River's parents for an interview which they had declined. He than bashes them in the first couple of paragraphs of the prologue, accusing them of being drug addicts and bringing their children to Hollywood to gain fame and fortune. The book also misspells Joaquin's name more than once, spelling it Yoaquin and than Toaquin. Glatt also fails to mention Liberty Phoenix, River's younger sister. There are plenty of things wrong with this biography but it does emit some interesting facts about the people who surrounded River and events in his life. A note to Phoenix fans: Read the book, but don't take Glatt too seriously. I found that sometimes his writing was overwhelmingly snide and sarcastic.

"Lost in Hollywood" is a biography that was forced upon my by my little sister. She baulks that the thought that one of her dear siblings would have no idea who River Phoenix is. ( ! )
So, I opened the cover with little admiration and little interest- however once I began to read, the pages fell away and I was lost in... er, Hollywood?
The bio covers the short life of "hearthrob" River Phoenix (brother to Joaquin Phoenix- previously known as "Leaf") through his race to stardom and his struggle with drug addiction and the pressures of Hollywood.
It was an inspiring novel (and life) and I owe it all to my little sister... er, and Mr John Glatt.

Fans of River Phoenix,and people curious about his life and experiences will find this book very rewarding. Although frequently you will also find your self angary at those around Phoenix who could have helped, but did not, this confused sole, who at a very young age was handed enormous burdons that even the strongest person might not have been able to carry. none the less John glatt gives the reader a clear view as to why this youthful and extreemly talented person, perhaps could not handle the condritictions and dichotomies of life given to him by his parents.the enormous responsibilities he had as a young teen supporting his whole family the,sexual abuse, deslexia, poor education and the pressures of Hollywood all made River Phoenix who he was. this book allows the reader to see around all the hype and sensationalismm created by the media, that followed his tragic death on the streets of Hollywood, a place he loathed, but needed. the book has interesting chapter titles and a complete listing of all his films. the photographs included could have been better,and should have been placed through out the book.

I suppose when someone dies or is murdered, the number of books published immediately after their demise says something about the infamous nature of the case.

This book "Lost In Hollywood" is one such case. For those of you who are not River Phoenix nutjobs, take it from one. :) This book is filled with errors. Please keep that in mind in your quest for knowledge.

You're probably better off visiting "Rio's Attic" on the internet.

I thought that this book was very well done. It told an enchanting tale of river Phoenix and his very short life. River Phoenix was one going to be a legend in Hollywood because he was a superb actor, was a reall person and tried to act like himself. The book caught my attention right away with telling about the day that Phoenix died and then it went into his mother and fathers life a little bit, then it told Phoenix's life in detail. From his first kiss to his first job to the day that he died. I thought that the book was very well done and deserves all four of the stars that I gave it. It was a quick and fun read for a biography and i would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about River Phoenix.