Customer Reviews

Porn King: The Autobiography of John C. Holmes

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is fairly interesting, but the reader must keep in mind that since John Holmes wrote about himself, he casts himself in the role of victim instead of perpetrator. He absolves himself of all responsibility in the Laurel Canyon murders, placing himself in the role of unwilling participant and innocent bystander. He only slightly mentions his life in porn movies, and he does not accept responsibility nor does he seem to feel guilt for his humiliating mistreatment of his long-suffering first wife, his teenage mistress whom he pimped, beat, and started on drugs, or the fact that he neglected to mention his AIDS status to his female porn partners. Yet he does speak openly about his drug addiction, his impoverished childhood, his obsession with sex, and his mammoth "organ". All in all, this is an interesting yet not-so-honest book about a very complex man who could never deal with his inner demons and eventually succumed to them.

As a connoisseur of pop culture and the adult film world, I eagerly anticipated the release of the autobiography from the man who made porn a household name (at least in my household). I ordered this book from Amazon shortly after it was released and tore into it immediately after receiving it upon my doorstep. While the book was interesting, I believe it to be far more fiction than fact. This is based upon other accounts I've read about this well-hung legend. As told on the recent John Holmes addition of the E! True Hollywood Story, Holmes was prone to exaggeration and fabrication. There was also very little about his life in the adult film world - only a mere skim over. While I wasn't disappointed with the book, I wasn't satisfied either. But, give it a shot and see what you think.

This book was a really touching story. Any body who has ever seen one of John's videos will know he had what all men want,but from early on in the book John himself questions whether he was blessed or cursed. After reading this book, and especially the brutally honest chapters concerning him dying from AIDS,it is difficult to believe his legendary endowment was a blessing. This is an interesting autobiography. John is an obviously intelligent and surprisingly modest man, and the story of his ascent and subsequent demise is both candid and compulsive reading.

This book finally tells all in gory and vivid details about the infamous "Laurel Canyon Murders", and it finally reveals the not-so-glamorous side of the porn industry; with the drugs, the mafia, the prostitution. For anyone thinking of getting involved in the adult film industry, this is a grisly look at the porno industry. It seems most of the time John Holmes was "performing", he was strung out on heroine. It's not all pleasurable times being a porn star. I think I'll keep my job working as a legal secretary.

This book was a really touching story. Any body who has ever seen one of John's videos will know he has what all men want,but from early on in the book John himself questions whether he was blessed or cursed. After reading this book, and especially the brutally honest chapters concerning him dying from AIDS,it is difficult to believe his legendary endowment was a blessing. This is an interesting autobiography. John is an obviously intelligent and surprisingly modest man, and the story of his ascent and subsequent demise is both candid and compulsive reading.

I found this book to be in-depth and honest especially about his early life leading into his life in porn and his learning that he contracted the AIDS virus. Unfortunately, I went into this book expecting to read a lot more about his life in the porn industry, the film-making, and the stars that he has worked with. While reading about his involvement in the Laurel Canyon incident (which I never even heard of before this book), I found the book to be a little less than what I was expecting. However, I think that even a remote fan would find this to be a nice, interesting read.

As a moving portrait of a man who had everything, lost it, and found redemption in the arms of a loving woman before tragically dying of AIDS, this is a great book.

Unfortunately, I bought it as part of my research into the workings of the porn film biz - and it is absolutely useless in that role.

I found this book to be very candid, contraversial and enlightening. Many family photos were included. A touching story. John Holmes never once blamed his mistakes on others. The Laurel Canyon Murder Chapters of the book really made me think of how corrupt the L.A.P.D. might be. I found this book hard to put down.

I'm so happy when i cross books i devour in one or two days. PORN KING is one of these! Easy to read but nothing banal inside. Violent and melancholy,ironical and surprising, you can discover another side of John's and Laurie's life. That isn't the famous and popular side but, surely, is the REAL (and human) side. A suggest from Italy: if you like books to devour, this is for you! Many chances you'll love it.

Porn King is a great book with lots of answers to questions that I myself had about the man - the legend. Very vivid and candid. It really gave me a chance to really know John and made me realize that I too, had wrong oppinions of this person.