Rating: 
Summary: HERE, is the feast we were promised!
Review: This book allows you to get to know Jim from Ray's point of view. Most of the time I felt like if I was there with Jim. Ray saw the art of music and poetry just like Jim. I now understand much more why its not Jim Morrison and The Doors, but only The Doors!
Rating: 
Summary: A Study in Self-Love
Review: Wow! Manzarek is certainly full of... Manzarek. Too bad a little more credit for his success couldn't have been doled out more fairly among those whose talents also contributed. I never had the impression that Manzarek really knew Morrison all that well on a personal level, and this book only served to reinforce that feeling rather than alleviate it. As someone in a chat room said recently about this book, "I liked it except when he talked about himself." I guess that leaves the copyright notice.
Rating:
Summary: Ray Manzarek: Tales of Passion
Review: Door's fans will be swept away in delight reading the new,i.e., not recycled, details and travails of the band many consider to be the best band ever. This in itself was worth the cost of the book, but there is much more than the Door's in this tale. Manzarek has, and shares, a near palpable passion for life and conveys a genuine love, appreciation for living (and of course the band) very very eloquently.
Rating: 
Summary: So So
Review: Some interesting tid bits about the Doors, in LIGHT MY FIRE. But I was offended--as a fan of all 4 Doors--at how much Manzarek puts down John Densmore in it. Every chance Ray has, he gets in a dig against Densmore. And I was suspect about how much was true about Densmore's being a jerk (according to Ray), simply because at one point, Ray bascially says that Densmore was unhappy during the Doors; then later he says, more or less, "In the last ten years, John hasn't been happy like he was during the Doors." Which is it, Ray? Was John happy or unhappy during the Doors?? Or are you just using another chance to knock him? You certainly knock him a lot in this book.And for Ray to say that Jim Morrison was a kind, charming, witty person 100% of the time, until he met a friend who was a bad influence in L.A. who contaminated him, is naive on his part about Morrison's life before he reached L.A. Morrison displayed the dark, cruel, substance-abusing side of his personality long before he transferred to U.C.L.A. Morrison had a good side, and a bad side...his whole life. And saying we still don't know the details of Morrison's death, belies what Albert Goldman's PENTHOUSE article a few years ago revealed, all based on offical Parisian municipal records that heretofore had not been discovered. And Ray often annoys the reader with his flowery, pretentious, new-age, earth-child, hippy dippy way of writing/talking that he has displayed in his interviews. Nonetheless, there is plenty of interest to the Doors fan in this book.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting and comprehensive memoir by far!
Review: This book has been one to wait for by the man who formed the doors and was a big part of their "Comnmunal Mind". This is one of the best books written and is honest and revealing account of Ray's and Jim's friendship and what the doors went through in their brilliant career. The book clearly captures all insights into the doors formative years, their ups and downs and the sadness over Jim's demise which still saddens Ray. The book goes very well in depth with all details. The chapters Forming the doors, The Beach house and the story of the first demo are humorous and very interesting to read. Manzarek covers 1967 very well and offers some first hand information including his wedding (Jim dedicating the next nights doors concert to the "Newly Weds") and how Oliver Stone's film exaggerates the facts. The rest of the book covers facts that the real fan would know and contains some very interesting pictures. I think that Ray rushed a bit when discussing the rest of their career from 1968 onwards but still covers details well. What he did after the doors and the making of the American Prayer and an index would of been nice but all in all this book was worthwhile ordering and waiting for. Its nice to see that 2 members have written their memoirs (Riders on the storm by John Densmore) being the other to give us their own perceptives of the band.
Rating:
Summary: You can experience the Kundalini of the era...a must read!!
Review: I want to say thank you to Ray Manzarek for his gripping story of a phenomenal band. He transported me back to a wild and wooly time. His insights and candidness are superb. I appreciated the opportunity to relive that era. In short, if you were around during those turbulent times, Ray's offering provides a reminder of just how much genius was floating around at that time.
Rating:
Summary: Accurate but glossing over the personal $$$ factor
Review: I have written this review for those interested in the book, but mainly for Ray Mazarek personally. Ray, are you reading this?? I thought the book was very interesting in the first half about Ray's childhood, the 2nd half of the book was basically "the rise and fall of Jim Morrison". Regarding the first half, I loved it. Ray, you really enlightened us on your "wonder years" with music, and your love of the blues. It shows in the music. I think every reader really wanted to see how Ray Manzarek "ticks" and how you came up with the musical creativity with the Doors. You did this brilliantly in the book. Now, for the 2nd. half of the book, the part that is "Rise & fall of Jim Morrison". What I don't think is being told to the readers is what's INSIDE you. Face it, you were the financial brains behind the band. You KNEW that Jim Morrison was a "time bomb waiting to detonate" by his personality and drinking. YOU have to live wit the fact that you did not get him help. No offense, but IMO, your excuses as to why you (or the Doors) couldn't get him help were lame. If you really cared about him, you would have helped him early on. But if you aggravated him too much, he might leave, right? How could you you keep the Doors (and the money) flowing? How could you keep the band that you wanted to go on forever alive? No, I think money is what it's all about. How about your'e collaboration with Danny Sugarman with "No One Here Get's Out Alive"? You chant about Jim being still alive, but in your new book, you make the idea of him still being alive sound idiotic, crossing your words from the earlier book. What gives? My rating of the REAL Ray Mazarek. Brilliant musician, exellent businessman, and saw $$$$$$$ when he heard on the beach "let's swim to the moon....." . Been seeing $$$$$ ever since. The book is a overt promotion of all the works Ray Mazarek has been affiliated with (and probably profiting from)and I don't think they needed to be in the book. After reading it, I feel sorry for Jim Morrison, and the rest of the band. Robby & John lost their creative friend at an early age, and Ray lost his co-writer and money maker. Ray, I met Danny at his home in 1984. He talked incessintly about your close friendship. I gave him photographs of the Doors, and lyrics of mine to give you. Did you ever get them? Gave him my phone number, too. For all who read books, and all who review books, and for Ray Mazarek, here's my overview..... Teachers, preachers, fill our minds, We the kids, the learning kind. Read our books with dull dismay, Turn our heads the other way. Books are crooks, they feed with lines, One many words, one man's mind. -R. Sottile Ray, look deep through your minds eyes to the past. What was your life with Jim Morrison & the Doors? A relationship, or a business?. I'm glad I don't have to live with what your'e living with. {all copy above is stricly the opinions of the reviewing author}
Rating:
Summary: Missing Jim Morrison
Review: Like the other reviews of "Light My Fire", I too found it very much an active read. By that I mean that Ray's references throughtout cause the reader to research the filmmakers, the musicians, the philosophies and the words (e.g. alembic)in order to grasp fully the band that is/was THE DOORS. And having to stop occassionally to look up a meaning is not a bad thing. Just as THE DOORS music involved and invited the listener's mind, so to does Ray's well written book. "Light My Fire" provides a satori. After 31 years of listening to DOORS music, reading most of the biographical accounts, along with countless news and magazine articles, it was not until now that I too miss Jim Morrison.
Rating:
Summary: Must read for those interested in The Doors & this rock era
Review: An excellent book on The Doors-Literate and enjoyable expressing the essence of the music and philosophy of this band. While some readers may find certain portions "above them", Mr. Manzarek's writing style is representative of the unique blend which is so evident in the music The Doors produced. As with their music, it was a delight to discover that this author continued to remain true to himself as opposed to deigning to alter his writing to what is considered to be the "mean" intelligence. Rather we are provided with a book that assumes that if one does not understand a particular reference, then the individual will take the time to discover what is actually meant in totality. The reader is provided with a wonderful viewpoint of Mr. Morrison as a man as opposed to the "myth idol". One is aware of the friendship and dare I say "Love" felt by Mr. Manzarek while insight is given into the darker side of the enigmatic James Douglas Morrison. While some may find Mr. ! Manzarek's philosophy offensive, perhaps they should read the book closer and actually consider the statements made. What Mr. Manzarek posits is merely for consideration by the reader and in this day of the pre-packaged pabulum we are presented on a daily basis as "truths", it is refreshing to have someone have the guts to actually state beliefs which many of the "sixties children" have forgotten. Mr. Manzarek is an excellent storyteller and one is left at the end of the book wanting more which is a compliment to the author. The best book on The Doors and a must read for those interested in the band and in this rock era!
Rating:
Summary: Not the end-all or be-all but a must-read for a Doors fan
Review: I began this book with much skepticism. So much has been said about Ray and how he "sugar coated" times with the Doors and Jim Morrison. Yet this is the first book I've read that has finally represented a well- rounded approach to Morrison. Everyone is more dynamic and multi-dimensional than people so easily like to think. Indeed, there are some that really exude a one-dimensional aura, but Manazarek finally authors a book representing a Morrison who is, yes, a drunk, but a caring, sensitive, funny, and unquestionably talented figure. I've never laughed out loud so much at any work of printed fiction or non-fiction. Indeed, some parts of Manzarek's bits about his growing up or his philosophies about the Establishment against those for freedom made my eyes glaze over. I understood, but was anxious for Doors anecdotes. Listening to a radio interview with Manzarek I got upset because he called Densmore's book "naïve." I thought John's book was ge! nuine and sincere; his way of reconciling his time with Jim Morrison. How can you attack that? Ray got his chance with his own book and it was a good one. He should pipe down with critiquing so harshly his own bandmate's personal experience But at any rate, his book succeeds because, finally, it presents a Jim Morrison who was indeed beyond a lot of people in intelligence and artistry, but was just as human and sensitive as the rest of us. And anything that makes me laugh so much deserves a lot of credit Read it.
|
