Product Description
The complete book about the life of Academy Award nominee River Phoenix, from his parents beginning, his birth, member of a cult religion, to his TV acting, actiavisim, veganism and movie career.
Customer Reviews:
He was a HUMAN BEING!.......2007-03-26
I'm glad I purchased this book- I held off for a long time because I did think it was a bit pricey but after reading it I'm glad I did. This book is so informative on River and this life- it was hard for me not to be angry at the end of the book when it goes into his death. Highly recommended.
Remembering River..........2006-08-08
I would highly recommend "In Search of River Phoenix" for anyone wanting to gain insight into River's life and work. Barry Lawrence's book far surpasses the existing biographies out there because of his tireless efforts to get to the truth and squash the rumors. In this biography, River's story is told by his friends, family members, co-workers and there are even some touching rememberances from people who only met him once. River had his flaws, as we all do. However Mr. Lawrence's book brings out all the elements to River's personality, not in a gossipy, tabloid way , but in a respectful, insightful way. The reader gets a good sense about who River was from those who knew him. I applaud Barry Lawrence's thorough research and his dedication to honoring River's memory.
Greatest River Phoenix Book EVER!!!.......2006-02-25
This book is a MUST for all River fans. I had spent hours reading about him already before the book was available and I thought, I knew him well. I was definitelly wrong. This book is so full of amazing and detailed facts and background information on River's Life that I could hardly believe it. Barry C. Lawrence really did incredible research and put it together in an extremely interesting and well-illustrated book. I just love it.
In Search of River Phoenix: The Truth Behind the Myth.......2006-02-22
An excellent presentation of the life, fanily, friends, beliefs and unfortunate tragedy of an amazing human being.
Always searching.......2006-02-20
Mr. Lawrence's book grants River Phoenix a shade of simple humanity. River is a wonderful tribute to youth, energy and innocence and Mr. Lawrence captures this innocence by portraying River as what he truly was - a young boy who was eternally searching.
Those who know little of River and those who have loved him for years will both benefit from this honest glimpse into the beautifully complex mind of one of the greatest American artists.
Book Description
The deaths of film celebrities are sometimes even more fascinating than their lives. Hollywood visitors and natives are often drawn to sites of tragedy involving the rich, the beautiful, and the notorious. This book can make finding those locations simple.
These sixteen driving tours cover over 500 sites relating to celebrity deaths and scandals. Each tour covers a specific area of the world's film capital, from Sunset Strip to Bel Air, giving specific directions to each location on the tour. Sites include famous graves, like Rudolph Valentino's, where the Lady in Black made her annual pilgrimage for thirty years; houses and businesses said to be haunted by those as famous in death as they were in life; locations of famous murders and deaths, from William Desmond Taylor to John Belushi; and scandalous locations like the infamous Francis Brothel. Tips for safe and enjoyable touring are also included, and the tours allow everyone from the mildly curious to the completely morbid to find some of Hollywood's darkest corners.
Customer Reviews:
Well researched guide that can be used for travel or armchair reading.......2006-05-30
This unusual guidebook is structured as a series of sixteen tours to scandalous sites around the Los Angeles area., from Hollywood (central, Western, and more) to Beverly Hills to the outer boroughs. Why are we so fascinated with sites of death and scandal? Who knows?!? We are, though, and we might as well own up to it. Nothing sells better than the true-life stories of sex, drugs, and rock n' roll (or sex, drugs, and Hollywood's big screen, in this case).
This is billed as a guidebook, but, as a Los Angeles resident, I found it more fascinating from an armchair perspective than as a step-by-step trip guide. I have no desire to go on any of these sixteen tours, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the scandalous sites around the Los Angeles area. Much of the text focuses on pre-1930's and lesser-known film stars, so few people are likely to obsessively follow any given tour as a tribute to a fallen movie star. Anyone familiar with the Los Angeles area will enjoy this book and glean ideas for "Oh, do you know what happened here??" during the course of the text. If you are an L.A. resident and ant to impress your friends and visitors, look no further.
The text is a guidebook on the surface, but beneath the exterior, it is truly a guide to every major Hollywood scandal. I don't plan on using it as a driving tour; rather, it has furthered my education about the region. On the other hand, the comprehensive index will allow any fan of specific stars to locate the site of related scandals.
Very helpful for scandal lovers!.......2005-02-25
I love visiting celebrity graves and infamous locations so this book was perfect for me. I even learned about a few scandals I had never heard about before. Mr. Fleming provides good directions and helpful tips so you won't miss a thing. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in Hollywood scandals.
You have to do it to believe it.......2003-11-11
I have family that lives in the L.A. area and when I visit them, they know we will do a "Death Tour". They teased me at first and then when we started seeing the sites, they stopped!! Now they look forward to the next tour that we will take. This book is an interesting compilation of not only where events have taken place, but also the history behind them. Although, the title can seem a bit ominous, there are a lot of other sites to see in the book besides "DEATH" (stars homes, arrest locations, homes used for TV shows, etc.). So, as for the previous review about this being too morbid, I completely disagree. Besides, death is after all a part of life. Enjoy...I certainly have!
too morbid for my taste..........2001-06-27
first things first, it is a very good book with great research but just too morbid for my taste. I prefer sight seeing of star homes, movie studios, the Chinese theater, the wax museum, etc.... where celebrities met their mortality has never interested me...
Things To Do On Your Vacation (or a free Saturday in L.A.).......2000-10-26
Several years ago an L.A. cemetery worker told me that a Chicago area resident was researching a book about Hollywood cemeteries and death sites. I am assuming this is it. This is a chatty gem of a tour book that examines some uncoventional tourist attractions ----- predominantly suicide, death and scandal sites ----- and is loaded with information. Having done my own bizarre self-designed tours in L.A., I wish I had this book in the past as I would have saved myself much time and trouble. The narrative was informative and well-written and provided a lot of facts, along with some excellent (and fairly current) pictures. For the most part the information was accurate, but I did identify some questionable facts mostly involving dates. My immediate impression was that this book probably should have been proofed better before it went to print, but it is quite apparent that the author really does know his/her subject matter and did a fairly thorough job researching the subject matter. Is it worth the $35 price tag.......definitely! It provided me with a full day's worth of enjoyment and was a lot cheaper and more fun than a trip to Disneyland. Will I use it again? Absolutely........I have only done a couple of the tours so far!
Customer Reviews:
Great detail and life!.......2004-02-08
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.
In the fast attempt to cash in on death, errors fill the pag.......2003-05-16
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.
From Birth to Death everything you need to know about River.......1999-02-03
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!
It's ok, but not as good as some other books.......1998-07-11
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.
A satisfying book on phoenix`s life and times.......1997-12-08
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.
Book Description
River Phoenix: A Short Life is the definitive biography of this talented but tragic young star. Brian Robb looks at Phoenix's unusual childhood, his early days on TV and film, and the pressures of stardom that led to his lethal overdose in 1993. His short but incident-packed life is a tale of modern Hollywood.
Customer Reviews:
An honestly true accountant of River's Life.......2001-11-23
I would have given this book five stars except for the fact that most of the stuff in the book I was already aware of. I am a huge huge huge fan of River and love him to death. If you want to know more about River's short life, than read this book. Unlike some books about stars, this one was not full of mistakes.
This is an excellent book!.......1999-08-04
This book talked about the life of one of the best actors of all time.River Phoenix.When I first heard that River Phoenix had died,I did not know who he was.So,I wasn't very disturbed by it.But,when I found out that he was the very talented individual who portrayed Chris Chambers in Stand By Me,it was a heartbreaker to find that out.Learning that the character he portrayed would die as an adult was bad enough without the actor himself being dead.This book is a very accurate summary of a good actor.I hope you will publish this review.I only wish that River Phoenix was still alive so I could possibly meet him and tell him what a superior actor he is.When he is around fans,he treats them like people.He doesn't act like he's a supreme being,so I'd say that makes him one.
All in all, a good book to read........1997-12-08
A fairly thorough and complete book on the unuseual life and up bringing of River Phoenix, complete with an excellent collection of color and black & white photographs,sure to please everyone. the author chronicals Rivers life from his unorthadox birth in small house in Madras Oregon in 1970, to his untimely death on the cold streets of hollywood 23yrs. later. the book is factual,but sometimes lacks in, depth of information on certian subjects of his life.the author writes his story around Rivers 13 films and does a good job of developing Phoenix`s need of a father image,his conflicting values, lack of a formal education, and the continued building of his many secrets,(he smoked,used drugs,had candy bar binges, which he all denied) that seemed to catch up with him in the end, and most certinaly contrubited to his untimely death at so young an age, with his whole future ahead of him. Some of Robbs facts are slightly incorrect,like he says River was born in a log cabin, a myth perpuated by his mother, he was not. that he made 9 movies, when it was 13. and one out of context statement by one of phoenix` girlfriends ,Sue Solgot who Robb said; "When we first met , he seemed really sweet and gentle. At least he is getting some hair now. When I first met him he didn`t have any hair.".. leading the reader to beleve she ment body hair.Actually she met him when he was filming Dog fight, naturally his Marine character was closely shorn, so she ment he had no hair on his head. Other small inacuraces like this exist, but all in all it is a good book to read.
Customer Reviews:
For the Phoenixphile only........2004-08-30
You want this only if you are an unabashed fan of River Phoenix. It offers little else than some interesting text and a ton of photos of River in the last year or two of his life (he died at age 23). What's disappointing is that it is not a photo biography of the subject. This title merely collects a bunch of really great magazine cover type photography. Everything is staged. What we don't get, and what just does not really exist for River, is a chronicle of his career and his exuberant personality -- in photos. I mean, get real. The kid was really handsome and charismatic. The only serious works on him are two biographies of dubious value. I had hoped that this book would be an album of his life, something, perhaps that would explain his death. That's a tall order, I know, from a photo book. But for all true River Phoenix fans, that's what we want. An answer to why he's gone. Of course, this book doesn't provide one and doesn't try. It's just got a ton of great pictures.
Wonderful!.......2001-09-11
I bought this book used to add to my River collection. Let me say it was like brand new. The pictures of River are priceless. His expressions, the way he had matured. It is all captured. There is one photo that I have trouble looking at actually. It had to be one of the ones shot sometime in 1993 because his face looks a little different. He is wearing a shirt and tie and he looks like James Dean literally. He would have grown into an incredible director I am sure. This book is a nice keepsake of River and I will always treaure it.
Full of excellent photographs.......1997-12-08
As it`s title indicates this book is full of excellent color, And some B&W all studio pictures of River Phoenix,40 in all. And has enough factual and intriguing information in the story about the life of this very talented young actor that it is a must read for any person interested in him. The author weaves an intriguing theme throught out her story about the intrersting contrasts,parallels and prophecys of his life VS his ultimate death, like his second last name, "the Phoenix sets it self on fire just to re-live the same life over again."His real last name, combined with is unusual first name to make; River Bottom.Even his middle name,the author reminds us , "Jude is after the patron saint of lost causes" several of his movies parelled his real life, his characters quite often died or were disfunctional. she is refreshingly foward hard hitting reguarding his parents and their unothodox beliefs that they passed on to their young son, "Which he had to constantly explain that to people and justify it" , further budoning him. Denning suggests His parents, Hollywood and ultimately, he himself created such a false and squeeky clean image, that no one wanted to deny. so much so..."that the paramedics who carry an antidote for herion overdose. they didn`t use it because all they were told was he had taken some valium." A well written book.
A detailed book of a tortured life........1997-10-17
This book was a very informing summary of River Phoenix's life. The first pages start off as a scene from his last few minuets of life. Then it goes to describing the his life and his family. The info. gathered to write this book was mostly from newspaper and magazine articles. Half of the paperback was filled with large, full-paged pictures. This would be a wonderful item to add to a River Phoenix collection
Average customer rating:
- synopsis in a nutshell
- synopsis in a nutshell
- An honest and positive look at the life if River Phoenix
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Running on Empty: The Life and Career of River Phoenix
John L. Barker
Manufacturer: Phoenix Literary Productions
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In Search of River Phoenix: The Truth Behind The Myth
ASIN: 0966561201 |
Book Description
A biography on River Phoenix, containing theme/character analysis, biography, narrative fantasy, movie reviews, tribute and original poetry.
Customer Reviews:
synopsis in a nutshell.......2000-11-11
In a world of internet fan sites, this book serves as a good companion for the adolescent teen fan, older gay male fan, and various other fans who seemingly have not much more to their lives than mailing lists and discussions about River's real hair color.
It's not that this book is not good. It's well done, and I commend Barker for his endeavors in portraying another side to the complex being that was River. However, this book does not go much further than the standard magazine fan fare that so many of us who followed River, or any other celebrity, are familar with.
This is a good fan's companion. There are no revelations. There is nothing earth shattering. It's a humble attempt to eulogize River the way he should have been eulogized. It's a shame though that this book will most likely only appeal to those types of fans I mentioned above. It's a shame it's a marginal attempt. River deserved more than a cult of fans. He deserved to be known as the intelligent actor that he was. I am not so sure that this book paints that picture. Even though John Barker seemed to really strive to do that. Unfortunately, in many parts, it falls short.
synopsis in a nutshell.......2000-11-11
In a world of internet fan sites, this book serves as a good companion for the adolescent teen fan, older gay male fan, and various other fans who seemingly have not much more to their lives than mailing lists and discussions about River's real hair color.
It's not that this book is not good. It's well done, and I commend Barker for his endeavors in portraying another side to the complex being that was River. However, this book does not go much further than the standard magazine fan fare that so many of us who followed River, or any other celebrity, are familar with.
This is a good fan's companion. There are no revelations. There is nothing earth shattering. It's a humble attempt to eulogize River the way he should have been eulogized. It's a shame though that this book will most likely only appeal to those types of fans I mentioned above. It's a shame it's a marginal attempt. River deserved more than a cult of fans. He deserved to be known as the intelligent actor that he was. I am not so sure that this book paints that picture. Even though John Barker seemed to really strive to do that. Unfortunately, in many parts, it falls short.
An honest and positive look at the life if River Phoenix.......1999-02-08
Many negative storys and comments have flown around about River Phoenix since his drug induced death i 1993. The meidia had a field day when the world found out that River Jude Phoenix died of multiple drug intoxication. Many called him a hard partying hypocrite. John Barker gives a refreshingly positive and honest look at the life of River Phoenix. A young man who once put on a benefit concert for a friend with his band Aleka's Attic to help her when a car accident left her in financial trouble.Thinking of her dignity first instead of just handing her the money. Which would have been easier. A young man who once bought $100.00 worth of extra food when preparing a meal to feed some homeless people.John Barker presents River's substance abuse problems with gentleness.He does an excellent job of erasing the negative image so often portrayed by the media.We are reminded that River should be remembered as a gifted actor,talented singer, environmental and animal rights activist, commpassionate and generous.It seems to echo the sentiments of River's true fans and of those who knew and loved him.
Average customer rating:
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River Phoenix
John Glatt
Manufacturer: Piatkus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0749915110 |
Customer Reviews:
Good pictures; poor writing.......1999-03-22
I am a huge River Phoenix fan, and I think that he was one of the beautiful souls of our time. This book had some excellent pictures of both River and his family, but I thought that its content was pathetic. It was written by Grace Catalano, the woman that writes those mindless biographies about Hanson and the Backstreet Boys today. There were some good quotes from River (of course, he always seemed to have a good quote on the tip of his tongue), but aside from that, it's just a teenybopper POV bio, and anyone with an IQ of -41 can read it. It makes River seem so clean-cut and perfect, he doesn't seem human. And he was human. Unless you know nothing about River Phoenix and are desperate, I wouldn't recommend this book.
this book is allright but i have mixed fealingsabout it.......1998-12-01
this book is ok but it was published so early in rivers career I think it was just to satisfy teens.
I LOVED IT! THOUGH IT WAS OLD AND OUT OF DATE INFO!
.......1998-01-13
I HAVE FOLLOWED RIVERS PAST FOR NEARLY A YEAR NOW AND EVEN THOUGH THE BOOK WAS OLD IT HAD AN EXCELLENT BIOGRAPHY OF HIS YOUNG LIFE IN SOUTH AMERICA, AS WELL AS PHOTOS OF HIM AND HIS FAMILY. I WOULD RECCOMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN RIVER, BECAUSE IT SHOWS THE REAL HIM, REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT HE TOOK DRUGS. BRIDGET
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- The Best River Phoenix book available
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River Phoenix (They Died Too Young)
Penny Stempel
Manufacturer: Chelsea House Publications
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In Search of River Phoenix: The Truth Behind The Myth
ASIN: 079105229X |
Customer Reviews:
The Best River Phoenix book available.......2000-03-26
This book is extremely recommended. Not only does it start at conception of Phoenix, go to his death at age 23, but it goes beyond that. From the funeral to the way the world views his legacy now. It has a section that list River's quotations. I was surprised at how humorous he was. He was very intelligent, and this book proves that to you. Get this one today! You won't be sorry!
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Running on Empty
