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In Search of River Phoenix: The Truth Behind The Myth
The complete encyclopedic 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, activism, veganism and movie career.
456 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 10, 2012
This is an exhaustive study of River Phoenix and Lawrence has done a very good job. Unfortunately, the Phoenix family and several of his closest friends declined to be involved in this book, and obviously any biography about River will suffer from the lack of their insight. Despite this, Lawrence has produced a praiseworthy account of River's life and character.
My main criticism would be that the author seems easily distracted and wanders off on different trains of thought, the relevance of which is negligible and doesn't make the book as a whole very cohesive. For example, a low point was a sudden ramble into River's astrology and palmistry, which affects the pace of the book. Certain issues and lingering gossip surrounding River is addressed but not often resolved, as accounts from various sources are conflicted. It's actually quite refreshing that the biographer doesn't have a biased opinion which he patronisingly forces upon the reader. Lawrence just states the facts as he found them.
The book reads as a labour of love rather than a professional, polished endeavour. My overwhelming feeling is that I think that it would have benefited from a thorough editing, but this shouldn't put off potential readers. It is clear that Lawrence has tried to include every snippet of information he could gather, and I don't think that there is another biography about River which rivals this one. The author comes across as a respectful enthusiast who focuses on River's life rather than his death, and for that I am grateful.
My main criticism would be that the author seems easily distracted and wanders off on different trains of thought, the relevance of which is negligible and doesn't make the book as a whole very cohesive. For example, a low point was a sudden ramble into River's astrology and palmistry, which affects the pace of the book. Certain issues and lingering gossip surrounding River is addressed but not often resolved, as accounts from various sources are conflicted. It's actually quite refreshing that the biographer doesn't have a biased opinion which he patronisingly forces upon the reader. Lawrence just states the facts as he found them.
The book reads as a labour of love rather than a professional, polished endeavour. My overwhelming feeling is that I think that it would have benefited from a thorough editing, but this shouldn't put off potential readers. It is clear that Lawrence has tried to include every snippet of information he could gather, and I don't think that there is another biography about River which rivals this one. The author comes across as a respectful enthusiast who focuses on River's life rather than his death, and for that I am grateful.
January 7, 2008
My muse. A beautiful book that gave me great insight into a life filled with promise and talent, but was tragically cut short. Phoenix was so much more than the overdose that killed him, and I like that this book represents all that he was.
February 12, 2013
excellent Bio, the author was amazing at tracking down information , one of the best bios I ever read
October 20, 2014
This book was written by an author who admires River Phoenix. He sought to portray River from birth to death with all of the detail at hand. It was not well written, for he wandered at times, and got lost in the material, but it presents an honest picture.
The picture of River is that of a young man who was born to hippie parents who were very hostile to the system, and ultimately it is the very societal system they opposed that led to River's death. They joined a cult, "The Children of God" and River from an early age was sexually abused. The abuse stopped when they left when he was ten and he became sexually active, with their permission at 14, with an 18 year old. This sexual abuse shadowed his life, and his maturity.
Secondly he became the bread winner when he was 14 years old, and really never was independent from his parents, and even now in death provides for his family. His life was shaped by people being dependent upon him.
River's story is that of a talented actor, forced to grow up to fast, and became dependent on drugs. He was an vegan and animal rights activist. The picture I have received of him through the years and this book confirms is simply that of a very talented young man, who provided for his family, and in that provision never really was allowed to grow up. He was an awesome guy.
The picture of River is that of a young man who was born to hippie parents who were very hostile to the system, and ultimately it is the very societal system they opposed that led to River's death. They joined a cult, "The Children of God" and River from an early age was sexually abused. The abuse stopped when they left when he was ten and he became sexually active, with their permission at 14, with an 18 year old. This sexual abuse shadowed his life, and his maturity.
Secondly he became the bread winner when he was 14 years old, and really never was independent from his parents, and even now in death provides for his family. His life was shaped by people being dependent upon him.
River's story is that of a talented actor, forced to grow up to fast, and became dependent on drugs. He was an vegan and animal rights activist. The picture I have received of him through the years and this book confirms is simply that of a very talented young man, who provided for his family, and in that provision never really was allowed to grow up. He was an awesome guy.
June 5, 2016
After reading In Search Of River Phoenix: The Truth Behind the Myth, I discovered the many ideas and truths behind the life of River Phoenix. Growing up traveling in the life of his hippie parents to starring in television series to acting as a gay hustler in a big time film. River Phoenix career was cut short and died of acute drug intoxication and the world was forever changed on October 31st, 1993.
May 8, 2016
Maybe my favorite book about River Phoenix.It had the information I wanted to know about him.I was only a few months old when he died but since I was 10 I have had a major obsession with him.This book brought me the insight I wanted to know.I felt like I really knew the man behind the myth.
October 24, 2009
This book was all over the place. As a huge fan of Phoenix, I found much of this to difficult to read. Since he is no longer here to defend.
March 23, 2023
It's a good book with lots and lots of information but at the same time it's clear that the author is not mentally stable. River was not some messiah, he was a human like the rest of us. Questioning his sexuality, or who took his virginity (even discussing it might have been his stepsister) and harassing his family for his secret resting place are honestly sickening. There are a lot of inappropriate things in this book that I'm not going into because it's just too much. You learn a lot from it, a lot of places and people River met during his time on earth. However, some are unsavoury characters. I honestly feel bad for his family though, can't imagine a book like this existing about a family member of mine.
May 25, 2025
DNFing with a 100 pages left because I want my life back. Truly the worst biography I’ve ever read. It’s all over the place, WAY too much speculation, and the psychic stuff was just weird. Just read Last Night at The Viper Room and call it a day.
August 2, 2014
An extensive study of the life and career of River Phoenix. Seems there could of been more of an editor's presence though because the flow of the writing could have been improved and certain sections like movie goofs and the actor's palmology could have been left out. Otherwise it works but I would probably recommend "Last Night at the Viper Room." Much of the research from the Lawrence book was used in it and the editing is better.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews