Hollywood Park is a wild ride!

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Boy was this book a wild read! There were so many ups and downs, though sadly more downs than ups. It was a fascinating story nonetheless! I am impressed that Mikel could put together this memoir and remember so much. From being in the school at Synanon to fleeing to Oregon with his mom and brother to escape the cult and his escapades from then on in California with his dad and Bonnie and then to college and forming the band.

I enjoyed how Mikel wrote it to reflect his age so that when he was young he thought his mother had deep russian and then as he got older he realized it was depression. I felt so sorry for him having to deal with trying to be older to take care of his mother when it should have been the other way around. And some of the things he did (like smoking and drinking) happened when he was so young. I would forget his age as I read until he would mention that he just passed his 11th birthday. It was sobering.

I really enjoyed this book (especially his dad and Bonnie!) and I am so glad that he was able to be strong and turn his life around despite the hardship of his childhood. I actually have one of his songs and it is great that I can now put a face and story to it. I would definitely recommend this book for those looking for a really interesting memoir.