I was gifted a copy of Hollywood Park from Celadon Books and man oh man I am so very glad I was. I don’t think I would have picked up this book if it wasn’t gifted to me. Even with all of this books hype it still wasn’t really on my radar. I heard some of the hosts of a podcast I listen to talking about it and it really intrigued me. As much as I love reading about cults I’m very surprised I didn’t pick this book up sooner. This is a memoir of Mikel Jollett and his brother and mother living in a California commune turned cult in the 1970s. The cult was the infamous and dangerous Church of Synanon. Mikel tells his story from living on the commune in Synanon’s children’s “school” up to when him and his older brother and mother escape one morning. Their life outside of the cult was even harder. Filled with poverty, trauma, abuse.... the list goes on. This is such a powerful story and I’m glad I got the chance to read this book. If you like to read books about cults then please give this one a read. I think you’ll really enjoy it.