NORTH OF HOLLYWOOD (2012)

North of Hollywood by Rick Lenz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Getting to know Rick Lenz through his memoir North of Hollywood was great fun especially since I live in his hometown of Jackson, Michigan.

Those of us who are consumers of entertainment forget that only a chosen few rise to the top supported by an army of talented performers who, perhaps through no fault of their own, just didn't quite become the famous star they were shooting for.

Lenz gives us an insider's view of what it means to have a career that never quite soars. He is willing to let us see a bit of the craziness and frustration involved. But he remains kind, never naming the well-known person responsible for introducing his daughter to hard drugs.

Make no mistake. This book is not literature. It is episodic, loosely connected, and random. Some readers/reviewers seemed to have trouble following. If you just go along for the ride, you will have a great time remembering all the famous people, movies, and plays mentioned.

Anyone who has attempted to become a performer will recognize the struggle. If you ever had a dream in your life of becoming famous but gave up and decided to do something else, read this book. It may put things in perspective for you!

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