Julie's Review: Stories I Only Tell My Friends

Summary: A wryly funny and surprisingly moving account of an extraordinary life lived almost entirely in the public eye. A teen idol at fifteen, an international icon and founder of the Brat Pack at twenty, and one of Hollywood's top stars to this day, Rob Lowe chronicles his experiences as a painfully misunderstood child actor in Ohio uprooted to the wild counterculture of mid-seventies Malibu, where he embarked on his unrelenting pursuit of a career in Hollywood. The Outsiders placed Lowe at the birth of the modern youth movement in the entertainment industry. During his time on The West Wing, he witnessed the surreal nexus of show business and politics both on the set and in the actual White House. And in between are deft and humorous stories of the wild excesses that marked the eighties, leading to his quest for family and sobriety. Never mean-spirited or salacious, Lowe delivers unexpected glimpses into his successes, disappointments, relationships, and one-of-a-kind encounters with people who shaped our world over the last twenty-five years. These stories are as entertaining as they are unforgettable. ~henryholt.com

Review: I don't think I'm much different from any girl in my age group who had a serious crush on Rob Lowe. So when I heard he was writing a memoir I was interested. When it was published and received rave reviews, I was intrigued enough to want to read it. I'm not a memoir reader. I've tried and I dislike them. This isn't like any memoir I've read...it's interesting and not at all self-serving. I felt like I was sitting across the dinner table with him and he was telling me stories about the business. I think this is rare in a memoir as is the fact that I believe he was unfailingly honest. Did he leave stuff out about his life? Yes, but I'm ok with that. Maybe he'll write another book and I'll run out to buy it.

I've always been fascinated with Hollywood and what it takes to become a "star". In fact, I'm pretty sure that if I had ever tried my hand at Hollywood I would have failed miserably. He does an excellent job of taking the reader through his early career and the movies he made. The ones that took off and the ones that didn't. I've always loved The Outsiders (if you haven't read it, you must and the movie is excellent) and this movie launched a lot of young actors into stardom. This was one of those movies that when you revisit it as an adult it resonates with you like never before. To this day his portrayal of Sodapop is one of my favorites.

He does an excellent job of showing the dark side of a child actor. One where life moves to fast and if you don't have a solid family set to reign you in, it spins quickly out of control.

There wasn't a movie in this book that I haven't seen and my love for The West Wingwas prominent when it was on. I will admit that shortly after he left, I stopped watching. I loved Sam Seaborn and Rob was perfect in the role. I will also ditch another show that he leaves (Brothers & Sisters) because he added something to the show that wasn't there without him.

What I admire most about him though was his quest to get sober and figure himself out. No one had to drag him to rehab, he did it himself. For me, this is what has made him a successful recovery addict; his ability to recognize that he needed to do something. I believe that the love of a good woman helped him through this period and I'm thrilled that they are still together. Sheryl was his rock that was able to create a stable life for him and that he definitely wanted/needed.

Sure he name drops but in a way that doesn't make you think he's showing off about who he knows. He does it with a story and often before the end of it you are wondering who it is before he reveals it.

By the end of the book, I was an admirer of him for what he has gone through in his life and who he turned out to be. I can't wait to see what he has in store in the next phase of his career. Whatever it might be, I know he'll excel at it.

If you are interested in anything Hollywood, then Stories I Only Tell My Friends is for you. It's honest, raw and delightful.

Final Take: 4.75/5

P.S. It also has a few nice pages of pictures. :)

Thanks to Henry Holt for sending me a copy of this book!