Hollywood Park by Mikel Jollett

Book Review

This nonfiction memoir is certainly a unique one.

Hollywood Park tells the story of Mikel Jollett, who spent his early life living amongst one of the United States’ most infamous cults. After escaping the Synanon commune with his mother and older brother, Mikel struggles to find normalcy amidst the lingering trauma, abuse and poverty that defines his childhood.

Growing up with a deeply troubled mother, an angsty older brother and a slew of unpredictable stepfathers, Mikel spends his adolescence trying to make sense of his world. Narrated initially by the young and confused child who's convinced he’s destined to become a “dope fiend” like his ex-con father, we see the narratorial perspective change and expand as Mikel develops into an adult. Despite the setbacks of his painful upbringing, Mikel ultimately earns a place at Stanford University and goes on to become a successful musician with the band, The Airborne Toxic Event.

While I bought the hardcopy of Hollywood Park a while back, I ended up listening to it on audio, which really brought the story to life. Narrated by the author, the audiobook is filled with musical interludes from The Airborne Toxic Event. Admittedly, it took me a while to finish this one, as it’s a bit of a slow burn, but I really appreciated the prevailing themes of familial love, self-discovery, human weakness and redemption.

TW: Drug abuse, addiction, mental illness, domestic abuse, animal abuse, suicidal ideation, death of a loved one

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Do you enjoy memoirs? If so, what’s the best memoir you’ve read recently?