Stories I Only Tell My Friends - Rob Lowe

4 Stars

ABOUT THE BOOK -

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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR -

Actor Rob Lowe was a world famous heartthrob when he was just a baby-faced teenager. Now forty-seven, Rob is a film and television actor and producer. He also is involved in politics. He lives with his wife and two sons in California.

MY REVIEW -

I have had a crush on Rob Lowe since... well since forever! He's gorgeous, who wouldn't have a crush on him? And I LOOOOVE the movie "St. Elmo's Fire" it has been and still is one of my favorite movies and Rob Lowe being my favorite male character in that movie! but that is as far as it ever got. I basically know knew nothing about his personal life. I have never seen "The West Wing" or "Brothers and Sisters" and have never even seen any of his other movies besides "The Outsiders".

I did like this book, but it was not my favorite memoir. I read a lot of reviews before reading it and while they were all pretty good, many of them kept saying "There was a lot of name dropping" this was said over and over. I wasn't sure I understood what they meant, of course there would be a lot of name dropping he is a star, he starred with a lot of other actors. But now having read the book - There is A LOT of name dropping!!! LOL All through the book he knows this person, met that person, ate with another person, dated her, then slept with a different her. and on and on. I was beginning to think, Come on Rob, is there anyone you don't know or have a connection to?

~was good friends with Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen when they were kids

~was friends with Holly Robinson Peete in school

~knew Levar Burton before he starred in Roots

~was on the set of Star Wars while it was filming because some relative was in special effects

~had lunch with Sarah Jessica Parker when they were 15 yrs. old

~dated Melissa Gilbert when he was 18

~then dated Natasha Kinski when he was 19

Etc. etc. I do believe him! Because if there were untruths wouldn't people come forward and say "Rob, that's not the way it happened." but it just has the feeling of being exaggerated. You just wanna say - "Oh come on Rob, really?" even if it really did happen.
All that being said - it was a very entertaining fun book to read. There was incredible story after incredible story. This poor guy just could not get a break! He had a few good movies but a whole string of bad ones. Its amazing he even stayed afloat.

Besides delving into his movie and TV career, it also touched on his relationship with his wife and the birth of his 2 sons who he adores, his drinking and rehab stay, and how he dated and slept his way through all the girls of Hollywood.
 Warning - there is quite a bit of swearing so for older readers.

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