Full marks to Douglas for being so honest - I'm assuming it's honest because he certainly doesn't come well out of this book. For the first part this was gripping - insight into growing up as the only child of Michael Douglas and his first life, hanging out with the rich and famous, growing up as his father exploded into a major star.
I would have liked more movie stuff - stories of other famous people, even more on the movies Cameron Douglas made. It would have been a relief from the relentless story of him getting drugs, taking drugs, getting arrested/expelled, having sex with some woman, getting in a fight, getting wake up calls that he ignores..
He comes across as a complete wanker. Given chance after chance. He had a career - as a deejay, which was lucrative - and blew it. Got leading roles in some films - blew that too. Stuffed relationships. Refused to do a regular job.
Sure his parents weren't great - they paid for expensive schools and rehab but clearly didn't want to spend time with him, Michael chuckled over Cameron's fighting antics when firmer boundaries might've been more appropriate. Mum is obssessed with her youth and has bad taste in men. But they didn't deserve this.
After a while all the details and downfall-ing become relentlessly grim. Douglas seems proud of his tough rep in prison and not going full stool pigeon. Even out of prison he still refuses to get a proper job - he's working on screenplays and his acting! I have this feeling he'll relapse.
The most likeable person in the book is his loyal junkie girlfriend Erin who Douglas still winds up dumping.
Still, points for depicting himself as warts and all.
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