Sharon read and liked Lee Anne's review of High On Arrival:

"If all the teen stars of my favorite childhood shows continue to write memoirs, I will continue to read them. Few will top this one, though. Mackenzie Phillips had a drug habit that makes Maureen McCormick's pretty severe cocaine addiction look down...more If all the teen stars of my favorite childhood shows continue to write memoirs, I will continue to read them. Few will top this one, though. Mackenzie Phillips had a drug habit that makes Maureen McCormick's pretty severe cocaine addiction look downright recreational.

Phillips has presented the seamier side of the happy hippie Laurel Canyon life (recently the topic of a pretty coffee table book I just skimmed). Five year olds wandering the beach unsupervised; junior high kids taking acid, snorting coke, and learning from their parents how to roll joints. Her father, Papa John Phillips, would go out of town and leave Mackenzie and her brother in the care of whomever was in his house at the time, or strand her at airports, or in London. His live-and-let-live, as long as it feels good, do it lifestyle was ultimately the death of him, and it goes a long way toward explaining the incestuous behavior that has been generating all the media controversy.

Mackenzie has taken some heat for these revelations, including denials from Michelle and Genevieve, her two step-mothers. Chynna and Bijou Phillips, John's other daughters, report no sexual attention from their father, which has fed the belief that Mackenzie is lying, and brought her condemnation--if she knew he was capable of this, why would she let her younger sisters live alone with John? But what the nay-sayers aren't taking into account are the facts that Mackenzie and John were working as peers at the time (touring as a Mamas & Papas reunion act), and more importantly, using drugs as peers also. These two facts excuse nothing, but explain a lot.

I hope that the fuss around this book doesn't endanger Mackenzie Phillips' fragile hold on sobriety. Good for her, for writing this book, which is gross and juicy and depressing and entertaining.(less) "

Sharon read and liked Alex's review of High On Arrival:

"I have a mildly sick fascination with the Phillips family. I read both "Papa John" and "California Dreamin' " back when they came out and it didn't take much to get me in line for Mac's book. Not sure why. I am not the age to be a...more I have a mildly sick fascination with the Phillips family. I read both "Papa John" and "California Dreamin' " back when they came out and it didn't take much to get me in line for Mac's book. Not sure why. I am not the age to be an original fan of either the Mamas and the Papas or "One Day at A Time" (et al). I guess I would lump this more under my fascination with dysfunctional families, particularly show biz ones. So... it would have taken more willpower than I have not to dip into Mac's harrowing tale. Maybe there is a 12 Step program for people like me who can't help themselves. (Do I need to pull out the "I got it at the library" excuse?) For the record, I believe Mac's tale of woe. There is no reason any sane person would make up these kinds of accusations, and her depiction of John Phillips' god-like entitlement makes perfect sense; he was a hedonist who thought he was above the law.

But, for this reader, who has already heard a lot about the family, this story feels like a re-tread. It's also a re-tread of numerous junkie/addict memoirs I have read. They all start to run together after a while. I usually spend time marveling at how the authors survive, given that they're often out of their minds and behind the wheel of vehicles. Then there is the amount of toxins they are ingesting. Usually I'm just relieved they have found their way out of this netherworld. If ever there were a strong anti-drug argument, it's stories like these. No one would want to live through this.(less) "