Synopsis
In this graceful memoir, the now-grown son of actor Peter Lawford and Pat Kennedy Lawford looks back on his life with sober eyes, recalling his childhood experiences among the rich and famous and his own long battle with alcohol and drugs. Lawford shares anecdotes about his wonder years growing up in a Kennedy family circle headed by Uncles Jack and Bobby--a time of Camelot that was soon to be forever changed by the tragic events that made people talk of a "Kennedy curse." Lawford writes eloquently about the effect of the two assassinations on the family, and the sadness, fear, and depression that affected many of its members for years afterwards. The young Chris also traveled in the showbiz world of his Rat Pack father, and he relates many stories about the likes of Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe. Lawford does not gloss over the very dark side of his life and his struggle to find his own place among the famous clan. But he also notes that his recovery has changed his outlook, providing him with the sense of balance and perspective that makes SYMPTOMS OF WITHDRAWAL a memoir of experience, strength, and hope.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 2005-10-01 |
| Size | | Length: | 389 pages | | Height: | 9.3 in | | Width: | 6.3 in | | Thickness: | 1.2 in | | Weight: | 27.2 oz |
Publisher's Note
The son of Rat Pack actor Peter Lawford and JFK's sister, Patricia, describes his privileged childhood alongside the offspring of other famous celebrities and politicians, his struggles with alcohol and heroin addiction, his witness to the assassinations of his uncles, and more.
Industry Reviews
"Written in a style that is both conversational and deeply compelling, humorous as well as harrowing, SYMPTOMS OF WITHDRAWAL presents what Lawford calls a 'fear and loathing in Camelot' version of the Kennedy epic....What rescues SYMPTOMS OF WITHDRAWAL from the tide of addiction literature washing over the bookstores of America is the author's wryly entertaining, no-b******* voice and, of course, the company he keeps."
Salon - David Talbot (09/27/2005)
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