Coreyography: A Memoir

Former child star Feldman recounts his Hollywood highs and lows in this memoir of his acting career and friendships with “the other Corey” (Corey Haim) and Michael Jackson. Feldman also recalls his troubled family life with his abusive mother and absentee father, the perks of fame, and his experiences with drugs and sexual abuse. He delves into the brutal underworld of pedophiles in the entertainment industry who prey on ambitious underage actors—both he and Haim were taken advantage of by their handlers, one of whom also turned Feldman on to quaaludes, crack, and heroin. The more sordid details are balanced by an inside look at Feldman’s experiences making well-loved films such as The Goonies, Gremlins, and Stand by Me. He narrates in a straightforward, conversational style that spares no details when it comes to darker subject matter, such as a sad experience filming The Lost Boys in Santa Cruz, Calif., when a friend of his mother’s scored cocaine for him and the resulting binge nearly got him fired. The book doesn’t sugarcoat, exposing the dark sides of Hollywood and child stardom. Michael Jackson is not among the many abusive men Feldman describes, and the account of his friendship with the singer is lighter fare. Fans of Feldman and those with an interest in the entertainment industry will appreciate the author’s voice and anecdotes while feeling his pain. (Nov.)