In Hippie Chick, a rebellious teenager finds her mother dead in the bathroom. To save her from living alone with a difficult father, her older sister sends her a one-way plane ticket to leave New Jersey. Landing in San Francisco, she is thrust into a lifestyle way beyond what she is ready for, and that challenges all previous notions of how one behaves. It is 1963, and we are brought along as Ilene becomes immersed in the unfolding of the sixties during the earliest days of sexual freedom, psychedelic drugs, the jazz scene, and rock ’n’ roll. This is a deeply personal story of how one young woman manages to survive and even to thrive in the face of the whirlwind of experiences coming at her. It is filled with a rich tapestry of moments that run the gamut from the sublime to the ridiculous, and everything in between.
I spent Saturday reading this out in the cool breeze sunshine day. It was like just listening to Ilene sitting down telling you her story. A memoir that was like reading a letter written personally to you. And although I don’t agree with her Haight Ashbury don’t visit, I love the bookstores and coffee shops and history there. I also love the outreach to kids that is in place in many spots on the main drag. I very much loved the book and the way she was so totally open in her truth. I am also glad we got to read what happened to everyone. That was one of my favorite parts of the book. Beautiful story well told of a life well lived.
