BOOK REVIEW: COLLATERAL STARDUST BY NIKKI NASH

GOODREAD SUMMARY:

Born in Hollywood, and raised by a radical, Black Panther-supporting mother and a charismatic trombone-playing father, Nikki Nash grew up surrounded by musicians, actors, conspiracy theorists, political fundraisers, jazz jams, and lots of alcohol-fueled parties. At thirteen she was lonely, longing for attention, and desperate to find something to fill the void. It wasn't a pony. It was Warren Beatty. She made a secret vow to find him and have him in her life forever. She wasn't naive and this wasn't a fantasy; she had a solid plan. And the first step was to grow up.

Five years later, Nash—now eighteen—embarks on the next step of her plan. After quitting college, she learns that Warren Beatty—who lives at the Beverly Hills Hotel—frequents a nearby restaurant. She gets a hostess job there and waits. In the meantime, she has endless strange encounters with stalkers, sociopaths, actors, agents, mobsters, and producers. It takes a year-and-a-half, but on a cold Sunday night, after breaking her finger in a judo class and looking her worst dirty hair pulled back, no make-up, her broken finger in a glass of ice—Warren Beatty walks through the door.

TEES THOUGHTS:

 Growing up in California, it’s almost impossible not to have a little stardust in your eyes. Hollywood sits just close enough to feel real, and like many people raised in its shadow, I grew up imagining what it might be like to brush shoulders with the famous. The difference for me was that my dreams leaned more toward the stage at the Whisky rather than the big screen. Still, that sense of fascination made Nikki Nash’s memoir Collateral Stardust feel surprisingly familiar.

In the book, Nash recounts years of being fascinated—sometimes obsessed—with Warren Beatty and the many moments where their lives intersected. What makes this memoir interesting, however, is that it never becomes a kiss-and-tell Hollywood tell-all. Instead, it reads as the story of a determined woman navigating the orbit of fame while building a life and career of her own.

And she does succeed. Nash ultimately finds her place in television, carving out an impressive career behind the scenes in the entertainment industry.

Along the way she shares stories that feel refreshingly honest. She writes about growing up in a politically liberal family, struggling with eating disorders, navigating drugs, relationships, and the complicated realities of adulthood. The memoir spans decades of her life, bringing readers all the way to the present day as she reflects on her journey now in her seventies.

One thing I particularly appreciated were the short chapters—always a favorite format for me as a reader—which make the book move quickly. Combined with Nash’s humor and candid storytelling, Collateral Stardust becomes an engaging and surprisingly fun read.