Growing up, my parents made sure to give me classic movie experiences that I have carried with me throughout my life. Terminator, Alien, Predator, older Westerns like Tombstone and Open Range, Top Gun– these are the films I return to when I’m not quite sure what I want to watch. They’re familiar, comforting, and timeless in the way only truly great movies can be.

Tombstone (1993) is what first ignited my admiration and deep respect for Val Kilmer. From the moment Doc Holliday graced the screen, I recognized the commitment and passion Val brought not only to that role, but to every character he pursued. His performances were captivating, yes, but so was his spirit. The world lost a beautiful soul when Val left us, and reading I’m Your Huckleberry felt like a way to honor his memory while finally meeting the man beyond the roles.

Val Kilmer did not write this memoir to explain himself or satisfy public curiosity. He didn’t write it to ask for understanding or approval. He wrote it to express himself, to give himself the space to simply be. Reading this book feels less like being spoken to by a celebrity and more like having a quiet, intimate conversation with Val himself: a man deeply devoted to his faith, guided by a unique worldview, and drawn far more to the artistry of Broadway rather than the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.

What I appreciated most about this memoir is its structure. Val tells his story the way memory recalls it- without embellishing, without pretense, and without hiding his shortcomings. He is intense. He is vulnerable. And he is unafraid to tell the messy, unfiltered truth of his experiences. He writes about love, loss, fame, faith, and childhood with a voice that is uniquely his: bold, unapologetic, emotional, and reflective.

Reading I’m Your Huckleberry is almost like flipping through a scrapbook. Val presents his life in ways that feel like a collection of sentimental newspaper clippings, grainy home videos, photographs taken on his own camera, and notes scribbled hurriedly in the margins. Throughout it all, there is a deep sense of gratitude, not just for the life he lived, but for the ability to express himself fully and honestly.

This book found me at exactly the right moment. I’ve just completed my Master’s Degree, I’m about to start a new job, and everything feels uncertain in that familiar, unsettling way that accompanies new beginnings. Reading Val’s memoir reminded me of the excitement that lives inside uncertainty- the possibility that comes with stepping into something unknown but full of promise. I closed this book with a renewed sense of hope and peace about what lies ahead.

Val Kilmer was one of a kind. And I’m Your Huckleberry is written with such heart and authenticity that I already know I’ll be returning to it again (sooner rather than later).

“When you dream dreams when you’re young, do them before you have a reason not to. When you are young, that is when all the dreams come true. Believe me, do them all. Nothing bad will happen to you and all things good.”

“We feel spirit every time we love, every time we forgive, every time scorn is overwhelmed by empathy and bitterness overcome by compassion.”