Wishful Drinking

Finally, as promised, the book review for Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking. Ever since Postcards from the Edge hit the bookshelves in 1987, I have been a Carrie Fisher fan. I was not a fan in the Princess Leia era, although I do have a healthy regard for the original Star Wars since it was such a breakthrough movie at the time and I never would have seen it if I hadn't gone with my cousin, famous artist, Mark Bode. And I loved her in When Harry Met Sally.

Although there are autobiographical references in Fisher's previous books, Wishful Drinking is her first foray into the memoir genre. And if you think her fiction is funny, check out her real life. Imagine being born to the uber-Hollywood-couple of the time, Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher. And then imagine that Eddie Fisher divorces your mother to marry Elizabeth Taylor. Think Jen, Brad and Angelina in the 1950s. Tabloid fodder from birth!!!

She describes her childhood with an ironic, self-deprecating perspective. She drops names, not to impress anyone, but because those names are the people she was surrounded by. She got advice from Cary Grant. She smoked pot with Harrison Ford. She listened to the explanation of why she couldn't wear a bra in space as Princess Leia from George Lucas.

She is honest about her missteps in life. Kind of like everyone's life, only with more press coverage. She has suffered from depression and even underwent ECT (aka Electroshock Therapy), just like me!

Wishful Drinking was the only thing I wanted for Christmas. So my husband, liking the price point better than the other things I might want, like landscaping, got it for me. It's a brief volume, a mere 176 pages. I wanted to both consume it all in one big gulp and savor it. So I forced myself to read it in pieces over the course of three days.

Carrie Fisher is a celebrity you can imagine hanging out with. She doesn't have a distorted view of her importance in the world based on her celebrity status. And she is laugh-out-loud funny. Get the book.

The next only thing I want (but really, honey, we need landscaping) is to see Carrie Fisher perform her one-woman show, Wishful Drinking.

Di

Comments

[Shirley]

I think I would enjoy reading it. I love autobiographies. Thanks for the review. I am currently reading Obama's first book.

[fudgelady]

Thanks for the review! Anyone who can bring the snark and the humor is all right in my book. Errr...their book. :-)

I have to check it out, and Obama's book(s) too! Although somehow I suspect he's less snarky. (Too bad, actually; wouldn't it be fun to have a snarky President? Like Josh on The West Wing, saying "You can take your legislative agenda and shove it up your...!")

Back to Carrie: The cover design is classic!