Wishful Drinking
by Carrie Fisher
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Book Reviews of Wishful Drinking
Book Review: Rambling memoirs - save your money
Summary: 2 Stars
Celebrity autobiographies such as this are usually self-indulgent, but this one was more so than necessary. Reading it felt as if it was just more therapy for Ms. Fisher to explain and expel her various demons and it told us nothing interesting about her aside from some gossipy tidbits that appeal to readers of tabloids.
"Wishful Drinking" is a poorly written book, with Fisher changing tenses every few paragraphs. It's filled with short chapters and was only 156 pages long so I finished it in a couple of days, but if I'd read it non-stop I could've finished it in a few hours. It left me wanting to know something of substance, rather than Ms. Fisher's snippets of thoughts and memories. If she had an editor, it didn't show. It was a disjointed mess and had chapter titles such as "A nearby arranged all around her." What does that even mean?!?
Also, there was the requisite bashing of G. W. Bush and most all things republican (aside from her dead, homosexual, republican friend). Ms. Fisher made it seem as though she personally suffered during those years due to the administration. The only suffering she experienced was due to her own drug and alcohol abuse. Fortunately, I borrowed the book from the library so I didn't have to suffer by shelling out money for this fluff.
Book Review: Fisher is hilarious again!
Summary: 5 Stars
I think Carrie Fisher is one of the funniest people on earth and this book doesn't change that opinion. I laughed out loud several times while reading this book and that takes a bit of doing for me. Just the cover alone gives you an idea of what to expect inside. It has always been apparent to me that Fisher's other books have been fairly autobiographical, despite her claims to the contrary, but this one she admits is actually her life. Given everything she talks about in the book, it is a blessing that she has such a resilient sense of humor. As I read every page, I could hear her voice speaking every word, her sarcasm so present. So much so, that after I read the book, I treated myself to the audio version as well just to hear her tell it with her own voice. If the book wasn't written with such a humorous, self-deprecating view, it would be blindingly sad. I am roughly her age, so maybe I relate to people and situations like hers because I know of so many others who have experienced similar ones, minus the Hollywood setting. However, not all of the situations familiar to me have been experienced by only one person! Read this and share it with all your friends. They'll thank you.Book Review: Humorous Confessional
Summary: 4 Stars
This book reads very quickly with a steady flow of wit with a dry, at times sarcastic but nearly always ironic tint. Written in the first person as if the author were pouring out her heart over an early morning coffee to a confidant, the book appears to take a very intimate course about Carrie's Fisher life from childhood through to her present status which is post electroshock therapy for depression. A cast of very famous people flows through her life, beginning of course with her parents, Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher. The first is glorified while the second fairs poorly. There is an attempt to seek an explanation for her later battles with drugs, alcohol and a bipolar disorder, but to me strong reasons do not appear. Expected milestones pass such as her father's infidelity with Elizabeth Taylor, Fisher's marriage to Paul Simon, as well as lesser known anecdotes such as one involving Bob Dylan and Carrie Grant. The book has the tone of a tell-all autobiography but clearly a lot of history and background is not revealed and to me it seems that the humor attempts to divert one from deeper issues. Overall the book is interesting and entertaining but it still leaves one wondering.Book Review: The Humorous Princess
Summary: 5 Stars
Carrie Fisher is first and foremost Princess Leia to me, but aas both she and I got older things changed and she showed she was human and went througgh things we all do (Yes, I watch ET and the rest) In Postcard From The Edge there was part of what she was about (though I only saw the mmvie) and this is the first book that I picked up that she has written.
In this book she reveals details of her life without the benfit of a vehicle such as Postcards. Here the stories are first hand and direct with a wonderful sense of humor. There is some stream of consciouness and bouncing, but it still flows as you bounce along what she says.
She has gone through alot and her bouts with depression are well-known. In this book she shows how well she has beeeen able to deal with it and help make our days a bit brigther with her humor. It is a very quick read and I do wish it was longer, but that it is because it was enjoyable and she never overstayed on a topic which would make it long and drawn out. Like a good actress, a good writer knows when to stop just short as oppossed to going too far.
Very highly recommended.
Book Review: Review of Wishful Drinking
Summary: 3 Stars
An unusual phenomenon occurred while I read Carrie Fisher's new book, Wishful Drinking. Instead of reading the book, I seemed to be hearing the book. Carrie Fisher's voice is loud and clear in her first memoir. As one of the most interviewed celebrities in the past several years, her voice is recognized by the general public, so that must be what's going on here.
Fisher's writing in Wishful Drinking is more clever than incisive, enthusiastically veering in several directions at once in this scattered memoir. But it certainly worked for me; I just hung on for the ride, so I truly enjoyed reading it. Fisher's wit and humor sparkle throughout, and you'll find yourself laughing out loud more than once. I believe Fisher, through her humor and reader-wincing honesty, holds up mental illness for what it really is: on par with physical illness and thus worthy of being freed of stigma.
Though I almost always choose to read a book over hearing a book, Wishful Drinking would make a wonderful audiobook. At present, Wishful Drinking is available in hardcover and through Audible as an audio download for your mp3 player.