Wishful Drinking
by Carrie Fisher
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Book Reviews of Wishful Drinking
Book Review: A memoir from someone with little memory?
Summary: 1 Stars
I expected this book to have some insight into fisher's childhood, what led her down the path of alcoholism and shock-therapy treatment, and what those experiences were like for her. Instead, it's a short series of often not-funny disconnected one-liners. At the end of some paragraphs I expected a short-drum-roll, followed by "Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week, ladies and gentleman". It appears to be, as some people have already noted, a transcript of her one-man show which does not translate at all well to paper.
Fisher reveals at the start of the book that the shock-therapy treatment left her with little memories and that the purpose of writing her book was an attempt to try and recapture some of them. Well, that's fine as a therapy exercise, but don't then try and pawn it off as a revealing autobiograpghy. It took me about 2-hours to finish this extremely short book and gained nothing from my experience. That's $20 and 2-hours of my life that I will never get back; don't waste your money or your time on this one.
Book Review: Irreverant & Funny
Summary: 3 Stars
Despite the sometimes dark subject matter, Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher is ultimately a light, quick, and humorous read. Ms. Fisher's ascerbic wit and droll humor make reading about drug addiction, alcoholism and depression entertaining. Carrie Fisher is nothing if not irreverant and funny. Wishful Drinking is packed full of hilarious antedotes about some of old time Hollywood's biggest stars as well as interesting tibits such as the fact that she once dated Senator and former presidential candidate Chris Dodd.
It is worth noting that Wishful Drinking can be read in one sitting. It therefore makes the perfect airplane book, but you might want to purcahse it used from Amazon.
After reading Wishful Drinking, you'll wish that Carrie was one your friends so that you could call her up on whim to do lunch as she regales you with tales from her unusual Hollywood upbringing....you would be sure to ask about the Christmas when she was 15 and her mother gave both Carrie and Carrie's grandmother vibrators as gifts!
Book Review: Left me waiting for the story
Summary: 1 Stars
I don't generally write reviews, but this book just made me want to write one.
I've liked Carrie Fisher's other books and generally really like "memoirs" about drug addiction, drinking, mental health issues and things like that. So it seemed like Carrie Fisher's "memoir" titled Wishful Drinking would be very good. I was excited about reading it.
But, I did not like this book at all. It didn't go into any detail about anything in her life. Just a sentence or two about some "issue" and that's all. I was always waiting for "the story" then I finally just got to the end and really didn't feel like she actually told anything. It was just sort of rambling about herself while trying too hard to be funny yet leaving out an actual story. Along with that, although some authors can do the rambling, then getting distracted and changing to some other topic, she really couldn't pull it off.
I would not recommend this book at all which upsets me because I was really expecting something much better.
Book Review: Growing up in make believe land
Summary: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book. I enjoy Carrie Fisher's obvious love affair with words. I love words also and rejoice when I find this showing in someone else's writing. Carrie turns tragedy into comedy in a very endearing way. I have had problems with depression most of my life and always thought a touch of mania would be really nice. In fact, it would be only fair. I get all the down time without the highs. But her description of mania makes me reconsider. I love the stories she tells about her life, the chart to show how her daughter is connected to Elizabeth Taylor's grandson. The way her mother calls from next door to say, "Good Morning, Carrie. It's your mother, Debby," as if she had to distinguish herself from Carrie's other mothers who might call. It is a tale of a very strange childhood and young adulthood, with a highly unsual family (not that it was unusual to her) and told with much levity, tremendous honesty and very little self pity. Good for a pick-me-up and a lot of laughing-out-loud moments.
Book Review: If you are a fan of hers you will not be disappointed
Summary: 5 Stars
Ok Carrie, when did you marry Billie's father?
News to me.
I have been a fan of Carrie's for nearly 30 years. Guess that makes me bad being a fan since "Star Wars". She does bad mouth her fame & the success of the film. For all the bad points of it it did make you money remember that. Best I can call what she says.
Photos throughout as well. A disappointment was seeing all the "Star Wars" & "Jedi" photos we have seen a million times. Guess "Empire" did NOT matter as no photos from it. I was glad to see the rarer photos-just needed more of them.
Her wit is seen through out the book. I enjoyed that, her twists on things & how she puts things.
CARRIE, YOU NEED TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF YOURSELF.
No mention of Belshui or Dan Aykroyd, who she was supposed to have been engaged to years ago.
And, I did think the book should have been longer.
Or, will there be a part 2 Carrie?