Hardcover, 163 pages
English language
Published Nov. 9, 2008 by Simon & Schuster.
In Wishful Drinking, Carrie Fisher tells the true and intoxicating story of her life with inimitable wit. Born to celebrity parents, she was picked to play a princess in a little movie called Star Wars when only 19 years old. "But it isn't all sweetness and light sabres." Alas, aside from a demanding career and her role as a single mother (not to mention the hyperspace hairdo), Carrie also spends her free time battling addiction, weathering the wild ride of manic depression and lounging around various mental institutions. It's an incredible tale—from having Elizabeth Taylor as a stepmother, to marrying (and divorcing) Paul Simon, from having the father of her daughter leave her for a man, to ultimately waking up one morning and finding a friend dead beside her in bed.
The audiobook is read by the author and is short, raucous read with no holds barred. Carrie Fisher was a train-wreck but a loveable one at that.
Very amusing and written with a lot of selfdepricating humor/didn't take herself to seriously. She wrote very witty and her heart and character shine through.
If you struggle with addiction/bi-polar disorder or something similar and have a somewhat cynical humor, this might be for you. It's a short and entertaining read.
Honestly, there isn't a lot to say about this. I didn't really notice any interesting insights, although Carrie lived a life that was undeniably interesting enough to write down. The audiobook is narrated by Carrie herself, and I think that's the only reason it was decent to listen to. Her tone is irreverent and sarcastic, often to the point that I found it annoying, but when it's Carrie's voice the words more often show as her charm and quirkiness as opposed to being, well, mildly offensive.
Honestly, this book is so short that you can listen to (or read, obviously) it in an afternoon. Not even all of an afternoon, just part of one. I find it hard to say that it's not worth reading, because there were certainly times I laughed and was intrigued by her stories, but I generally like to have some sort of takeaway from books …
Honestly, there isn't a lot to say about this. I didn't really notice any interesting insights, although Carrie lived a life that was undeniably interesting enough to write down. The audiobook is narrated by Carrie herself, and I think that's the only reason it was decent to listen to. Her tone is irreverent and sarcastic, often to the point that I found it annoying, but when it's Carrie's voice the words more often show as her charm and quirkiness as opposed to being, well, mildly offensive.
Honestly, this book is so short that you can listen to (or read, obviously) it in an afternoon. Not even all of an afternoon, just part of one. I find it hard to say that it's not worth reading, because there were certainly times I laughed and was intrigued by her stories, but I generally like to have some sort of takeaway from books like this and I didn't really find one.
I listened to this on audiobook, which probably helps. On audiobook you consume it essentially as a monologue, or a standup routine. Otherwise I imagine it reads very disjointedly. I’m not sure I would have enjoyed this if it weren’t Carrie Fisher.
Great memoir. Funny but thoughtful discussions about Carrie Fisher's journey coping with fame and mental illness.
"You know what's funny about death? I mean other than absolutely nothing at all? You'd think we could remember finding out we weren't immortal. Sometimes I see children sobbing in airports and I think, 'Aww. They've just been told.' But no, we somehow gradually just seem to be able to absorb the blow."
RIP Carrie Fisher.
This is the script of her autobiographical one-woman show. I liked her novels. Didn't think much of this.
