Carrie Fisher has had a roller coaster ride of a life. I'm sure there is much to be said for being the child of celebrity, but if you take Carrie's word for it (and why would you not?), most of what can be said is not fit to print!I've never seen "Star Wars" so I have no concept of Carrie as Princess Leia but I recognize that world famous hair style. I have read Carrie's fiction which seems to me to be more fact, written as fiction than anything she created from nothing. Then again, how often does life imitate art and vice versa? What I have noticed about Carrie is her wit, her ability to nail her thoughts firmly in one or two strokes of the hammer and her honest portrayal of "who" she is.
Reading her memoir, "Wishful Drinking" I was not disappointed...more of her wit, her humour and her sledge hammer vocabulary. She goes for the jugular with clean sweeps and makes you realize that maybe your own life isn't quite so bad as you might otherwise have thought. Carrie's example shows that you can keep trying, you can keep hoping and changing course, changing thinking and take the steps that are necessary can save anyone's sanity if not their life.
The sad part of this memoir is Carrie's loss of memory. Mental illness is no joke (and yet Carrie still manages to put a light spin on it) and it affects so many. Nature? Nurture? Genetics? A Molotov cocktail of all three in many cases. Losing memory to electro shock therapy is one of those situations where you must do the drastic to have the hope of healing. Much is lost, but much must be gained. A bit like having a fresh start and losing the memories that can quite often hold us back.
This little memoir is big on heart, hope and humour. It's definitely worth a read. And I've found myself someone else to appreciate as she carries on this journey of life.
5 comments:
One of the things I've always appreciated about Carrie Fisher is her willingness to embrace the Hollywood image we all have of her. If it were me, I'd be trying to erase that memory from the collective mind and recreate myself. But no, there she is, on the front of the book with those Princess Leia braids, and we all, instantly, know exactly who she is.
I adore a good memoir! Thanks for the suggestion :)))~~~XXOO, Beth
I heard her speak about her book on NPR some time ago and it was very interesting as well as funny.
I can't believe I found someone else who hasn't seen Star Wars. Phew! I thought I was the only one left on planet earth! I read one of Carrie Fisher's books (my own memory is lapsing for the title...) and after felt horribly sorry for her early life. But we can't always choose how that will run, can we? Nature? Nurture? Age old questions.
I`ve seen the star wars films - and not much else starring Carrie in , and i had read about her alcohol addidction .
Her book makes me want to go out and read more about her and what she has and is going through - with only seeing the films - you ony get her character that she played and not her true self.
Thanks for the recommendation !
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