Wishful Drinking

By Carrie Fisher

Book Overview

The bestselling author of Postcards from the Edge comes clean (well, sort of) in her first-ever memoir, adapted from her one-woman Broadway hit show. Fisher reveals what it was really like to grow up a product of "Hollywood in-breeding," come of

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 143915371X
• ISBN13: 9781439153710
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.3" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

An Irreverent Look Back

In an irreverent look back at her life and her family, Carrie Fisher, daughter of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, also known as Princess Leia from the Star Wars universe, airs her (and her family's) dirty laundry in a cathartic monologue. Fisher bounces back and forth between honest and sarcastic, telling her story in an entertaining way that is often bittersweet due to the content. Certainly she has some witty remarks on some less than happy subjects, but if you stop to consider the story behind the story, it can twist from humorous to depressing pretty quickly. Best not to dwell, and just to allow Fisher to get it all off her chest - and yet after the fact, not dwelling on just how many challenges Fisher faced from a young age, and how much she struggled throughout her life with addiction, is nearly impossible. As a fan of Carrie Fisher's work (and that's beyond her Star Wars fame), I was glad for the chance to read about her life from her own perspective. She's quick to point out that she had as many advantages as she did disadvantages, which keeps this book from miring down into a rich girl's "poor me" while still allowing the reader the space to be sympathetic for her experiences with absent parents, early introduction to drugs and alcohol, and a familial history of mental illness. I'm sure family and friends are less than thrilled for being called out (except perhaps her brother, who comes of as a basic saint here) but possibly they deserve it, so good for her. I loved her Cary Grant stories, and really felt for her in those moments (view spoiler). What comes through in Carrie Fisher's memoir is a lot of pain, some self-deprecating humor and the ability to laugh at herself, and a level of self-awareness that obviously took a lifetime to procure.

Honest and Funny

It feels like a conversation. It’s a quick read, but you dive straight into her conversationalist style and it’s hard to come out.

A Treasure of an Inside Look

There is a lot of Carrie Fisher's life that I did not know. Growing up, we loved Star Wars but there was always an undercurrent of "but we don't approve of Carrie Fisher". I remember one award show where she went up to either speak or accept an award, I don't remember. But there was widespread disapproval. But man, I had NO idea how crazy her life had been. From being abandoned by her father, to the many stepfathers who followed, to experimenting with grass and then LSD- I won't ruin it all but I highly recommend a read! She had some crazy medical treatments, but eventually she was able to get sober and she states multiple times that she owes that sobriety to 12 Step programs. How amazing! She also talks about how crazy it was to actually be Princess Leia, but less so than the previous book I read which was shorter. This book really focuses on the raw and true life events that shaped her and made her the icon we all loved. And I appreciate that she opened herself up to the public to come in and experience her mind and life through this. Our princess forever, I hope you're out there having the peace, security, and joy you deserve 💗 10/10 recommend for Star Wars fans and anyone struggling with addiction

Extraordinarily Entertaining

Carrie's ability to make the words she types feel as naturally flowing as a conversation with your best mate is what truly charms in her book. Her stories never bore in this quick paced hilarity of a book. Absolutely loved it.

Growing up in make believe land

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.

The Colorful Life Of Carrie Fisher

Who knew that Carrie Fisher has led such a colorful life? Well, maybe people who follow celebrity news, but I certainly didn't, which is what made this book so fun and informative to read. /Wishful Drinking/ is a collection of anecdotes about Carrie Fisher's life, written by her, told in mostly chronological order. It includes stories about her family and what it was like being the child of two famous parents, her marriage to Paul Simon, her struggles with drug and alcohol use, undergoing electroshock therapy, her mental illness, and, of course, her role as Princess Leia. This book was so much fun. Not because of the subject matter, which was generally rather depressing, but because of how it is written. Fisher writes how many people talks, and since I know her voice (somewhat, although I'd imagine it's changed since Star Wars), it felt to me like I could hear her talking as I read. The chapters are fairly short which, combined with the writing style, made it quick to read. The book is based on her show of the same name, which I'd now really like to go see. Fisher has struggled with a lot over the years, but she has an upbeat outlook on life; you can tell she really takes it to heart when she says "If my life wasn't funny it would just be true, and that is unacceptable." Reviewed by Holly Scudero

Not Your Typical Autobiography......but Full of Laughs !!

Carrie Fisher's "Wishful Drinking" should not be read as an autobiography.Rather, it should be read and enjoyed as a book of Comedy.Carrie describes her famous parents,Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher as the (Jennifer Anniston & Brad Pitt) of their era.When you add Elizabeth Taylor (the Angelina Jolie) of her time......it makes some sense as she took Eddie Fisher from the homebody Debbie. Move along several years.Carrie has a daughter named Billie.Billie is interested in Rhys,the grandson of Elizabeth Taylor,by her only daughter Liza Todd (also the child of Mike Todd).Carrie nixes the interest by stating they are related by scandal,and draws a most interesting diagram on pages 36-37 to further prove this. Carrie doesn't write aboutanything,including her own serious illness without a bit of humor thrown in.Although we know anyone,who has a series of shock treatment,is suffering from a severe depresion.Carrie continues to keep her book upbeat. I think humor is is her way of coping.She has reached the age of 53, adopting this method of coping.Not a bad idea if you find yourself raised in Hollywood.I give her credit for not whining about her childhood, and learning to laugh at the pretentiousness of the system she found herself dwelling in. She discovered early,humor,when you have no control over your life, can surely save you. For sheer entertainment,I gave her 5 stars. p.s. There are a number of good photoes in this book.Too bad they are not in color.

Get it on audiobook

This book is best as the unabridged audiobook read by the author herself! Much like David Sedaris, the only person that can fully convey the emotional impact and placement of emphasis in their experiences, is the author themselves. After listening to this three hour conversation with Carrie, as she does ask rhetorical questions of her reader/audiences, I wondered why she has not reached the level of gay icon status as Cher or Liza. The woman smoked Harrison Ford's dope, she turns men bald and gay, was the daughter of a gay icon (which gives you 10 points automatically), and has her fair share of True Hollywood Story moments - I mean come on! Has your mother given you a vibrator for Christmas, no? Only Carrie? Find out she ended up with a dead gay Republican in her bed...as one does and several other intriguing stories! A new tour of the one woman show also titled "Wishful Drinking" is being planned for 2009, so if you like Margaret Cho, Sarah Silverman, and Kathy Griffin and want to go a bit old school Enquirer - than make it a point to see her live!

Hilariously awesome

Even though I'm sure her one-woman show is funnier, Carrie Fisher's wit and humor definitely come across in this book. There's no plot, and little chronology, but it comes across the same as it would on stage. Just an iconic and kinda crazy woman, rambling on about her strange and interesting life. Any fans of Fisher or Star Wars would love it, and I think people who don't fit one of those categories would at least be amused by it. It's a quick read, with large print and pictures!