Sunday, January 4, 2009

Carrie Fisher's Book "Wishful Drinking"


I took some time to look at Carrie Fisher's new book Wishful Drinking the other day. Princess Leia's done a lot of interviews and promotion about the book so I thought I would give it a shot. Most of the reviews seem to refer to the book as 'funny.'
I didn't find it so.
There's a strong sadness and detachment that permeates this whole narrative. Fisher says often that she is, by virtue of her lineage and familial circumstances, different from most. Many of the jokes are made at the expense of her upbringing and, while I was expecting to be amused by the many anecdotes and vignettes, I found out that I wasn't.
On the other hand, the book reads very quickly and it provides a 'reading' of old-school Hollywood.
And to quote one of Fisher's own lines from the book: “If my life wasn’t funny, it would just be true, and that is unacceptable.” And perhaps therein lies the sadness.




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9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I heard one of her interviews. She's pretty funny and seems to be open about her life. It is sort of weird that some famous people use their private lives so openly to tell stories.

Sra said...

Ouch, that is indeed a sadness. But a good line.

Carrie Fisher's character in When Harry Met Sally is still very funny to me.

Anonymous said...

I thought about checking this one out. I do find it funny though that famous people get to book-writing, even though Carrie Fisher can write, at least....

Anonymous said...

I don't really get this active need for attention but if it helps some, they should try to get it. She's pretty funny in interviews.

Anonymous said...

I saw this at the bookstore the other day and wondered about it. Who said humor was always funny, right?
thx.

Anonymous said...

“If my life wasn’t funny, it would just be true, and that is unacceptable.”
Ouch, Carrie Fisher!
That is sad....

Anonymous said...

Yeah, why is there such a strong need to confess? I know you have asked this question often but I wonder about it too....

Anonymous said...

I think 'true lives' are underrated. Shouldn't most of us strive for true experiences? I mean, call me crazy, but the alternative does sound kookoo to me....

Anonymous said...

I think 'true lives' are underrated. Shouldn't most of us strive for true experiences? I mean, call me crazy, but the alternative does sound kookoo to me....