Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher

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Title: Wishful Drinking
Author: Carrie Fisher
Published: 2008
My edition: Simon & Schuster Hardcover 2008
Borrowed From: Hoboken Public Library
Pages: 163

Synopsis (from Strand): If ever there were living proof of just how intense coming of age in Hollywood can be, Carrie Fisher’s story could very well be considered the ultimate. Born the daughter of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, Carrie was in a unique position of being involved with icons growing up, and becoming an icon herself by the age of nineteen. In “Wishful Drinking” Fisher speaks candidly on just how her extraordinary life and unpreccedented success led to her eventual mental collapse and struggles with addiction. Filled with all of the candor and intelligence that have come to mark Fisher’s career of late, this stunningly original and insightfully poignant memoir pulls back the curtain on a life unlike others.

I read this because: My friends and I saw her Broadway show last week and loved it. This book was adapted from her stage show, and is fairly similar with a little bit of extra detail.

My thoughts: While I don’t think anything can compare directly with her show and the warmth and humor she brings to the stage, her memoir is definitely fun on its own. It’s lighthearted, despite most of the subject matter being a bit heavy (death, drugs, infidelity, etc). She never feels sorry for herself though, nor asks the reader to. She simply tells you fascinating details about her life in an extremely funny way.

Book club worthy? Not particularly. (I don’t consider many memoirs good for book groups, though there are exceptions, of course.)

Follow up required: I’d like to read her autobiographical novel, Postcards from the Edge.

You might like this book if you liked: Any humorous memoir writers, like David Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs

Links to purchase: Indie Bound, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository, Strand

My favorite lines & passages:

Resentment is like drinking a poison and waiting for the other person to die. (page 153)

Cry all you want, you’ll pee less! (page 154)

Extras: Carrie Fisher’s website, Carrie Fisher on Twitter

By Emily

Book-hoarding INFJ who likes to leave the Shire and go on adventures.

5 comments

  1. Ok you’ve made me really want to read this Emily! I’ve seen it at a few second hand book stores and eyed it off but passed it by, I think I need a copy now it sounds great. I just love the cover and I absolutely adore the “Resentment is like drinking a poison and waiting for the other person to die.” quote, it’s so true!

  2. How great that you got to see her show! Her memoir sounds fun and interesting, love the quotes. My library has The Best Awful, at least in theory, apparently it´s lost :(

  3. I just read Postcards From the Edge in December and I have to say… this sounds way better. The beginning of PFTE (Suzanne in rehab) started out very fun and fast and then the second half of the novel (after Suzanne leaves rehab) dragged soooo sloooow. It was a real struggle to make it through that part and finish the novel. Go ahead a tackle it and tell me what you think, though. Even with my prior experience with Carrie, I want to read this book. Oh, and see the show.

  4. Interesting review! It was interesting to know that such a serious memoir could be humorous and funny. Shows the talent of the author. I have enjoyed watching Debbie Reynolds movies (with Gene Kelly) but I don’t know much about Carrie Fisher. Must be tough being the daughter of celebrities. I liked your favourite quote ‘Resentment is like….’ very much.

what do you think?

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