My Copy: 9781439153710 (image from bn.com)

I’ve never read anything by Carrie Fisher before, but I have to say I’ll be picking up more of her stuff in the near future. Wishful Drinking feels like you’re in the middle of a personal discussion with the woman who is best known as Princess Leia from Star Wars, but has a helluva lot more to offer.

It’s sad that she won’t be writing anymore–I have a feeling she had so much more to say.

The writing has the feel of one of those rambling texts or facebook posts from your friends that make you have to re-read and get the gist of what’s going on. She writes the way a person thinks in this book, and it works in its favor. It gives it that personality, a bit of connection with someone whose life as been filled with fortunate and unfortunate events.

It makes you want to learn more, and I agree with those that wish it was longer. The book is 160 pages, but could easily be 400 and still keep interest.

Yes, Carrie Fisher was an addict and bipolar, who had a rather privileged start in life in some ways and outrageous weirdness in others. The stories are just unreal about her childhood, not something one would expect to hear. She’s very blunt and honest about her family, giving us the truth (as best she knows it) tempered by her initial observations as a kid.

I think I would love to read so much more. I think she’s one of those people I’d enjoy sitting down and talking with for a day just for the hell of it, and that’s how this book feels–she’s spilling her guts, and her thoughts shift and move like it’s a real conversation.

Worth a shot.

****

ADDENDUM: Since life’s getting a little more routine (if not less complicated) and I was able to get “the doorstop” out of hiding, I’m resuming reviews of Shakespeare’s work this week. Because I have so much left and so little time before the end of the year, I’ll post the first one tomorrow and post one review each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday til the book is finished (almost New Year’s Day, by my calculations).

Til tomorrow, dear readers.