Wishful Drinking

Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher, 163 pages

Wishful Drinking is based on Fisher's 2008 one-woman stage show of the same name, and it's not hard to see how this short book was adapted from the show (particularly in audiobook form, which is how I experienced it). Fisher presents here anecdotes from her life: growing up as the child of two celebrities and all the weirdness that came with it (BOTH of her parents asked Cary Grant to talk to her about her drug problems); being part of the Star Wars phenomenon and all the weirdness that came with THAT (who else has both a Pez dispenser and a sex doll created in her cinnamon roll-haired likeness?); balancing mental illness with addictions and all the weirdness that came with it (most of which is unrepeatable here).

This was an interesting tour of Fisher's odd life, gamely guided by an actress who is well aware of how absurd of most of her experiences sound to the masses. It's that self-awareness -- and complete lack of woe-is-me that's so prevalent in some celebrity memoirs -- that make this a worthy addition to the genre. A funny and fun read, especially if you do the audiobook, which is narrated by the author.