A long time ago in a galaxy far far away!

Wishful Drinking is a beautiful memoir that blends celebrity life with the life of someone who has one of if not the most troubling mental disorders known to man. Carrie Fisher is not only telling you the story of her life, but she is also having a very revealing conversation with you. She gives you her personal description of everything that happened to her from Star Wars to her disturbing marriage to the man who died in her bed during the night and every dirty detail in between. She is hilarious and very good at connecting with the reader (maybe it was all the republican jokes) as well as very blunt. "But back to the first film. Shortly after I arrived, George gave me this unbelievable idiotic hairstyle, and I'm brought before him like some sacrificial asshole and he says in his little voice, 'Well, what do you think of it?' And I say--because I'm terrified I'm going to be fired for being too fat--I say, 'I love it.' Yeah, and the check's in the mail and one size fits all and I'll only put it in a little bit!" (Fisher 82)

It's really her storytelling technique though that gets me every time. She would start off a chapter with a beautiful quote: "I have to start by telling you that my entire existence could be summed up in one phrase. And that is: If my life wasn't funny it would just be true, and that is unacceptable." (Fisher 17) Genius right? I feel as though almost every memoir could say the same statement if only funny was replaced with sad or disturbing or some other sadistic tone. Not only are you dragged into her story with statements like that which makes the reader feel like he can relate, but then she would continue with the stunner: "An example of the tragic and shocking might be: A few years ago a friend of mine died in my house, but not content to simply die in my house, he also died in my bed. So he didn't just die in his sleep, he died in mine." (Fisher 18) As you can see, its almost as though shes sitting with you telling you the whole story truth with no editing, which makes it all the more real for the reader. All in all, a very good read which I enjoyed very much so and love pulling random hilarious quotes from.

Wishful Drinking, starring Princess Leia Organa, born in space and raised on Alderaan

What is it like to live after electroconvulsive therapy, AKA ECT, or electroshock therapy for those who are not familiar with it? The answer lies within Carrie Fisher's (more commonly known as Princess Leia) mind. She was born into a warped sense of reality to two superstars: the singer, Eddie Fisher; and the iconic moviestar, Debbie Reynolds. She never really formed a correct sense of reality, as she grew up with hollywood, movies, actors, and actresses. Her father left her mother at the age of very very young. Eddie Fisher actually just went to console his best friend's (who had just died in a tragic plane crash) widow wife. "He first dried her eyes with his handkerchief, then he consoled her with flowers, and he ultimately consoled her with his penis." (Fisher 34) Her reality would definitely be much different from the average Joe's. On top of all this, she was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, formerly known as Manic Depression, at the young age of 24, which consequently warped her sense of reality even more. "I emerge from my three-week-long ECT treatment to discover that I am not only this Princess Leia creature but also several-sized dolls, various T-shirts and posters, some cleansing items, and a bunch of other merchandise." (Fisher 9) Her view on the world after her treatment is very intriguing and drives me onward through the depths of her mind.

The Things He Carries

"For me, it was not a matter of live or die. There was no real peril. Almost certainly the young man would have passed me by. And it will always be that way." (O'Brien Part 4) This is and was the case for many of the Vietnam Veterans on both sides. This war changed everyone's view on life, on people. Not many people could understand why they were thrown against their will into someone else's fight and taught to hate good people that they just didn't understand. They knew it was their duty to kill, but they couldn't understand why, and after the act was finished, they felt terribly guilty and hated themselves more than they ever hated their enemies. "In the presence of his father and uncles, he pretended to look forward to doing his patriotic duty, which was also a privilege, but at night he prayed with his mother that the war might end soon." (O'Brien 127) It's so sad to read this, because it shows how much they looked up to their elders and felt pride that it was impossible for them to refuse to walk blindly to their graves... or worse. It was almost a bigger honor to die for your country at that point then to kill and be scarred so severely that your everyday life becomes one repeating nightmare with the faces of those you've ever harmed, killed, or even saw killed. Your life ends and you become an empty body... with nothing to live or die for. If you lived, this is what you must carry and what he (O'Brien) carries.