The Princess Diarist

Book Details
Author: Carrie Fisher
Published: October 18, 2016
Pages: 257 (Hardcover)
Genre: Memoir, Biography, Journal

"I act like a person in a bomb shelter trying to raise everyone's spirits."

"The Princess Diarist" is the last book written by the amazing and talented Carrie Fisher, a memoir that includes her journals from the filming of the first "Star Wars." A "little, low-budget film" that turned into one of the most iconic movies of all time.

In the book we don't just get to read about "Star Wars." (Not that Star Wars isn't one of the main reasons I picked this book up.)

We get a glimpse into 19 year old Carrie's mindset at the time, some of her poems and a rare look into 'Carrison.' The first, actual, admission to the affair between Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford. (I'm pretty sure that everyone saw this admission coming, though.)

Thoughts
This is the first book I've read by Fisher. Though I do own "Shockaholic" and definitely intend to read it (and "Wishful Drinking"). I anxiously waited to read this book from when I found out she had passed on in December of 2016 until this month when it finally came in at the Library. (I was 22nd in line when I put it on hold, if that gives any indication of my wait time.)

And it was almost everything I wanted it to be! Almost...

Don't get me wrong. I loved this book! It was what I was hoping for; a confirmation of childish fantasies I had that Leia and Han Solo really "loved" each other in the real world. If any one quote from "Star Wars" describes precisely the love affair between Fisher and Ford it's the scene where Leia confesses to Han that she loves him.

I love you.

I know.

Her journals were mesmerizing. Her word choices, her poems, her feelings. I felt a real connection to 19 year old, not quite a starlet, Carrie. The infatuation, obsession, love and self-loathing she experienced mirrored a lot of my feelings and experiences at that age. And I didn't have a movie to film!

I was pleasantly surprised to read her poems, which were poignant, thoughtful and sarcastic. I loved them. They were perfect.

The journals themselves were a great insight to who she was as a person and I could practically hear her reading them to me.

I loved her lead up to the journals, where she just spoke about herself and Star Wars in general. I appreciated getting to see that part of her that we usually don't get to see. Her writing has a great flow to it, making it easy to read and thoroughly engaging. I had no trouble devouring the book on my lunch breaks at work.

Where the book started to go south for me was after the journals.

Specifically: Page 205, Chapter "Leia's lap dance."

Honestly, I don't know how she dealt with all those rambling fans. I would've probably screamed. I think it is testament to her character that she found it endearing. I had no desire to read the ramblings of my fellows, especially the one that asked whether or not "the black boy's skin is dark because of some hex that the Dark Side puts on him." (Which I found offensive in the extreme.)

I know that interacting with her fans was a part of her life as a movie star and part of her life as a celebrity in general. However, that wasn't what I had in mind when I set out to read about Star Wars and 'Carrison.'

Rating
I gave the book a 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.

So for our purposes (since I do a scale of 10), I give it an 8 out of 10. The aforementioned chapter really brings the overall score down for me, because I didn't find it enjoyable at all. I spent most of it in bafflement and it was the only section I struggled to get through because, as I mentioned, her writing style is quite engaging.

I would also give it a PG-13 rating for language and adult situations.

I wouldn't suggest the book to non-Star Wars fans, people looking for a steamy or erotic retelling of the 'Carrison' affair (she doesn't really touch on the sex except to mention it was good), people easily offended by "vulgar" language or Jabba the Hutt. (She really takes his fashion sense to task!)

I would suggest it to fans of Star Wars, fans of Carrie Fisher, fans of memoirs or biographies and people who don't mind extraneous bits about fan ramblings.