Postcards from the Edge

Carrie Fischer became an icon after playing Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy, but there’s a whole subpopulation of women who idolize Carrie and still mourn her death for an entirely different reason. We love her writing, and also who she was – honest, vulnerable, subversive, and hilarious. In my 20s, I read three Carrie Fischer novels in a row. Sometimes you have that youthful moment when you connect with the voice of a writer so strongly, that you become forever devoted to them. For me, this author was Carrie Fischer. The novel is about an actress… show more.

I love the fact that although this was a novel from the brilliant Carrie Fisher, much of it is autobiographical, which must’ve taken courage, as she reveals so much of her own life and sometimes painful upbringing by her parents Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, while, at the same time writing a devilishly funny book about Hollywood. The book became even more special for me when I, working as a reporter at the Los Angeles Times, got the chance to interview Fisher. When I mentioned I was thinking about writing an autobiographical novel about my own famous family, she… show more.

I love this book about addiction and a return to life post-rehab. It’s also everything about Hollywood you love to hate and a mother/daughter relationship for the ages. Carrie Fisher is funny, vulnerable, and real. What value did you get from this book? Addiction is often the result of trauma and Fisher navigates the cause and effect in a disarming way. Her writing is authentic and funny. especially set against the Hollywood backdrop. I laughed and I cried, and best of all I related to her struggle despite the differences in our experiences.