The Best Awful
2 journalers for this copy...
I was surprised to see so many glowing reviews for this book on Amazon. Of course, many reviewers were already into Carrie Fisher's Suzanne Vale character from previous works, which I haven't read. I did see the movie based on her book, "Postcards from the Edge."
I think Fisher succeeds in her "All Aboard!" call for the Bipolar Express to the extent that the reader actually feels that they, too, are waking from the psychosis of a manic-depressive nightmare by the end of the book.* Which is not a fun thing to experience, even vicariously, but with Fisher, it's a sometimes hilarious trip. This author can truly write as a rather jaded Hollywood insider, and so she should, with her pedigree, however tarnished it became. But in the end, despite the pain and consequences suffered by the main character because of her mental illness, I found myself not really caring about her, which is sad to say, because one would assume that perhaps I don't care about Carrie Fisher since the Vale character is a very thinly disguised Fisher. The issue of mental illness, yes. I feel passionately about the injustices done to people with brain disorders in today's society. But it seems that Fisher was so preoccupied with her wisecracking witticisms and the (enough already!) "sane old, sane old" word play ("Never help, fear is on it's way!"), that the whole thing soon became tiresome reading. Suzanne Vale never seems to take herself seriously, even when she's taking herself seriously. I felt that not enough "Okay, let's-cut-the-funny-stuff" attention was given to the depths of her depression and despair, which, although not nearly as much fun as the mania, would have enriched and validated the character to a greater extent.
Still, I admire Carrie Fisher greatly for pursuing this advocacy in her own resourceful way, and I hope she never stops. I'm sure her own much-publicized experience with the brain disorder has not been full of non-stop laughs, but like many people living with a chronic illness, she is a wonderful example of the will to survive, even to the point of seemingly outwitting the disease. This book is a good read for anyone whose reponse to bipolar disorder is, "Huh? What's that?" But for those who, like Fisher, have already experienced the far-reaching devastation of the illness, either their own or a loved one's, it's just a painful albeit sometimes humorous reminder that leaves the reader one brick shy of a truly inspirational load.
*Lori Schiller does this much more beautifully and effectively in "The Quiet Room," ensnaring the reader in a harrowing tour de force inside her schizoaffective brain.
I think Fisher succeeds in her "All Aboard!" call for the Bipolar Express to the extent that the reader actually feels that they, too, are waking from the psychosis of a manic-depressive nightmare by the end of the book.* Which is not a fun thing to experience, even vicariously, but with Fisher, it's a sometimes hilarious trip. This author can truly write as a rather jaded Hollywood insider, and so she should, with her pedigree, however tarnished it became. But in the end, despite the pain and consequences suffered by the main character because of her mental illness, I found myself not really caring about her, which is sad to say, because one would assume that perhaps I don't care about Carrie Fisher since the Vale character is a very thinly disguised Fisher. The issue of mental illness, yes. I feel passionately about the injustices done to people with brain disorders in today's society. But it seems that Fisher was so preoccupied with her wisecracking witticisms and the (enough already!) "sane old, sane old" word play ("Never help, fear is on it's way!"), that the whole thing soon became tiresome reading. Suzanne Vale never seems to take herself seriously, even when she's taking herself seriously. I felt that not enough "Okay, let's-cut-the-funny-stuff" attention was given to the depths of her depression and despair, which, although not nearly as much fun as the mania, would have enriched and validated the character to a greater extent.
Still, I admire Carrie Fisher greatly for pursuing this advocacy in her own resourceful way, and I hope she never stops. I'm sure her own much-publicized experience with the brain disorder has not been full of non-stop laughs, but like many people living with a chronic illness, she is a wonderful example of the will to survive, even to the point of seemingly outwitting the disease. This book is a good read for anyone whose reponse to bipolar disorder is, "Huh? What's that?" But for those who, like Fisher, have already experienced the far-reaching devastation of the illness, either their own or a loved one's, it's just a painful albeit sometimes humorous reminder that leaves the reader one brick shy of a truly inspirational load.
*Lori Schiller does this much more beautifully and effectively in "The Quiet Room," ensnaring the reader in a harrowing tour de force inside her schizoaffective brain.
This is being mailed to Pennsylvania on Aug. 5. Enjoy!
I just "caught" this book from fellow bookcrosser kali297, and I'm looking forward to reading it!
