Shockaholic

By Carrie Fisher

‘I don’t hate hardly ever, and when I love, I love for miles and miles . . .’ Carrie Fisher in Shockaholic
[Shockaholic] is the finest, funniest, chronicler of the maddest celebrity mores. Sunday Times

By the time Carrie Fisher wrote Shockaholic, it had been a roller coaster of a few years since her Tony- and Emmy-nominated, one-woman Broadway show and New York Times bestselling book Wishful Drinking. 

The electro-convulsive shock therapy she's been undergoing is threatening to wipe out (what's left of) her memory. She lost her beloved father, Eddie Fisher, but also her once-upon-a-very-brief-time stepmother, Elizabeth Taylor, as well as over forty pounds of unwanted flesh, all the while staying sober and sane-ish.

Yes, of course, Shockaholic is laugh-out-loud funny, acerbic, and witty as hell. But it also reveals a new side of Carrie Fisher that may even bring a pleasant shock your way: it is contemplative, vulnerable, and ultimately quite tender. From the woman who took us to space and back, we bring you Carrie Fisher: the woman, mother, daughter and of course, Princess.
 
Carrie Fisher, the daughter of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, became an icon when she starred as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy. Her star-studded career included roles in numerous films such as The Blues Brothers and When Harry Met Sally. She was the author of four bestselling novels, Surrender in the Pink, Delusions of Grandma, The Best Awful and Postcards from the Edge, which was made into a hit film starring Shirley MacLaine and Meryl Streep. Her first work of non-fiction was the cult hit Wishful Drinking. Carrie's experience with addiction and mental illness – and her willingness to talk honestly about them – made her a sought-after speaker and respected advocate. She was truly one of the most magical people to walk among us.

Further praise for Carrie Fisher:-

'Fisher has a talent for lacerating insight that masquerades as carefree self-deprecation' Los Angeles Times
'She is one of the rare inhabitants of La-La Land who can actually write' New York Times

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Release date: Nov 10, 2011
• ISBN: 9780857201584

Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher (1956–2016) became a cultural icon as Princess Leia in the first Star Wars trilogy. She starred in countless films, including Shampoo and When Harry Met Sally. She is the author of Shockaholic; Wishful Drinking (which became a hit Broadway production); and four bestselling novels, Surrender the Pink, Delusions of Grandma, The Best Awful, and Postcards from the Edge.

Reviews for Shockaholic

[brakketh-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Endearing tales about Carrie Fisher's life.

[auntie0nanuuq · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

"There's No Room for Demons, when You're Self-Possessed" Well that is certainly true....and "Self-Possessed" fits this woman to a Tee!

This book begins with stream of conscious babbling/rambling, which I found to be very annoying. She talks about her ECT (electroshock therapy) that helps her depression, her loss of memory from the ECT, her drug use (snorting cocaine with your father is NOT a good thing), her childhood growing up with step-father Harry Karl (Karl's shoes), Michael Jackson (which gave me a very different p.o.v. on him), Elizabeth Taylor, and her absent father Eddie Fisher.

Her writing is very disjointed and fragmented. I couldn't follow much of what she wrote as it seemed to be made up of related but incomplete thoughts. I'd like to think that her writing style (or lack thereof) is a side effect of the ECT, but if I remember correctly her first biography, "Wishful Drinking", was much the same way.

[rosechimera-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thought it would be too sad to read this after Carrie died, but her writing is so warm, funny and engaging that it's like she never left and you are sitting there having coffee with a funny companion that you adore.

[seschend · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Interesting enough read in snippets, as Fisher's breezy style fits her public persona and her voice comes through clearly. Not of particular depth or importance, but still a worthwhile read if you want to know more about her as a person and/or persona.

[benkline · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was much better than her Wishful Drinking book, which was more or less just a revisiting of her play/HBO special.

Picked this up at the library just after her death to finish out my year (and to make my goal for the year - 85 books read). Like Wishful Drinking this was a quick, easy, fun, breezy read.

This one begins by going into shock treatment/therapy and how that relates/helps her. From there it goes very heavily into the subject of death. Both with her friends over the years, and then Michael Jackson -- before segueing to the final (and very long) chapter devoted to her dad and his death.

It was kind of interesting reading this just after her death and in that the novel primarily discusses death -- be it her friends, Michael Jackson, or her father. (And even her own death if/when it should happen .... which unfortunately was late December 2016).

I found Shockaholic to be much more touching and personal than Wishful Drinking, and I think this delved deeper into the real person of Carrie Fisher - in a far better and more meaningful (and more complicated) way.

Definitely would recommend this for any Fisher fan, or Star Wars fan, or someone who enjoys Hollywood 'tell-alls'.

[dtw42 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fairly insubstantial, but Fisher is an engaging, and entertainingly self-deprecating, writer, who's come to terms admirably with the consequences of a whacked-out celebrity roller-coaster of a life.

[quondame · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Anecdotes from the inimitable Ms Fisher. Some overlap with Wishful Drinking, but more scatological about her stepfather Karl and more intense about Eddie Fisher and her last days caring for him. With a splendid bit about her dealing with that jerk, Ted Kennedy. Oh, yes, and shock treatments, but that's gotten through and left behind before the good stuff.

[ragwaine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So glad Carrie's books are read by her. It just adds to the connection I feel when listening to them. Her life was obviously a mess, but while she was having an awful time, she made sure to make sure everyone around her was, at least sometimes, having a great time, because she's freaking hilarious. I love her word play, and the insight into the lives of some of the stars/famous people she hung around was interesting too. In this case Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and Ted Kennedy. In-between that she talks about her depression, addictions, and family life, along with a long section about electing to get shock therapy (and it working).I feel like if you read all of her books in the same year they would probably get repetitive, this is my second and it had the same kind of feeling as the first. I loved both but I'll probably give it a year before I try my 3rd.

[drfuriosa · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fisher's candid and blunt voice emerges again to expound on details about her life and thoughts on relationships. She discusses her decision to undergo ECT, her father's relationship with Elizabeth Taylor, her brief fling with a senator, and her relationship with her father. It's not as funny or entertaining as Wishful Drinking, but it is poignant and powerful. The chapter on Michael Jackson is particularly insightful and unexpected.

[caanderson-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book has been on my to read list for a while, it’s really hard to get past the fact Carrie is no longer with us. What an extraordinary mind.

[gittel_7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was expecting a quick, light read. But Fisher surprised me with a thoughtful and insightful look into the realities of celebrity, of depression, and the pain of losing a parent. At the end of the day even a celebrity is still a person with challenges and life stuff to deal with. A worthwhile read.

[darthdeverell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In Shockaholic, Carrie Fisher frankly discusses her electroconvulsive therapy for her manic-depression, demystifying the process and helping to destigmatize discussions of mental health. From there, she relays further anecdotes similar to those in her previous memoir, Wishful Drinking. Her stories cover topics from the role of fame in America as a substitute monarchy – using a dinner with Senator Ted Kennedy as an example of the two-tiered system of political dynasties and pop culture celebrity – to her friendship with Michael Jackson and her relationships with her stepfather, Harry Karl, and her father, Eddie Reynolds, both of which detail the importance of making peace with with people while you have the chance. She even made her peace with Elizabeth Taylor. There’s a certain prophetic nature to Fisher’s musings as she reflects on the nature of legacy and memory, dismissing her own fame and how she felt she was likely to be remembered. Fans of Fisher’s writing will find all the heart and humor they’ve come to expect from her in Shockaholic.

[letitia · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I mean, it was pretty good. Carrie was a kind woman and a fantastic author. I love how honest she truly is, baring her soul so that those with problematic mental health (like myself) do not feel so alone.

Rest In Peace x

[melydia_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another memoir from everybody's favorite space princess who has also had a life and career since then. This one is much more disjointed than Wishful Drinking, as it mostly covers random memories that Fisher herself doesn't want to forget. I learned a lot about Electro-Convulsive Therapy (known as shock treatment in earlier days), including just how effective it can be in treating depression and other mental illnesses. It's used as a scare tactic in so many movies that, like Fisher, I'd always thought it was truly horrific. Turns out it's actually pretty great for her, except that it eats her memories. So here we have a collection of stories from her life, most of which are pretty hilarious. I won't be rushing out to get Fisher's next set of memoirs, but every once in a while it's a fun change. She's led an interesting life.

[moopet-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The title and cover are a bit misleading. This is a book more about Fisher's relationship with her parents than anything else. It's also pretty short. But it's good fun nonetheless.

[cmlloyd67 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not quite what I expected. Does have some interesting antedotes about Elizabeth Taylor and Michale Jackson, along with a lengthy series of chapters on Eddie Fisher and Carrie's reunion with her father.
They reconcile and she manages to come to terms with who he is and forgive him.

Overall, the book much like its predecessor is about the horrible mixed up world of stardom or being a celebrity and how different it is now from how it was 50 years ago. There's less reverence now, and more sneering. Fisher handles it all with good humor and mockery.

The writing is along the same lines as EL James 50 Shades of Grey, although Fisher has the excuse of having received ECT (electroconvulsive therapy or shock treatment). Simple and a bit on the rambling side. She repeats herself quite a bit, and one wonders what happened to the editor and if Fisher was just given free reign.


Not as enjoyable as Wishful Drinking. And provides little additional insight, outside of the fact that Fisher not only manages to forgive Liz Taylor for breaking up her parents, but gets her mother to find a way of doing it too.

[cherrybob_omb · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I love Carrie, and her personality shines through in almost everything she writes. This one is a little too short and lacking in depth to pack any sort of punch, and Carrie never really explains why she thinks the electroshock treatment is effective or why she is so depressed in the first place, yet it still manages to be a pleasant read... I'd save it for a short plane trip.

[tvgrl · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

wing-nutty crazy famous lady spiels about herself, entertaining but ultimately a disappointing story-arch (am I spelling that right?)

it pales in comparison to last year's road-trip audiobook: A Paper Life by Tatum O'Neal - next time maybe we should be more adventurous and choose something outside the realm of 70's childhood celebrity crushes?

[bakersfieldbarbara · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was disappointed after reading this book. I felt it was more about her relationship with her parents rather than the shock treatments as referenced in the title. I think I have read all that I now need to know or want to know about Carrie Fisher.

[rigfield_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Carrie Fisher once again proves that humor is the often the best defense against the chaotic madness of (her) life. With a sharp wit and self-insight, she delivers snippets of what electro-convulsive therapy has done to her brain, her waist and her life. Each chapter is a self-contained story - be it how she became a Jenny Craig spokesperson or having a battle of wits with a jerk of a senator over dinner or what it was like to know Michael Jackson - each tale is a chestnut that entertains the voyeur in us all much better than any tabloid could - as these tales come straight from the source (as best as she can remember, what with the shock therapy and all). A great read from a woman who proves time and time again she has more to offer than being character in a space movie - if only we'd let her move on.