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Shockaholic [Hardcover]

Carrie Fisher (Author)
3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

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Book Description

November 1, 2011
Bad news . . .

. . . for anyone who thought Carrie Fisher had finally stopped talking about herself: Sorry, but after all of her seemingly endless blathering on about her nose-bleedhigh- class problems, it appears she has yet another brand-new problem to overshare about (though don’t expect to relate to it). This time, the electro-convulsive shock therapy she’s been regularly undergoing is threatening to wipe out (what’s left of) her memory.

But get ready for a shock of your own. Not only doesn’t she mind paying the second electric bill, but she loves the high-voltage treatments. In fact, she gets a real charge out of them. She can’t get enough. In fact, this might even be a brand-new addiction for her. But before she can truly commit herself to it in the long term, she’d better get some of those more nagging memories of hers on paper.

It’s been a roller coaster of a few years for Carrie since her Tony- and Emmy-nominated, one-woman Broadway show and New York Times bestselling book Wishful Drinking. She not only lost her beloved father, but also her once-upon-a-very-brief-time stepmother, Elizabeth Taylor. And as if all that weren’t enough, she also managed to lose over forty pounds of unwanted flesh—not by sawing off a leg (though that did cross her zapped mind) but by doing what might be termed “wishful shrinking,” all the while staying sober and sane-ish. And she wants to tell you, dear reader, all about it . . . and more.

Why? Because she wants you to someday be able to remind her about how Elizabeth Taylor settles a score and the scatological wonders of shoe tycoons. She doesn’t want to forget about how she and Michael Jackson became friends or how she ended up sparring with none other than Ted Kennedy on a dinner date. And she especially wants to preserve her memories of Eddie Fisher—what their relationship really was and the beautiful story it turned out to be in the end.

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.


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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fisher is a girl who knows how to tell a story . . . she can make us laugh, she can make us cringe, but she can also teach a great deal about the power of forgiveness."—People (4-star review)

“[Fisher] never lets herself veer into woe-is-me-ism. With charming shamelessness, she conducts a brisk and witty tour of her life, delivering up her tragedies as a nonstop laugh riot.”—Elle

“Hilarious.”—Marie Claire

“There's no such thing as TMI in Carrie Fisher's world, and that's why we're hooked on her new memoir, Shockaholic.”—Ladies' Home Journal

"Fisher's memoir Shockaholic, the follow-up to her successful autobiography and one-woman show, Wishful Drinking, is similarly witty, ramshackle, and outrageous."—Washington Post



“Hollywood's new poor little rich girl . . . continues her tour down the rabbit hole of Crazy Town, sparking us through brightly lit secret corridors while twisting self-deprecation into an art form. Fisher's wordplay is wicked, relentless, and playful as a bouncy house full of polar bear cubs.”—San Francisco Chronicle

"Amazing . . . pretty fascinating stuff."—Rosie O'Donnell (Windy City Times interview)

[Shockaholic] stands out beautifully from what has become the madding memoir crowd."—Buffalo News



"Carrie Fisher goes from pathos to punch line with a flick of her wit." —Louisville Courier-Journal

“Carrie Fisher is able to deliver a sage, self-deprecating tour of addiction, bipolar disorder, and her experiences with ECT (Electro-Convulsive Therapy) in a way that leaves readers feeling like she's your funny, cynical, down-to-earth BFF.” —BUST

About the Author

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 includes roles in numerous films such as The Blues Brothers and When Harry Met Sally. She is the author of five bestselling books: Wishful Drinking—which lead to a hit Broadway production of the same name—Surrender the Pink, Delusions of Grandma, The Best Awful, and Postcards from the Edge, the basis for the popular film starring Shirley MacLaine and Meryl Streep. In 2009, she was nominated for a Grammy award in Best Spoken Word Performance for the audio edition of Wishful Drinking. Fisher's experience with addiction and mental illness—and her willingness to speak honestly about them—have made her a sought-after speaker and respected advocate.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 176 pages
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1St Edition edition (November 1, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0743264827
  • ISBN-13: 978-0743264822
  • Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,117 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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 includes roles in numerous films such as The Blues Brothers and When Harry Met Sally. She is the author of five bestselling novels, Wishful Drinking, Surrender 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. Fisher's experience with addiction and mental illness--and her willingness to speak honestly about them--have made her a sought-after speaker and respected advocate.

 

Customer Reviews

17 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.5 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Michael Jackson, shock therapy, Jenny Craig mixed with humor.....who could resist?, November 3, 2011
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This review is from: Shockaholic (Kindle Edition)
This review is based on the Kindle edition.

Reading a Carrie Fisher book is a wild trip indeed, full of stream of consciousness writing mixed with a strong dose of humor. The result? Revelations and opinions that are totally refreshing compared to so much tepid writing and so-called "confessions" out there.

Fisher can definitely NOT be described as tepid. Given the day and time she could be described as depressed or hyper, a loyal friend or a shopaholic. She fights to keep weight off and recently shed weight with the aid of (as Fisher puts it).." "my unexpected ship...the S.S. Jenny Craig." Yep, she used the Jenny Craig program in spite of the fact that she'd have to reveal her hefty body to the public before taking off the weight. Not an easy task.

But for me it is her unique humor that make her books, including Shockaholic, stand out from the crowd. Who else would write: "One could argue that by having regular ECT treatments, I'm paying two- that's right, two electric bills. One for the house and one for the head."

In between the humor are serious messages. Electroshock therapy may help when other depression treatments fail. Like so many others, Fisher was terrified to try it but it helped her immensely. With so many ashamed to admit that they struggle to remain semi-balanced and functioning, Shockaholic could take away some of the stigma.

Not that the book focuses only on electroshock treatments. Fisher doesn't avoid making fun of herself while sharing her views on a variety of topics. Michael Jackson. Elizabeth Taylor. The details of a wildly surreal conversation with Senator Kennedy. Memories of visiting Michael Jackson's Neverland estate.

In light of recent events (as of the book's publication), I found Fisher's info about Arnie Klein (Jackson's dermatologist) to be particularly intriguing. There is, in fact, a complete chapter on Michael Jackson and his super celebrity status as well as Fisher's experiences with Klein.

You never know what you'll find between the covers of a book written by Carrie Fisher. I always feel inspired as well as entertained by her writing. By her own admission, writing is therapeutic for her....and readers are the lucky recipients of some of that writing.

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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Carrie Fisher wows me yet again, November 4, 2011
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Shockaholic (Kindle Edition)
I absolutely love Carrie Fisher's books, so I was thrilled to find she had a new one out. She is one of the funniest, bravest women ever. Not just anyone would open up on the subject of "shock" therapy (ECT) and I don't think anyone else could make it funny. Fisher manages to do so though, while at the same time being informative and shining a new light on the whole ECT process.

There's a lot more to this book, though. She dishes on Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor, just to mention a few things. I felt I understood a lot of things much better. I also came to a much better understanding of just what a monster celebrity can be, especially when it robs people of their childhoods. Fisher's unflinching look into the world of fame, including her parents, is very enlightening.

And did I mention that she is funny?? She's hilarious! Fisher writes about really horrible issues and still manages to make them funny. She sure calls things as she sees them. Her humor may be off-putting to some readers, but I love her.

Overall, wonderful new memoir by a woman who has battled demons her whole life but has overcome them. A great, entertaining, informative read. I highly recommend it!!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A Small Treasure, November 8, 2011
This review is from: Shockaholic (Hardcover)
I really liked this book. I've read all but one of Carrie Fisher's books and I find her to be uproariously funny, terrifically smart, and adorably self-deprecating.
This book, told in her singular voice, is slight but packed with surprising emotion and feeling. Ranging from such disparate subjects as ECT (or "shock treatment"-hence the title), to Michael Jackson, to her complicated relationship with her father, Shockaholic is a quick, but greatly satisfying, read.
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