Cover Image: The Princess Diarist

The Princess Diarist

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Member Reviews

3 entertaining stars

Carrie Fisher reflects on her breakthrough role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars series 40 years later.
Carrie, 20 years old, had an affair with married 35-year-old Ford Harrison while filming in England. She keeps the writing clean enough for teenage readers. The book is in 3 parts, older Carrie introducing her famous parents and young life briefly, the diary of young Carrie, and older Carrie reflecting on life after Leia. The author is amusing, her tone unpretentious and honest. “I am someone who wants very much to be popular. I don’t just want you to like me, I want to be one of the most joy-inducing human beings that you’ve ever encountered.” She laughs and laments about her ‘buns of Navarone’ hairstyle.

The diary of young Carrie is the least interesting part of the book, but fortunately it wasn’t too long. “that old familiar feeling of hopelessness. That vague sense of desperation; fighting not to lose something before you’ve decided what you’ve got.” “Why do I give myself to people who will always and should always remain strangers? …I am a fool. I need a vacation from myself.” Lots more questions like: “What’s happening to me? Who the hell do I think I am?” Typical teen angst, without much finesse.

The old photographs are fun. Fun to read how the young actors were surprised at the enormity of Star Wars’ success. The over-the-top craziness of her fans at conventions is amusing.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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My first time reading a celebrity memoir but won't be my last! Such a fun read not only a star wars fan but also as fan of dry humor.

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I know I'm supposed to like this book but this is a book that should have never been written. I cannot believe this is the last thing Carrie Fisher wrote before she passed away and it's such a negative stain on her legacy.

It's boring and vapid. Based on the description, I expected to read excerpts of her diaries about filming Star Wars. Instead, the diary entries are the poetry and short ramblings of an insecure girl. She alternates between being seemingly obsessed with her married costar who she refers to as "Lord Ford"and being happy to have had the casual affair she wanted to have while filming the movie.

Outside of her diary excerpts, which were difficult to read, the rest of the book were long stream-of-consciousness ramblings of an older woman whose memories are vague and unreliable. She is bitter and mocks Star Wars fans. It's quite depressing and disappointing.

I cannot believe her publisher put this book out. It tarnishes her memory and it's a shame.

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Saying that I loved this book would be an understatement. I started this book just before Carrie Fisher died and I had a hard time finishing it because it felt like finishing the book was also finishing her life. I cried and I loved it. The pain and the beauty that was Carrie Fisher is moving and touching.

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To be honest I was iffy about reading this. I like Carrie Fisher so I decided to get it when I saw it on Netgalley. I took a while to get to it because I am not big on biographies but I did get around to it eventually. It wasn't bad I wanted more but I guess I thought it was going to be more about her life and not so much about her life while doing star wars. I guess I should have read the synopsis and could have been able to tell by looking at the cover. I did enjoy it, for the most part, it was okay. I was never into star wars so maybe that is why I didn't love it the way others may have.

Learning about how things were for her during that time was interesting. For anyone who likes her and loves star wars, they will absolutely love this.

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Hearing Fisher recount her life, nothing held back and irreverent, was a great read. This was also bittersweet as I completed it shortly after her death. You could hear her voice in every word. Great stories, and also some wisdom from a woman who was open about the struggles she faced even as life seemed to throw open all of it's doors for her.

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Beautiful book, loved it. If you are a star wars fan, or just a Carrie Fisher fan in general, I highly recommend this book.

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This book broke my heart and made me truly sad that the world has lost such an wonderful icon. It's such an interesting look into who she was as a person before she became a woman loved by the world. If you read only one book this year, it should be this one. It's such an intimate look into who she was as a person.

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I had to give up on this book for a bit after Carrie Fisher died. It was just too sad. Finally returned to finish the book and am happy I did. Fisher had a fine sense of humor and the book reads well. I was worried about her affair with Harrison Ford, as I heard about this before I finished the book. But she handled it well, so it wasn't too awful. Also, I never really gave much thought as to what an icon the Star Wars movies made her. I'm the same age as her, and I could never in a million years image what it would have been like to be a teen in a movie that shot me to stardom in a role I would be in forever on and off the screen! She was a strong woman. I think I would have had a melt down I would never have recovered from! Her fans will enjoy this book. She seems like she was a wonderful, funny, personable woman. I miss her. So sad.

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Carrie tells us about her experiences being the Princess good and bad. I got engrossed in the book and couldn't put it down. I have since also listened to the audio book and highly recommend you check it out as well. It truly is the best audio book I have heard read by an author. She will be greatly missed.

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I was excited to read this book and gain some behind-the-scenes scoop on the Star Wars films and what life was like for Carrie Fisher. Unfortunately I found this book a bit dull, hard to follow, and not at all well written. I'm a huge fan of Ms. Fisher, so this was a disappointing read, especially since I know that she could write better.

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I loved this book. I have been putting it off for a while, because I miss Carrie a lot, but it was good to hear/read her voice again. This book recounts her experience on the first Star Wars film (Episode IV). From the audition process to the wacky British crew to her affair with Harrison Ford, you're likely to learn a little something and have a good time. I loved reading an older Carrie, who has mastered honesty and not giving too many fucks, talk about nineteen-year old who did care very much what everyone else thought Plus, it's nice to revisit one of my favorite films from a behind-the-scenes perspective.

It's pretty short, and I was actually taken by surprise by the ending. I thought I had more time to enjoy it. The good news, though, is that she has left behind other books for me to enjoy. In short, I definitely recommend this book.

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I am a fan of the authors prior books so I was thrilled to receive this for review. My personal opinion is my own.
I began to read this after Carrie passed and after the passing of her Mother. It was so interesting to me to read about a young Carrie, knowing her other books as i do. She wrote this as a series of journal entries when she was working on the first Star Wars set . So the reader has a great insight into movie making from the viewpoint of a young girl new to the business of acting. I enjoyed reading this personal journey of Carrie's from her own words and found it all the more moving after her sad passing. How can anyone not recommend this poignant book about one of our best loved writers and actresses.

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Carrie Fisher brings to life the wonder moments behind the scenes of her most famous films and gives us a glimpse into her own fragile, thrilling and complex personal life.

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Carrie Fisher, you are missed. I enjoyed this book. 5/5

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The Princess Diarist is a great account by Carrie Fisher. Written in her witty style it tells the story of her early years figuring out life, and all the messy bits that happen. Well written and fascinating, it's a great look into her head and some of what went on behind the scenes filming Star Wars.

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I enjoyed hearing Carrie Fisher narrate this book. She really brought it to life. She did on occasion seem to beat a dead horse, repeating the same story in different ways over and over. There was another reader for her diary excerpt. I found her diaries to be interesting. They felt very much like a teenager's wild imaginings and stream of consciousness. Very bad poetry that she probably thought great, profound and witty at the time. I have always enjoyed reading women's diaries, but I'm not sure I could have managed hers. Maybe they would be better in print. I found them kind of embarrassing this way. Very straightforward insight into the life of an accidental superstar. Great for her fans, I think.

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The Princess Diarist is a book that I had requested to review before Carrie passed, but was not approved until after, which made reading it take on a whole different set of emotions for me. This book is Carrie's take on what happened while they were filming Star Wars. I had never read any of Carrie's other books, but I think I will go back now and read them because I love her writing style and she is hilarious! Her retelling of these stories is absolutely great and a lot of fun to read. In addition to her recalling stories there are also excerpts from her actual diary from when they were filming. She details about her affair with Harrison Ford and all sorts of other interactions she has had with fans at cons and the book just made me want to be her friend. The book just makes it seem like she is in the room with you telling you these stories, not that you are writing a book. Such a wonderful book.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review,

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The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher is a highly recommended personal insight into her life as Princess Leia and her affair with Harrison Ford during the filming of Star Wars.

In 1977 she was just a teenager, 19, when she accepted the role of Princess Leia. She never wanted to be an actor, but had a role in Shampoo in 1975 and auditioned for the role of Princess Leia. For several reasons Carrie Fisher had kept quiet for years about her affair with Harrison Ford during the filming of the original Star Wars. With the discovery of journals she had written during that time, she finally decided that it was time to tell the story.

First she discusses the effect being Princess Leia has had on her life. Obviously in such an iconic role being forever known as Princess Leia has had a profound effect on her life, whether she wanted it to or not. When Fisher met Ford, she was inexperienced, while Ford was an older married man. It was an affair that lasted just while they were filming Star Wars. It likely had little effect on Ford, but Fisher was young and impressionable. Only about half of the book includes the dairy entries and poems she wrote, which all clearly show how she struggled with keeping emotions out of it when as a young woman she was full of emotions, insecurities, and was extremely vulnerable.

This is not a tell-all book full of details about the affair nor is it a detailed account of filming Star Wars. It is Carrie Fisher sharing part of herself, from a time long ago, and how the events influenced her life. Fisher is a good writer, and she captures her feeling about the events honestly. She also writes candidly about autograph and photo-op events. Since this is the last of the autobiographical books Fisher will write, it deserves at least four stars.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the Penguin Publishing Group via Netgalley.
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