Wishful Drinking

This next book is the complete/full TRUE to form story of actress/author Carrie Fisher. Stemming from GENUINE Hollywood royalty, Carrie talks candidly about what life was like growing up as the daughter of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher from her own reflection of family tales.

She later recalls tales from Debbie to stories of her most notorious character, in which she made a NAME outside of her family name: Princess Leia of the original Star Wars genre. P.S. - just imagine that 1974 was the FIRST to introduce us to Carrie (on her own) and exploding from there! She goes into her relationship w/ singer and ex-husband Paul Simon. It was soon after that she goes behind into writing 'Postcards From The Edge'. Going out to LA to film the movie was really bad for relationship with Paul.

After they parted and went their separate ways, Carrie met and started a relationship with talent agent, Bryan Lourd.  They have a daughter, Billie Catherine. But it was soon after that Bryan reveled to Carrie that he was gay. She had turned him gay - like a superpower. Quoted by Carrie "She makes them bald, she turns them gay, her work is done!" It was about a year after her breakup with Bryan that she checked herself into a mental hospital and was diagnosed as bipolar. She also talks about time w/ Cary Grant.

Billie Lourd w/ dad Bryan

She also shares stories of her and Billie and the lessons she was able to pass on!


 Carrie wrote this book in 2008 and in 2010 HBO aired       a documentary of the same title based on this book's publication. Wishful Drinking 

Happy Days Are Here Again! 

Postcards From The Edge

This next story was actually written by actress/author Carrie Fisher. Although based on a (semi) TRUE story, being told in the narration of Suzanne Vale, an actress starting out in rehab after an overdose. After the journey in rehab and being dismissed going home, "Suzanne" figured that NO ONE would see her succeed, with sort of a "show them" attitude she flushed the rest of what she had at home determined to make sobriety work. But, it was while working that she found someone to whom she found camaraderie.

She soon found and got a part in a movie - her first job since completing rehab, staying with her grandmother while in recovery. Producers and other film crews were skeptical of Suzanne fearing her to be a liability. She had been at home when a call came in from her mother, "Doris" - a few days after throwing a party - assuring what was wrong w/ her was food allergies. Awhile later, after lunch Suzanne received a message to sub for someone on a hosting gig which was for a talk show.

In the meeting, she was scheduled with a friend to appear on this show and while watching in the greenroom, she met a man and they got to talking during her firends' segment. They switch numbers and find out that his name was Jesse. After spending alot of time with him, 5 dates and no call back for 6 days, she began to look at him as a "dating accident" - you never hear from the guy you like again. He eventually called and reminded her of going away, but she had forgot that. She began freaking out thinking he didn't like her, beating herself up mentally. She was calming down about her career, feeling show business was not her life anymore, but BECOMING her life.

One morning while driving to the gym, she panicked because feeling life going nice/regular,  she was going to die. Suzanne also felt somehow displaced, but realized she always felt that way (Ex. - Life's great right now, so something bad is bound to happen to me!) But then a letter to her doctor, Suzanne realized that's just who she is: distinctively - always feeling like she's missing something or going to be.


Throughout this book, Suzanne talks about life after rehab and picking up the pieces of her life/career. But reading it, I either missed or didn't see the mother/daughter relationship. But in bits-n-pieces.

Carrie, Meryl and Shirley

This book was written in NY in 1987 by Carrie and then in 1990,  it was adapted into a screenplay, which she wrote in LA for a movie to be made of the same title featuring Meryl Streep and Shirley McLaine.





But, Carrie did state that: "this novel is about a mother actress & daughter actress. I'm not shocked that people think it's about me and my mother."

Been There, Done That

This book tells the stories of one of "old-Hollywood's" legends, Eddie Fisher. Starting at the mere age of 4 years old, he belted out a beautiful sound that, even then, would carry him far. At the age of 15, since school wasn't important and had dropped out, focusing all of his energy on his voice and where it was going to take him.

Bigger hits made for bigger popularity, signing on to do his own twice a week show. Starting small and with management, Eddie eventually found the FAME! While it was a high earning time for Eddie, he was drafted into the army. Being treated just as normal, he used his "talents" to the best of his ability. At the end of his tour, he earned/received his high school equivelency. Going back out on stage became difficult because after awhile his voice was gone. Doing what he could to get his voice back, he took shots and became better, but also an addict. Finding out later that it was speed. With business and deals w/ Coke-Cola, he became known as '"The Coke-Cola Kid". Recording everything that was put in front of him, one of those hits was to be his BIGGEST "Oh My Papa".



For awhile it was anything was possible and just women galore! Anything he wanted, the world was any oyster. Which is how he came to meet Debbie Reynolds. He fell in love with her while in Korea watching "Singing In The Rain". He Genuinely fell for her right away. Their courtship of six weeks was the stuff of magic. Picture it: The Real Life Girl Next Door with The Coke-Cola Kid! Being with Debbie was the stuff of great fodder, everyone thought so, he did to up until his wedding day. Although some thought this was career suicide.

Over the years, Eddie thought that EVERYTHING Debbie did was to protect her image. Like ALOT of couples in the 1950s, they grew further and further apart. He never really knew if she really loved him or being in the center of publicity. Instead of Debbie becoming more of a "real" person, he was incorporated into an image. Wanting to run away, he couldn't & up until this book's publication, figure out why he had married Debbie.

It was shortly after committing to 'Bundle Of Joy' that Debbie knew she was pregnant. Their daughter Carrie was born in October and the film came out in December. Awhile later, what made Eddie run? "Everything!" LITERALLY! They fought about literally EVERYTHING! Plus, not to mention that Debbie was missing one key element - sexual passion. It was after they couldn't stay married that the affairs began. He just couldn't stay. The only thing he wanted from Debbie was a divorce. For a long time, the marriage was a show for the media. But in all, after all of the divorce details were all set that Debbie was pregnant again.

It was soon after that Eddie found his soon to be idol, Mike Todd. Mike had it: drive, ambition, success and women; ANYTHING he wanted was his and Eddie wanted to be just like him. Because of their mutual love for Mike, Eddie became close friends with Elizabeth Taylor. After one quick divorce in 1957, Liz and Mike were married, with Debbie as Maid Of Honor and Eddie as best man. Eddie so lovingly adored this man, Mike, that in 1958 Debbie gave birth to a son, Todd. 1958 was a flight to New York, Elizabeth was sick and couldn't go, so others attended and took off from Burbank, CA into a VIOLENT thunderstorm. In the morning, Mike was dead.

After the funeral and media spectacal, frightened for Elizabeth, over the next few weeks, he (Eddie) stayed to look after her. In Vegas, assuming she wanted to talk about Mike, needed a friend to talk to! Caring for Elizabeth at her worst, in the end of it all, Eddie suffered the worst. Not to mention, going back to work w/ a divorce finalized awhile later.

As far as parenting, when it came to Carrie or Todd, he admits he wasn't there. When it came to making one of the biggest productions of all time, Cleopatra, NOTHING went right. Elizabeth was sick/hospitalized on top of drinking and taking pills and needing/having surgery. After awhile, Eddie scheduled to perform in Vegas, which was to be a comeback. Going with her to help, Elizabeth began to get worse after meeting Richard Burton who could go drink-for-drink with her. That's how their story began.

BECOMING Cleopatra, Eddie realized he had lost her. But it was a dinner party where it became REAL. Later after confronting Liz, he packed a bag and left and Eddie divorced Liz in 1963 while Richard held/took the place that Eddie once resided. Then it was women after women. After one other fling, he had met Connie Stevens.Wanting to get married after putting things in perspective, Eddie married Connie as soon as the OFFICIAL divorce was final from Elizabeth, with daughter Joely born in 1967. As fast as their relationship began, it fizzled even quicker. From the beginning it was already over. But Connie was pregnant again. Trisha was born after Christmas. Four months later - divorce.

Eddie also detailed his encounters with drugs. From marijuana to cocaine, to eventually heroin. Getting sober though in 1970 was worse when getting caught through customs on a trip to San Juan, having to go through HARD sobriety without help. But it was with a friend, looking in a mirror at the damage that became the end of drugs. After the downfall w/ drugs came the SLOW resurrection. In the midst of starting to get control, regain his life and stay sober, after 5 marriages he found the woman who saved him, Betty Lin.

Detailing his relationship with his four kids, his feeling of what a father he was, his regrets as a parent in the past and today. It was 1993, with another stint in a different location, The Betty Ford Center, he found and was drilled the tools to sobriety - after 40 years of addiction.


As Eddie said, "Through it all; the marriages, divorces, drug addiction and more, "Words Can't Express"

This was just where the book ends, but as always there's more after the last page is published! in the life of Eddie Fisher.



In My Opinion:

This book just shows you what used to be GENUINE. Before everyone walked into anywhere and just grabbed a "reality" show - seriously! This is the old-Hollywood glamour and what roots, if any,  Hollywood needs to reach the modicum of what it meant to be a star!




                                                                       Eddie Fisher
                                                                       1928-2010

The Prize Winner Of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids On 25 Words Or Less

This next book was one that just goes to show you how a little bit of luck and a modicum of wit can actually feed a whole family of 12. The time was the 1950s/1960s, where men were to be bringing home the money and women were diverse into ordinary housewives. But to some, it was also where "contesting" made it their lives using their under-used wit. For one woman, Evelyn Ryan, she definitely made it hers.

With 10 kids and an alcoholic husband, Kelly, Evelyn used the contesting world to her advantage. It wasn't that she wasn't smarter than than the average contester, she was simply more determined. In the beginning, after Evelyn and Kelly were first married, Kelly had a car accident and a piece of the windshield slit his throat as he was thrown from the car, putting a music career singing tenor to an end and so their lives in Defiance began as he joined the ranks of ordinary men.

As far as contesting, some prizes included an automatic coffeemaker, a home freezer, a radio, 3 pairs or Arthur Murray shoes, even a supermarket shopping spree. Through pre-planning and strategy, Evelyn walked away with exotic foods, expensive meats, caviar, candy and snacks - all totaling $411.44 (equivalent to 3,000 worth today). It was awhile later that while life went normal for Evelyn, pen at hand with contesting, 3 of her children had flown the nest: oldest - Leann went to nursing school and 2 of her sons were signed to play baseball for the Detroit Tigers.  

There were some prizes won over time that bore no use within the Ryan household. When there wasn't a contest to ready for, in spare time, Evelyn sold writing articles and contributed them for $5.00 a piece.

When there weren't BIG prizes coming in, small prizes came in that for the Ryan family were in the nick of time; examples included were toasters, cameras, watches, school supplies, tools, radios and toys. With Christmas around the corner, Evelyn did what she could to supply Christmas for all, leaving her once again destitute. But then one BIG prize came sponsored to fill-in-the-blank tune to describe a sandwich fitting the beat of a song. Using son Bruce's name, she entered the contest and waited, nerves ablaze, to see if there was any result and when it came NOTHING amounted better. Winning a car, to be cashed in; a jukebox and a trip to New York taking Bruce along, since it was his name used.

After the news of "Bruce's" win, Evelyn received a letter from a woman, Doretha Shaeffer, who was with a group called 'The Affadaises', who shall I say, were ALL more than equal experts at contesting and asked her to join - even with the hike to Payne, OH. After joining, they became like soul mates. After seeing Evelyn's success, other Ryans contested their own ways. After some of the older Ryan kids had flown the nest into their own lives, it didn't stop Evelyn from finding the joyous inspiration for the next contest.

One morning things came to crash, Evelyn, reading the morning paper, read they were in debt of property taxes. But as luck would have it, Dr. Pepper was sponsoring  "The Time Of Your Life" contest w/ thousands in cash, a trip to Europe and a new car. Things came worse for the Ryans when they were found to owe the bank $4,000 in a small amount of time. If there was ever a time at a miracle, NOW was the time they REALLY needed it.

As they awaited anxiously for a response back, they were preparing for an ending when they received word from the sponsors of Dr. Pepper for an interview as a finalist. Spending what little cents they had left, they spent on the product for the interview. Nerves ablaze for the week following when the call came that changed them forever: they won the GRAND PRIZE!! 3,440.40 cash, a trip to Switzerland (to be cashed in), Finally a trip to Dallas, TX, to be 'Queen For A Day' and a new car. Initially they were all, excluding the trip to Dallas, cashed in to pay the debt.

The REAL Evelyn Ryan

She never won another major prize after that! Neither did anyone else, contesting and sweepstakes nearly dwindled and disappeared! After seeing their children grow up and leave home, Evelyn had returned to
JC Penney's to work before retiring. Only prior to his death in 1983, Kelly had saved away an amount of money for only Evelyn to live on until her death in 1998.

In 2007, a feature film was made based on this book, promptly titled 'The Prize Winner Of Defiance, Ohio' accounting and telling the trials and successes of Evelyn Ryan and her winnings starring Oscar nominee Julianne Moore as the remarkably brave Evelyn, with real-life help by the Ryan children.


Evelyn Ryan (d. 1998)

Kelly Ryan (d. 1998)

author and daughter Terry "Tuff" Ryan (1946-2007)

The REAL Evelyn and Tuff Ryan

In My Opinion:

This book does show what CAN happen. You know the "Hollywood" saying "If you believe - you achieve, you doubt - you go without". But that's just MY opinion.

The Freedom Writers Diary: How A Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them

This story is one that began shortly after the HISTORIC 1992 LA Riots, where violence and racial tensions reached an all-time high. It was Woodrow Wilson High School where Erin Gruwell decided to take action after taking a job teaching those that were declared "unteachable".


Entries made through these diaries were hard to digest when it hits you that these kids' situations were successful if they just lived through the day alive.


But one day, things took a strange turn, when Erin thought she reached her limit and was about to give up, she found a drawing done by a student and explained, irately, that was how a Holocaust happened/started. Only to a surprise that NONE of these kids knew what the Holocaust was, but they were ALL succumbed to gang violence in some aspect. It was THEN & THERE that Erin changed the core of her curriculum  and teach them all tolerance of one another in/out of the classroom.


It was through books like  'Durango Street'  and stories like 'The Diary Of Anne Frank' that these kids found something they could FINALLY relate to! Reading books like 'The Diary Of Anne Frank'  gave these kids more than stimulation of the mind, it also gave them energetic excitement.When Erin had assigned for them to write a letter to a survivor of this story, Miep Gies, excitement doesn't begin to describe their reaction. Certain ideas flowed through the classroom, but initially having fundraisers and bake sales and what need be - to have the honor of having Miep Gies herself come and speak.


It was Junior Year, 1996, when the class had read the classic novel 'The Color Purple' by Alice Walker and MANY of the female students felt and understood the story of Celie, because many of them suffered abuse or seen it all the same.  While there were some students who didn't have a choice to transfer out of Woodrow, remember there were some MADE THE CHOICE TO STAY!! and seen the difference it made.

Through the Freedom Writers as a group and as individuals, seeing what they've overcome, it was the first with a choice, a choice to graduate. For some it was the first of their families to go to college.


Meanwhile newspaper articles started flowing from the success of the Freedom Writers after Erin had submitted any entry to win 'The Anne Frank Spirit Award' and from there - things exploded!
Amid their surroundings, the work and determination these kids had was indescribable when graduation came.

Erin Gruwell and the REAL Freedom Writers

The End Result:


I LOVED This Book!

The REAL Erin Gruwell

The odds these kids had to face was something insurmountable. What Erin gave these kids was something they could live and pass on! Throughout these stories, it's PROOF that your surroundings DO NOT have to make who you are or become!!


In 2007 a movie was made featuring the many experiences shared through both Erin and the students of Room 203 titled 'Freedom Writers' starring two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank as the remarkable teacher Erin Gruwell.

Still Woman Enough

When one story ends, a whole different (and somewhat similar) story begins. Filled with stories you didn't know or here, where it tells more than what you DIDN'T HEAR in Coal Miner's Daughter (neither in book/film).


In Still Woman Enough, Loretta Lynn gives a NO HOLDS BARRED account of the life of this TRUE country LEGEND.


There is ALOT you don't hear about in Coal Miner's Daughter, a lot of people aren't given their do and appreciation. This book 'Still Woman Enough' helps complete that equation. While some stories may be old and some may be new to hear, they're all exciting to read in this book just the same.

Extremely  HARD Battleships came on in later years such as First - losing her son in 1984 and 2ND watching your husband FIGHT for his life after being with them through HARD Battleships since the age of 13 (43 years together) in 1989. Initially losing the battle in 1996 (50 years together). Even after all of this/that, Loretta is still woman enough.



The End Result:


I LOVED This Book!!

The stories you hear from Loretta - personally. The REALLY Great HIGHS followed some TEARFULLY HEARTFELT SAD  and unforgettable moments. (Reading this book, you'll see what I mean!)


Some if this reading GENUINELY made me Emotionally feel .             .                . How Did You Move On From It?


 In The End:

I LOVED THIS Book And Every Page Read in its entirety!


Jack Benny Lynn (1949-1984)

Oliver Vanetta "Doolittle" Lynn (1926-1996)

There is one line in the book - it's at the end that says it all:

"Livin' with him was often hard, livin' without him is worse"

21 Years Gone:The Autobiography

This next book comes from one who has been there, seen it and done it all. From the young perspective of what HE has seen and lived through comes the story of Jack Osbourne.


Starting w/ the venturing through consistent school changing and battling w/ learning disablilties didn't help, neither did the schools he attended as you read on. Being the son of a celebrity had some advantages at school, but it also came w/ ALOT of disadvantages, with what began as titled "social experimentation" escalated into something more.



Life was ALREADY unnaturally sweet prior to the beginning of filming The Osbournes, but soon after.   .   .

At  the HEIGHT,  of The Osbournes life came crashing quick for Jack when it came to the worst and becoming a DEEP DARK sea of depression to the point of ALMOST NO RETURN!! Throwing himself LITERALLY day-after-day into drugs & alcohol to forget the world of REALITY that hit him HARD!!


It was what had been seen through the rehab and his dad's uncontrollably emotion HE was DETERMINED
to make sobriety work. With sobriety a go, Jack needed to find himself something else for stimulation/excitement, and that's where he found himself a brand new high - rock climbing. With strong will and determination, he felt the need to climb the mountain - El Capitan! With that completed success behind him, he feels/felt his life became just that - a Genuine Achievement.



The End Result:

I Loved It!

This book can teach you the realities of addiction and motivation and sheer willpower that facing your demons head on that the past DOES NOT have to become the present.


In The  End:

I Loved This Book and found it to be REMARKABLY REAL!!!

(As what I have talked about w/ anyone, Ch. 4 of this book says it too!)

The reason I don't do anything, w/ experimentation, or anything of the sort, is that addiction runs in the bloodlines. Ch. 4 says it all!!

If You Have To Cry Go Outside . . . And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You

This next book speaks from one of New York's head of PR and reality TV from both Bravo and MTV, Kelly Cutrone. From her start in Syracuse to NY to the world, she boldly and ballsy tells you her story and what it took for her to get where is.

The End Result:

I Absolutely LOVED This Book!

This book and the lessons Kelly delivers are just that - Things Your Mother Never Taught You!

One thing I did find kind of comforting to know was that even powerhouses, such as Kelly Cutrone; had mental self-doubt about their life and situations. At times when it feels like all the fears are gone, in the back mentally it's all still there!

She GENUINELY goes in with a balls-to-the-wall attitude. For example, she was COMPLETE and FULL prepared to be a mother. "If I'm meant to do this on my own, that's Fine, so be it!"

While at times she may be perceived as a huge bitch, she does WHAT SHE CAN to help you, like  any mom would, minus holding your hand throughout the business.

She empowers women to break the mold and DO IT TRUE!! Do NOT follow stereotypes (starting w/ Disney and leading to Sex-And-The-City). If that's what you're into fine, but DON'T DO IT just because "you should!"

In The End:

I LOVED THIS BOOK! And The Messages Expressed and Passed On Throughout It's Entirety!!

P.S.

After reading this book,

One thing that makes me feel like SHIT is seeing little girls be thrown LITERALLY into stereotypes of Princesses and Fairy tales that may or may not be suited FOR THEM!!

Here's a question for you:

If you're a mother w/ children, is it common or normal to act as one outside of just YOUR children?

Ex. - The kids in the neighborhood, you become the town mom?  OR   If you're a boss, looking out for or helping employees outside of the job?

The "mom" switch NEVER turns off?

Is that normal or common?

Start Of 2011/ Become Your Own Matchmaker

This is the first book to ring in 2011. This book was considered a "hand guide" to help those with finding their perfect match. It was written by one of Bravo's notorious matchmakers, Patti Stanger, who she herself is of a third generation. In this book, she boldly tells you how to examine what you want in a relationship, where to find them - specifically, qualify to see if it's what you REALLY want from that person. From the first steps of infatuation to buying the ring, she tells you how to (in layman's terms) "hook, line and, sink them".

I know it may sound weird to some that I wanted and read this, but well .     .     . read on!

The End Result:

I Loved It!

I know it may sound crazy but..

Reading this book got me to understand what the dynamics are to relationships. This is to guide you to have a full-filling "relationship".

BUT,  this can relate to other relationships throughout your life.

If you don't/aren't in a relationship, this book can help you to understand more if you take out one substance and adapt it to ones you need help w/ or are disconnected to. 

I had initially wanted to to read this book to read and find out the back story of the author, Bravo's Patti Stanger A.K.A. The Millionaire Matchmaker.

But, I walked away with much more!

In The End:

I Loved This Book!