Today, I’m recommending a book for all the Star Wars fans out there. Fire up those Kindles, get out the library card, and cue up your audio book listening device. You have some reading to do.
I am an unabashed Star Wars fan. I have great memories from different stages of my life that are Star Wars-related, including seeing the movies as a child with my family; queuing up with my mom, dad, and brother on the sidewalk in front of the movie theatre, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, waiting for The Empire Strikes Back to begin; showing my kids the Star Wars movies, thrilled that they liked them as much as me; and dressing my son up as Luke Skywalker for Halloween one year.
Princess Leia was, of course, my favorite character. As the only female lead in the original movies, Leia, as portrayed by actress Carrie Fisher, was inspiring, brave, and funny. I loved that she was part of saving the galaxy, and I think there was a span of time during my childhood when I thought I’d do the same when I grew up.
With all of this in mind, I recently listened, via Audible, to Carrie Fisher’s last book, published about a month before her death last year. Titled The Princess Diarist
This memoir is a mix of behind-the scenes Star Wars confessions (spoiler: the big news is that Fisher had an affair during filming with Harrison Ford, who played Han Solo in the films), excerpts from her diaries in which uncertain 19-year-old Fisher examines her feelings for the much older and married Ford), and current day commentary about the Star Wars fandom (spoiler: she appreciated the fans and the place that they gave Star Wars in their lives).
I had never thought much about what it must be like to be Princess Leia, but Fisher certainly had, writing: “And as much as I may have joked about Star Wars over the years, I liked that I was in those films. Particularly as the only girl in an all-boy fantasy. They were fun to make. It was an anecdote of unimaginable standing.”
Recommendation: This is a book for Star Wars fans. If you decide to read The Princess Diarist, I recommend listening to the audio recording; Fisher’s narration is memorable, and for those of us who are still saddened by her unexpected passing, it’s a lovely chance to celebrate her wit and long-lasting appeal.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
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