... neither neglects nor glosses over any part of Fisher’s life ... As Weller illustrates so well in her biography, Fisher gave, and gave, and gave in this way, mentoring generations of people around the world just by living large with irrepressible honesty and wit ... Pulling from extensive research and interviews done with everyone from the neighborhood children Fisher grew up with to her extensive group of cherished friends, Weller knits these pieces together into an engrossing and meaningful look at the inner life of a woman who described herself as 'a writer who acts.' The result is a project that is breathtaking in its size and scope—Fisher lived a lot, and that is felt in page after page ... But like Fisher’s life itself, A Life on the Edge runs deep. It is less a long book than a very full one. It’s moving, truthful and a fitting tribute to its subject and to her unflappable courage and transparency. Reading Weller’s portrait of Fisher, you will miss her, deeply.
This engrossing, gracefully written, occasionally hagiographic book doesn’t just repeat the motto, it illustrates it, recounting numerous tales about how Fisher, who struggled with mental illness and addiction, managed to find the funny in it all — and share that with audiences, both as an actress and a writer ... reads as definitive, drawing on myriad interviews, media analysis, close readings of Fisher’s writing and at least one chat with a Star Wars groupie ... While illuminating how Fisher’s personal trauma catalyzed her wit, Weller shows that the life of this Tinseltown scion touched on major issues of our day ... [Fisher] hobnobbed with so many boldface names that Weller’s book sometimes reads like a parody of a TMZ post ... Weller’s biography seems to still shiver with the pain so many people expressed upon learning of Fisher’s death ... That pain may point not only to love of Star Wars but to the way Fisher’s story affirms our (sometimes) suppressed misgivings about our culture’s deference to fame and commercial entertainment. The emotion also echoes the poignant evidence laid out in this book, bearing witness to Fisher’s strength, compassion, talent and ability to alchemize pain into art.
Drawing from exhaustive research and interviews, Weller closely analyzes all of [the] interrelated facets of Fisher's story, from her countless accomplishments and vast social network to the disturbing side of her disorders. What emerges is a vivid and honest portrait of a brave, complex woman who had an impact on all who knew her. Extensive notes and a thoughtful introduction complement the absorbing narrative ... Well written and poignant, this is a must for Fisher's fans.
... a thoughtful and fast-paced biography ... Few people could truly understand Fisher’s bizarre upbringing—and certainly very few of them are biographers. But Weller, a Vanity Fair contributor who grew up in Fisher’s neighborhood as the daughter of a movie-magazine writer and the niece of the owner of the buzzy Hollywood restaurant Ciro’s, is exactly the right showbiz insider-outsider to shepherd Carrie Fisher’s story to the masses ... Weller’s book is full of wicked, exuberant details...the author is much more concerned with Fisher’s private antics in the service of her friends than her public displays in service of her fame ... Weller does an excellent job of placing Fisher’s life in context, showing that while she may have shifted the culture (and certainly, when she stepped into that terribly uncomfortable gold bikini, she indelibly changed fandom and what it meant to be a mega-star), the culture also shifted her ... Weller interviewed hundreds of people, but the book does not feel overstuffed. Instead, it reads like a great, extra-long magazine profile, full of scuttlebutt and glamour and insight. In a way, the biography’s bouncy tone is a tribute to Fisher’s memory; she knew how to laugh, even when circumstances were dire. She would want her life story to go down like good chocolate, rich and sweet. But she would have also wanted a bitter edge to it, and that’s here too: Weller doesn’t gloss over Fisher’s struggles, heartbreaks, indulgences, or petty squabbles. She shows us a woman who, in her decades-long battles with insecurity, depression, and addiction, often ended up hurting others as well as herself.
This in-depth, insightful, and profoundly sympathetic biography...spins an engaging chronological tale peppered with insider details, anecdotes, quotes, quips, and other liberal references taken from Fisher’s own autobiographical musings ... Above all, the thoroughly documented text reveals Fisher’s willingness to examine and share the truth about every part of her life. This is a worthy tribute to a strong, intelligent woman, and readers will appreciate Weller’s honest portrayal and thoughtful analysis.
... a robust, many-faceted portrait of a woman whose longstanding feminism (Fisher marched for the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1980s) elevated everything she touched ... The question while reading Carrie Fisher isn't 'How did her life veer off course?' but 'How did she keep it together for so long?' The answer would seem to lie in Fisher's mutual emotional support system. Going by the company described in Weller's book, it would probably be quicker to list the people who weren't Fisher's friends than the people who were.
... adulatory ... Fisher had many devoted friends and Weller quotes their encomiums to the point that the biography reads like an extended tribute ... Weller’s account of Fisher’s life is gossipy, leaning on unidentified sources; and her style is breezy. At her death, Fisher’s friends on social media, Weller writes, had 'virtual tears in their tweets.' Carrie Fisher: A Life on the Edge mostly reads like a fan magazine biography.
... a compassionate portrait of a complex personality whose up-and-down life rivals the Hollywood travails of Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland in its mixture of charisma, talent, and self-destruction. Fisher’s story is a sad one, certainly, but also lively, tart and funny because she was all that and more. So is Weller’s engaging book. Tapping Fisher’s many friends, she fills her pages with anecdotes illustrating the pains and joys of a life that often went over the edge — way over.
Sheila Weller eagerly recounts that life cut short in her biography, Carrie Fisher: A Life on the Edge ... An enjoyable quick read, A Life on the Edge is respectfully dishy, supportive and frank, a thoughtful fan’s book.
An intimate and effusive tribute to Carrie Fisher ... Between traditional biography and commemorative journalism lies a place where facts meet fandom, where both casual observers and devotees alike can bear witness to an extraordinary life. Weller...could find those coordinates in her sleep. That’s not to say she didn’t work incredibly hard to pull together this endearing collection of stories about the late actor ... readers have more than 300 pages to fall in love with the quirky, brilliant, outrageously witty woman ... Occasionally, the dizzying array of quotes and voluminous backstories of Fisher’s friends and family get a bit taxing, and the book is brimming with gossipy tidbits. Regardless, Weller connects the dots in ways that create a vividly hued portrait. There is no monochrome here but rather an expansive look at a woman who lived large, loved deeply, and did a lot to destigmatize mental illness. Whether you were well-acquainted with Fisher or not, this book will make you miss her.
Actress and author Carrie Fisher...is celebrated for her wit and strength in this comprehensive biography ... The author does a fine job charting the light and dark aspects of Fisher’s story ... Weller insightfully illuminates the life of a powerful performer and wordsmith who was unafraid to share her struggles with the world.
