This story is actually a section from her novel. I do love this segment and I think it speaks so well to the immigrant, first-gen voice that many of mThis story is actually a section from her novel. I do love this segment and I think it speaks so well to the immigrant, first-gen voice that many of my students relate to. ...more
I read Cheaper By the Dozen and Belles on Their Toes by Frank Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey when I was in middle school. The two memoirs aboutI read Cheaper By the Dozen and Belles on Their Toes by Frank Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey when I was in middle school. The two memoirs about Frank and Lillian Gilbreth and their 12 children made me laugh and cry. I so wanted to be a part of their loving and crazy family. My parents also introduced me to the (original) movies with Clifton Webb, Myrna Loy and Jeanne Crain, which became instant favorites of mine. The first movie is more faithful to the original source material than the second one is, but they are both fun and heartwarming.
The stage play version of Belles on Their Toes seems to be based on the movie more than the memoir. They change some of the movie’s events to work for a stage play, including condensing the action a great deal. It still has some of the charm and hilarity of the original but I could have used more action and development.
It was a fun, quick read and I could see this as a fun little play to put on. It made me want to read the memoirs and watch the movies again. Perhaps that’s exactly what I’ll go do......more
I love Carrie Fisher and Princess Leia - both are my heroes. I read and fell in love with Wishful Drinking. Carrie’s poignancy about struggles and awkI love Carrie Fisher and Princess Leia - both are my heroes. I read and fell in love with Wishful Drinking. Carrie’s poignancy about struggles and awkwardness in life is equally matched with her quirky sense of humor, which is why I picked up The Princess Diarist. While I don’t feel it matches the level of writing in her earlier memoirs, I did still enjoy hearing about her experiences. Some of the stories are repeated: her parents� marriage and break-up, her casting calls for Star Wars, etc. However, she adds new elements with her reflection on the relationship she had with Harrison Ford during the making of A New Hope. She includes memories of their time together and selections from her journals during the time. Hearing her youthful musings on life and love resonated with my younger self, just as much as her reflections matched my own current thoughts about myself, my weight, and getting older. She also has a section about what life after A New Hope has been like for her, especially in response to the fandom of Star Wars. While the memoir feels disjointed, I really did love each section. Yes, her other novels and memoirs are probably better, but I still love the insights she gives in The Princess Diarist. Fisher’s sense of humor balances the youthful contemplation that sometimes borders on melancholy and maudlin. I would absolutely recommend The Princess Diarist for the Star Wars fan, the Princess/General Leia worshippers, and especially the Carrie Fisher lovers. ...more
Loading...
