Fisher's recent death and the continued churning of the "Star Wars" movie machine will undoubtedly renew interest in the woman who is once and forever Princess Leia. Here, Fisher details her experiences in the first Star Wars movie and the celebrity status that dogged her for more than 40 years. The middle section features journal entries and poetry penned by her 19-year-old self and captures the melodrama and painful self-doubt that often plagues those on the cusp of adulthood. Bookending these excerpts are Fisher's commentary on what her starring role in the franchise meant. She speaks wryly of her childhood and her complicated relationships with family and fame, and with her famous, self-deprecating humor, she chronicles her time on the Star Wars set, her affair with Harrison Ford, and the ways in which playing Leia shaped her life. VERDICT While Fisher presents a lively reading of her own work, at times listeners might find themselves wondering when the story will end. Recommended primarily for avid Princess Leia fans and those wishing for one more Fisher performance.—Samantha Facciolo, Wilmington, DE

Fisher finally set out to publish a collection of essays related specifically to her role as Princess Leah in the blockbuster Star Wars movie franchise and a brief affair with her older—and married—co-star Harrison Ford during the shooting of the first film. The juxtaposition between Fisher's narration of her contemporary writing with the voice of her daughter, actress Lourd, reading diary portions written four decades earlier makes for telling contrast: Fisher, with her smoky, husky voice, sounds like a tough-as-nails seasoned survivor who doesn't take her past romances and heartaches seriously and wishes her own fans would lighten up about their assumptions and speculations. Lourd performs the emotional long-ago passages with a palpable air of youthful self-consciousness. Both handle the duties at hand with poise and skill, leaving listeners to appreciate the way that time can shape one's perspective quite dramatically. A Blue Rider hardcover. (Nov.)