What do you think?
Rate this book
A Star Is Bored
A hilariously heartfelt novel about living life at full force, and discovering family when you least expect it, influenced in part by the author’s time as Carrie Fisher’s beloved assistant.
Charlie Besson is about to have an insane job interview. His car is idling, like his life, outside the Hollywood mansion of Kathi Kannon. THE Kathi Kannon, star of stage and screen and People magazine’s worst dressed list. She needs an assistant. He needs a hero.
Kathi is an icon, bestselling author, and an award winning actress, most known for her role as Priestess Talara in the iconic blockbuster sci-fi film. She’s also known for another role: crazy Hollywood royalty. Admittedly so. Famously so. Fabulously so.
Charlie gets the job, and embarks on an odyssey filled with late night shopping sprees, last minute trips to see the aurora borealis, and an initiation to that most sacred of Hollywood tribes: the personal assistant. But Kathi becomes much more than a boss, and as their friendship grows, Charlie must make a choice. Will he always be on the sidelines of life, assisting the great forces that be, or can he step into his own leading role?
Laugh-out-loud funny, and searingly poignant, Byron Lane's A Star is Bored is a novel that, like the star at its center, is enchanting and joyous, heartbreaking and hopeful.
Charlie Besson is about to have an insane job interview. His car is idling, like his life, outside the Hollywood mansion of Kathi Kannon. THE Kathi Kannon, star of stage and screen and People magazine’s worst dressed list. She needs an assistant. He needs a hero.
Kathi is an icon, bestselling author, and an award winning actress, most known for her role as Priestess Talara in the iconic blockbuster sci-fi film. She’s also known for another role: crazy Hollywood royalty. Admittedly so. Famously so. Fabulously so.
Charlie gets the job, and embarks on an odyssey filled with late night shopping sprees, last minute trips to see the aurora borealis, and an initiation to that most sacred of Hollywood tribes: the personal assistant. But Kathi becomes much more than a boss, and as their friendship grows, Charlie must make a choice. Will he always be on the sidelines of life, assisting the great forces that be, or can he step into his own leading role?
Laugh-out-loud funny, and searingly poignant, Byron Lane's A Star is Bored is a novel that, like the star at its center, is enchanting and joyous, heartbreaking and hopeful.
ebook
First published July 28, 2020
612 people are currently reading
12810 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 831 reviews
May 9, 2020
Byron Lane's debut novel,
A Star is Bored
, is a funny and poignant look into the life of a celebrity’s personal assistant.
Charlie hates his life. He hates his job as a news writer working the graveyard shift, he hates his father, he even hates the men he’s been having unsafe sex with. He’s entertained suicide but he lacks concrete plans and follow-through.
But his life changes with the zaniest job interview of his life, to be the personal assistant to Kathi Kannon, iconic star of a classic sci-fi movie, best-selling author, and member of Hollywood royalty—her mother, famed actress Gracie Gold, lives on her estate. Kathi is also a (sometimes recovering) drug addict who has manic episodes.
The job becomes all-consuming for Charlie, a stressful yet immensely satisfying adventure once he gets the hang of it. Kathi is needy and demanding and erratic and is, at times, a danger to herself and her reputation, but she truly cares about Charlie and helps him find his self-esteem.
Between spontaneous trips to go see the aurora borealis and rescuing her from embarrassing faux pas with other celebs, Charlie gets immersed in the world of the celebrity assistant, learning the summits and pitfalls that his compatriots have experienced.
When you spend your whole life propping someone up and being at their beck and call, when do you live? Are your needs ever front and center? Charlie has to decide what path he should take in order to find real satisfaction.
This is a zany, wild, heartfelt book. Byron Lane was Carrie Fisher’s assistant so you know he knows of what he writes—and you can’t help but wonder just how much of Kathi’s behavior was inspired by true events. (I adored Carrie Fisher so I was hooked.)
After a while, Kathi’s manic nature gets a little hard to take, but that’s when the heart of the book kicked in. This was a fun read if you’re a fan of the crazy lives of celebrities.
NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company provided an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
The book publishes July 28.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Charlie hates his life. He hates his job as a news writer working the graveyard shift, he hates his father, he even hates the men he’s been having unsafe sex with. He’s entertained suicide but he lacks concrete plans and follow-through.
But his life changes with the zaniest job interview of his life, to be the personal assistant to Kathi Kannon, iconic star of a classic sci-fi movie, best-selling author, and member of Hollywood royalty—her mother, famed actress Gracie Gold, lives on her estate. Kathi is also a (sometimes recovering) drug addict who has manic episodes.
The job becomes all-consuming for Charlie, a stressful yet immensely satisfying adventure once he gets the hang of it. Kathi is needy and demanding and erratic and is, at times, a danger to herself and her reputation, but she truly cares about Charlie and helps him find his self-esteem.
Between spontaneous trips to go see the aurora borealis and rescuing her from embarrassing faux pas with other celebs, Charlie gets immersed in the world of the celebrity assistant, learning the summits and pitfalls that his compatriots have experienced.
When you spend your whole life propping someone up and being at their beck and call, when do you live? Are your needs ever front and center? Charlie has to decide what path he should take in order to find real satisfaction.
This is a zany, wild, heartfelt book. Byron Lane was Carrie Fisher’s assistant so you know he knows of what he writes—and you can’t help but wonder just how much of Kathi’s behavior was inspired by true events. (I adored Carrie Fisher so I was hooked.)
After a while, Kathi’s manic nature gets a little hard to take, but that’s when the heart of the book kicked in. This was a fun read if you’re a fan of the crazy lives of celebrities.
NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company provided an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
The book publishes July 28.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Read
July 10, 2020Byron Lane was once Carrie Fisher’s personal assistant and he has now written a fictionalized story about the complicated relationship between a personal assistant and a movie star. It is a remarkable debut and it also does something I thought impossible: it captures both the joy and the edge of Carrie Fisher.
September 2, 2020
3.5 stars
Byron Lane
Byron Lane is an author, playwright, screenwriter, actor and former personal assistant to Carrie Fisher.
Carrie Fisher
This novel, about a news writer who gets a job as a personal assistant to actress Kathi Kannon, was clearly inspired by Lane's time with Fisher, though he takes pains to point out that the book is fictional. In fact, the beginning of the book has this additional demurrer:
"But seriously, I repeat: This is a work of fiction. That you might speculate as to the identity of certain key characters dos not alter the fact that all of the characters in the book, including incidental ones, their names, the dialogue, the locales, and all the events recounted, are fictional products of the author's imagination.".....etc.
- My publisher's attorney
I'll add an addendum of my own: Photos I include of Carrie Fisher are not meant to imply she's Kathi Kannon.
*****
Twenty-nine year old Charlie is deeply in debt, has a tiny drab apartment, hates his job writing for a small Los Angeles news station, and is acutely depressed and mildly suicidal.
Thus, when Charlie gets a tip that Kathi Kannon - Hollywood star and best selling author - is looking for a personal assistant, he quickly applies for the position. Charlie has loved Kathi since childhood, when he saw her play Priestess Talara in the film Nova Quest, for which he collected the action figures. It would be a dream come true if Charlie could work for his idol.
Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia in Star Wars
Princess Leia action figure
Charlie goes to Kathi's eclectic - and rather zany - house, where he has a nerve-wracking interview with the potty-mouthed actress, who likes to tease, joke, and poke fun.
Some rooms in Carrie Fisher's eclectic house
Charlie then has to wait for two harrowing weeks, with his phone glued to his hand, before he hears that he has the job. The position is far from a piece of cake, however. Kathi's former assistant neglected to leave an 'assistant's bible' detailing Kathi's schedule, habits, likes, dislikes, preferences, peculiarities, etc. and Charlie - who Kathi affectionately dubs 'Cockring' (ugh!!) - has to start from scratch.
Byron Lane and Carrie Fisher
After being schooled to wake Kathi up every day with Coke Zero over ice and her meds, Charlie learns to monitor every place Kathi goes for forgotten phones, sunglasses, earrings, bracelets, scarves, etc.; to clean her home of candy wrappers, soda cans, half-eaten brownies, 7-Eleven receipts, dirty silverware, and other detritus; to put away the books, jewelry, makeup, nail polish, and clothes Kathi scatters all over the place; to be ready at a moment's notice - day or night - to run to the store for something Kathi wants; to keep Kathi's apparel and papers organized; to sync Kathi's phone contacts with his, so he can keep track of her meetings and appointments; and so on. Most important of all, Charlie has a mission to keep Kathi - who suffers from bipolar disorder, alcoholism, and drug addiction - on the straight and narrow.
Carrie Fisher likes to have her things around her
Kathi's mother, a mega-famous actress everyone calls Miss Gracie, lives in a house next to Kathi's with her long-time personal assistant Roger.
Carrie Fisher and her mother Debbie Reynolds
In addition, an octogenarian maid and an elderly gardener - both of whom barely even pretend to work - also live on the estate.
Miss Gracie regularly gives Charlie thousands of dollars of 'vegetable money' - which he keeps in a purple backpack - so he can (try to) regulate Kathi's carefree spending.
However, Kathi often just grabs the money and sashays out to a place she calls Vegas. Kathi returns from her outings with shopping bags full of merchandise, including gifts for Charlie, the maid, and the gardener. Kathi is very loose with her credit cards as well, and on one occasion buys a pricey fur coat and immediately cuts it up to make a (useless) jacket for her dog.
Carrie Fisher and her dog
There are strong suggestions that Miss Gracie had to dramatically downsize to support Kathi's flamboyant lifestyle, since both mother and daughter are no longer making films.
On the upside, Kathi is smart, good-natured, clever and fun - and Charlie gets to accompany her on jaunts around Los Angeles as well as trips across the U.S. and to other countries. Charlie describes a stay in a luxury hotel in New York, a trip to Australia and Japan, a gay cruise (where Kathi is the entertainment), and a quickie hop to Yellowknife, Canada, where he and Kathi ride on a dogsled and see the Northern Lights.
Byron Lane and Carrie Fisher on a dogsled
Charlie stores up amusing anecdotes about his adventures with Kathi, and uses them as social capital when he meets a man he'd like to date, in person or on OkCupid. Charlie has little time for boyfriends though, and does most of his socializing with other personal assistants. The assistants meet for the occasional drink, and have an email network for sharing information. Charlie can ask for advice about shopping; doctors; food - whatever Kathi needs. This comes in handy when Kathi (inevitably) falls off the wagon and needs help.
The book is advertised as laugh out loud funny, and I did get a few chuckles. For example, at the upscale Hoshinoya restaurant in Japan Kathi and Charlie are served a special dinner that's a "royal and gruesome affair."
Charlie describes the dishes as follows: lobsters "that are still alive, their guts exposed, waving their antennae, begging for mercy"; drunk live baby shrimp bathed in alcohol; live octopi "flipping us off with each of their tentacles"; and "the most exquisite delicacies in all of Japan, raw squirming critters and beasts and something tarantula-like." Kathi and Charlie's efforts to hide the food in Kathi's purse are hilarious! And what happens when the waitress asks what they did with the shells?
Live lobster
Live shrimp
Live octopus
There are other amusing anecdotes in the story as well, but the book is largely a realistic peek at the lives of the (troubled) rich and famous. Charlie also has problems of his own. He grew up in rural Louisiana, saw his mother die when he was 12, and endured a bullying father who hated his 'effeminate traits.' Being with Kathi is healing for Charlie, and he notes that he felt only submission in his childhood, and only depression in his twenties, but now has "a reference for how it feels to be alive, to feel like I have a life worth living."
By the time Charlie leaves Kathi, to have a full life of his own, Charlie and Kathi have fallen into a kind of platonic love, both of them treasuring the time they had together, and being better people for it.
Carrie Fisher and Byron Lane
I like the book and admire Miss Gracie, who adores her difficult daughter and would literally do anything for her. My feelings about Kathi are more problematical. Kathi is a talented actress and writer, and a kind person, but she's also entitled and self-centered. Kathi opens pungent nail polish remover in the first class cabin of a commercial airplane; smears nail polish all over a cruise ship pillow; purposely spills melted ice on the floor of a limousine; is uppity with a saleswoman; dumps the contents of her purse out everywhere; and generally ignores the inconvenience she causes everyone around her.
As for Charlie, he's a nice fellow and (if he was a real person) I'd wish him happiness and love with his boyfriend 'Reid.'
Byron Lane and his boyfriend Steven Rowley
Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Byron Lane) and the publisher (Henry Holt & Co.) for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
September 21, 2025
“Take your broken heart and go make art. – Carrie Fisher”
In real life, Byron Lane use to be the Personal Assistant to the late Carrie Fisher, so it makes sense that he can create a story featuring characters that mimic his life.
This is his debut novel. It is not my first novel by him. I first read, “Big Gay Wedding.” So, because of that book, I decided to read this one.
He even jokes about the coincidences of his fictional character Kathi Kannon appearing like his former boss. Especially giving her a starring role as Priestess Talara in the film “Nova Quest.” Seriously? How fun is that?! (Think Princess Leia/Star Wars)
Still, there is no denying the characters he has created in Kathi, a 56-year-old actress, or her Personal Assistant Charlie Besson, a 29-year-old.
Kathi is captivating, and a little maddening. And Charlie has his issues, too.
But it is almost like a love story, too – only it isn’t your typical Hollywood romance – they are truly two misfits forming a wacky working relationship.
Interestingly enough, one scene shows Charlie as a boy being given by his mother a Priestess Talara action figure. But his abusive, homophobic father, took it away. Obviously, his father terrorized him for being gay.
So, getting to work with Kathi is a Wonderland, of sorts.
This is an adventurous, quirky, working, foggy friendship, that is not your typical 9-5 setting. With not your typical job duties. Or lifestyle demands. And, it will be taxing for readers to wade through.
There is Kathi’s bipolar disorder that Charlie is managing. And moments in which Kathi is like a mother figure for Charlie.
Yet, the boredom mentioned in the title is the weariness and yearning to be distracted from the pain of life. Charlie had a traumatic upbringing. Kathi had her struggles. It is a lot to take in. For them. And for readers to read.
I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief when Charlie chose to move on from Kathi. Maybe that was what was also needed for the author and Ms. Fisher.
Still, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of grief at Carrie Fisher’s passing two years later. No matter what she had been through, there was still an immense talent lost. And in many ways, Byron Lane was witness to it. Maybe this fiction story gave us a tiny glimpse into it.
3.5 stars rounded up.
In real life, Byron Lane use to be the Personal Assistant to the late Carrie Fisher, so it makes sense that he can create a story featuring characters that mimic his life.
This is his debut novel. It is not my first novel by him. I first read, “Big Gay Wedding.” So, because of that book, I decided to read this one.
He even jokes about the coincidences of his fictional character Kathi Kannon appearing like his former boss. Especially giving her a starring role as Priestess Talara in the film “Nova Quest.” Seriously? How fun is that?! (Think Princess Leia/Star Wars)
Still, there is no denying the characters he has created in Kathi, a 56-year-old actress, or her Personal Assistant Charlie Besson, a 29-year-old.
Kathi is captivating, and a little maddening. And Charlie has his issues, too.
But it is almost like a love story, too – only it isn’t your typical Hollywood romance – they are truly two misfits forming a wacky working relationship.
Interestingly enough, one scene shows Charlie as a boy being given by his mother a Priestess Talara action figure. But his abusive, homophobic father, took it away. Obviously, his father terrorized him for being gay.
So, getting to work with Kathi is a Wonderland, of sorts.
This is an adventurous, quirky, working, foggy friendship, that is not your typical 9-5 setting. With not your typical job duties. Or lifestyle demands. And, it will be taxing for readers to wade through.
There is Kathi’s bipolar disorder that Charlie is managing. And moments in which Kathi is like a mother figure for Charlie.
Yet, the boredom mentioned in the title is the weariness and yearning to be distracted from the pain of life. Charlie had a traumatic upbringing. Kathi had her struggles. It is a lot to take in. For them. And for readers to read.
I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief when Charlie chose to move on from Kathi. Maybe that was what was also needed for the author and Ms. Fisher.
Still, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of grief at Carrie Fisher’s passing two years later. No matter what she had been through, there was still an immense talent lost. And in many ways, Byron Lane was witness to it. Maybe this fiction story gave us a tiny glimpse into it.
3.5 stars rounded up.
July 26, 2020
I received a free digital publisher's review copy, via Netgalley.
If you are a fan of the late Carrie Fisher, I recommend you not read this book. Lane calls this book fiction, but in his interviews he makes it clear that incidents are pretty much just variations on reality, and the book includes details that are known about Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds. The picture Lane paints of “Kathie Kannon” is of a tremendously talented woman who wastes her talent and privilege with drugs. Worse yet, she is incredibly inconsiderate of others and downright destructive of everything in her path.
Even if you’re not a Carrie Fisher fan, it’s repulsive to read lengthy descriptions of someone who is such a mess and who makes life difficult for others just because she can, given her fame. Someone who brazenly defies public rules just because she can get away with it, who turns every hotel room into a wreck in minutes, who mindlessly goes on shopping sprees and then wastes everyone’s time by returning everything the next day, and who regularly abuses drugs. Especially right now, when so many people don’t know how they will feed and house their families, it’s off-putting, at the least, to read about this kind of person.
Sure, Lane tries to turn it all around in the final quarter by showing how Kathie Kannon taught him about love and acceptance and is a beautiful soul inside, but it’s too little too late. This book comes across as mainly a tell-all from another hanger-on abusing his access to benefit himself—and doing it after the subject is dead and can’t defend herself. I thought this was going to be a funny, with an admixture of self-mockery, like Carrie Fisher’s own books, but I was mistaken.
If you are a fan of the late Carrie Fisher, I recommend you not read this book. Lane calls this book fiction, but in his interviews he makes it clear that incidents are pretty much just variations on reality, and the book includes details that are known about Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds. The picture Lane paints of “Kathie Kannon” is of a tremendously talented woman who wastes her talent and privilege with drugs. Worse yet, she is incredibly inconsiderate of others and downright destructive of everything in her path.
Even if you’re not a Carrie Fisher fan, it’s repulsive to read lengthy descriptions of someone who is such a mess and who makes life difficult for others just because she can, given her fame. Someone who brazenly defies public rules just because she can get away with it, who turns every hotel room into a wreck in minutes, who mindlessly goes on shopping sprees and then wastes everyone’s time by returning everything the next day, and who regularly abuses drugs. Especially right now, when so many people don’t know how they will feed and house their families, it’s off-putting, at the least, to read about this kind of person.
Sure, Lane tries to turn it all around in the final quarter by showing how Kathie Kannon taught him about love and acceptance and is a beautiful soul inside, but it’s too little too late. This book comes across as mainly a tell-all from another hanger-on abusing his access to benefit himself—and doing it after the subject is dead and can’t defend herself. I thought this was going to be a funny, with an admixture of self-mockery, like Carrie Fisher’s own books, but I was mistaken.
July 30, 2020
4,5
Alerta de gatilho: Pensamentos suicidas, abuso de drogas.
“A star is bored” é um livro de Byron Lane sobre um jovem gay e um tanto depressivo que se candidata para uma vaga de assistente pessoal de uma estrela de Hollywood e logo vê sua vida mudar completamente. O autor, ex-assistente de Carrie Fisher, escreveu a obra inspirado na sua relação com a atriz. O livro é indicado por Taylor Jenkins Reid (“Os sete maridos de Evelyn Hugo”) e Jonathan Van Ness (host de “Queer eye”). Uma leitura perfeita para quem curtiu Cadê você, Bernadette?
Pontos fortes
Essa é uma história de amizade entre uma estrela de Hollywood e um jovem que não sabe bem o que fazer da vida. O livro começa muito bem, quando somos apresentados à enorme casa de Kathi Kannon e à própria atriz. Ela é improvável, engraçada e irreverente. Ele é tímido, atrapalhado e inseguro. Nesse início, vemos o que pode ser o início de uma nova vida para o protagonista. O autor garante boas risadas com tiradas bem pensadas.
O protagonista, Charlie Besson, é gay! Eu amo personagens que são LGBTQ+ sem precisarem ser, sem que a história foque em sua sexualidade. Esse fato, claro, tem consequências, como sua relação com o pai, que não é das melhores e mais acolhedoras. O autor, que também é queer (e pediu o namorado em casamento nos agradecimentos finais!!!!!!), fez um bom trabalho aqui.
Essa parte familiar também é interessante. No terceiro capítulo, eu acho, o autor trabalha o passado do protagonista, mostrando sua relação com seu pai e sua falecida mãe. É aí que ele conta um pouco do porquê Charlie mora longe da família, de como a vida do seu pai está estagnada e das razões pelas quais Charlie sente que ainda precisa provar algo.
A escrita do livro é leve. E, em tempos de quarentena, isso é tudo o que eu preciso. Gosto de passar de um livro pesado para um mais suave, e essa foi uma boa escolha. Terminei recentemente The Vanishing Half (incrível, 5 estrelas), então peguei A Burning (muito bom, mas também complexo) e esse. Decidi focar nessa história. O livro flui muito bem, é divertido de ler mesmo quando não há nenhum grande conflito.
A maturidade dos personagens também me chamou a atenção. Algumas situações, que em YAs (que leio muito) gerariam páginas e páginas de drama, foram resolvidas com “ok, vida que segue”. Eu AMEI isso! *e outros pontos que não posso citar porque são spoilers.
A evolução dos personagens e de suas relações me deixaram bem feliz. Gostei de ver como cada um cresceu e como a dinâmica entre Charlie e Kathi foi se construindo ao longo dos anos. Essa vai ser uma dupla da qual vou sentir muita falta.
O audiobook merece destaque: é narrado por ninguém menos que Noah Galvin, que já participou de Dear Evan Hansen, The Real O’Neals e Booksmart. Sua narração é divertida e no ponto. Em alguns momentos, senti diferenças no áudio, como se ele tivesse regravado frases ou palavras específicas, mas isso de forma alguma atrapalhou a experiência.
Pontos fracos
Comecei o livro pensando: vai ser o melhor do ano se continuar assim. Acontece que as surpresas vão acabando e a narrativa se torna um tanto linear. A história continua divertida e interessante, mas faltaram alguns detalhes para chegar no ponto. Mais conflitos, mais cenas imprevisíveis da Kathi, mais desafios e aprendizados para Charlie, mais mudanças na vida dele. Demora até que que essas mudanças cheguem, e eu pensei que não iam chegar nunca. Mas o livro melhora!
A vida amorosa de Charlie também não é muito animadora em boa parte do livro. Ele conhece um cara, eles começam a sair e tal… mas não senti a química. Aparentemente, foi algo significativo. Um sentia a falta do outro quando estavam longe. Mas tudo isso é mais dito do que mostrado, não foi um casal que torci para que desse certo. Não acho que foi a intenção do autor. *mas também há coisas que eu curti! Não posso falar aqui porque seria spoiler.
Eu queria ter conhecido mais da Kathi, queria que ela fosse mais aberta. O livro faz um bom trabalho em apresentá-la no “agora”, mas o passado fica um tanto obscuro. Acho que algumas cenas teriam um impacto maior se o autor tivesse nos apresentado mais a personagem.
Por fim…
Essa foi uma leitura muito agradável, divertida e leve. Não era exatamente o que eu estava procurando, mas consegui aproveitar bastante. Pensei muito em que nota dar, estava entre um 3 e um 4 por volta dos 50%. Enquanto lia hoje, no entanto, senti muita falta dos personagens e foi muito bom estar com eles novamente. A dinâmica é muito interessante e o final foi impactante para mim. Por ter conquistado meu coração, mesmo com suas falhas, decidi avaliar em 4,5.
Alerta de gatilho: Pensamentos suicidas, abuso de drogas.
“A star is bored” é um livro de Byron Lane sobre um jovem gay e um tanto depressivo que se candidata para uma vaga de assistente pessoal de uma estrela de Hollywood e logo vê sua vida mudar completamente. O autor, ex-assistente de Carrie Fisher, escreveu a obra inspirado na sua relação com a atriz. O livro é indicado por Taylor Jenkins Reid (“Os sete maridos de Evelyn Hugo”) e Jonathan Van Ness (host de “Queer eye”). Uma leitura perfeita para quem curtiu Cadê você, Bernadette?
Pontos fortes
Essa é uma história de amizade entre uma estrela de Hollywood e um jovem que não sabe bem o que fazer da vida. O livro começa muito bem, quando somos apresentados à enorme casa de Kathi Kannon e à própria atriz. Ela é improvável, engraçada e irreverente. Ele é tímido, atrapalhado e inseguro. Nesse início, vemos o que pode ser o início de uma nova vida para o protagonista. O autor garante boas risadas com tiradas bem pensadas.
O protagonista, Charlie Besson, é gay! Eu amo personagens que são LGBTQ+ sem precisarem ser, sem que a história foque em sua sexualidade. Esse fato, claro, tem consequências, como sua relação com o pai, que não é das melhores e mais acolhedoras. O autor, que também é queer (e pediu o namorado em casamento nos agradecimentos finais!!!!!!), fez um bom trabalho aqui.
Essa parte familiar também é interessante. No terceiro capítulo, eu acho, o autor trabalha o passado do protagonista, mostrando sua relação com seu pai e sua falecida mãe. É aí que ele conta um pouco do porquê Charlie mora longe da família, de como a vida do seu pai está estagnada e das razões pelas quais Charlie sente que ainda precisa provar algo.
A escrita do livro é leve. E, em tempos de quarentena, isso é tudo o que eu preciso. Gosto de passar de um livro pesado para um mais suave, e essa foi uma boa escolha. Terminei recentemente The Vanishing Half (incrível, 5 estrelas), então peguei A Burning (muito bom, mas também complexo) e esse. Decidi focar nessa história. O livro flui muito bem, é divertido de ler mesmo quando não há nenhum grande conflito.
A maturidade dos personagens também me chamou a atenção. Algumas situações, que em YAs (que leio muito) gerariam páginas e páginas de drama, foram resolvidas com “ok, vida que segue”. Eu AMEI isso! *e outros pontos que não posso citar porque são spoilers.
A evolução dos personagens e de suas relações me deixaram bem feliz. Gostei de ver como cada um cresceu e como a dinâmica entre Charlie e Kathi foi se construindo ao longo dos anos. Essa vai ser uma dupla da qual vou sentir muita falta.
O audiobook merece destaque: é narrado por ninguém menos que Noah Galvin, que já participou de Dear Evan Hansen, The Real O’Neals e Booksmart. Sua narração é divertida e no ponto. Em alguns momentos, senti diferenças no áudio, como se ele tivesse regravado frases ou palavras específicas, mas isso de forma alguma atrapalhou a experiência.
Pontos fracos
Comecei o livro pensando: vai ser o melhor do ano se continuar assim. Acontece que as surpresas vão acabando e a narrativa se torna um tanto linear. A história continua divertida e interessante, mas faltaram alguns detalhes para chegar no ponto. Mais conflitos, mais cenas imprevisíveis da Kathi, mais desafios e aprendizados para Charlie, mais mudanças na vida dele. Demora até que que essas mudanças cheguem, e eu pensei que não iam chegar nunca. Mas o livro melhora!
A vida amorosa de Charlie também não é muito animadora em boa parte do livro. Ele conhece um cara, eles começam a sair e tal… mas não senti a química. Aparentemente, foi algo significativo. Um sentia a falta do outro quando estavam longe. Mas tudo isso é mais dito do que mostrado, não foi um casal que torci para que desse certo. Não acho que foi a intenção do autor. *mas também há coisas que eu curti! Não posso falar aqui porque seria spoiler.
Eu queria ter conhecido mais da Kathi, queria que ela fosse mais aberta. O livro faz um bom trabalho em apresentá-la no “agora”, mas o passado fica um tanto obscuro. Acho que algumas cenas teriam um impacto maior se o autor tivesse nos apresentado mais a personagem.
Por fim…
Essa foi uma leitura muito agradável, divertida e leve. Não era exatamente o que eu estava procurando, mas consegui aproveitar bastante. Pensei muito em que nota dar, estava entre um 3 e um 4 por volta dos 50%. Enquanto lia hoje, no entanto, senti muita falta dos personagens e foi muito bom estar com eles novamente. A dinâmica é muito interessante e o final foi impactante para mim. Por ter conquistado meu coração, mesmo com suas falhas, decidi avaliar em 4,5.
July 25, 2020
The author of A Star is Bored, Byron Lane was Carrie Fisher's personal assistant for three years. He continually has stated that this book is a work of fiction...but I truly hope that he did take some liberties from his time with Ms. Fisher!
This is the funniest, laugh out loud book I have read in a very long time! The banter between the characters is incredible and witty and even though I am not suppose to I can't help but hear Fisher's voice in my head as I read the story, which made it even more comical.
Charlie works as an overnight writer for a boring publication. He want to leave and dreams of having a more exciting job. Well, be careful what you wish for! On a tip, he applies for the job as the personal assistant to ultra celebrity Kathi Kannon. Kannon, who just happens to be a very famous princess from a sci-fi movie lives on a property she shares with her very famous eccentric mother. During the job interview (audition?) Charlie is extremely confused as to what Ms. Kannon is looking for in an assistant and leaves unsure of whether he even got the job.
The phone rings and Charlie gets his first inking that he got the job but still unsure of what the job entails. As he soon finds out being Kannon's personal assistant is a trip, both literally and figuratively. Between doling out her pills in the morning (see bottom draw in bedroom), to taking her on hilarious vacations (see Japan), to being not only her caretaker but her protector, Charlie finds the chaos disturbingly exciting. And the perks are not so bad either.
As Charlie tries to put Kannon's life in some sort of order, she on the other hand fights to have the continued mayhem. There is a housekeeper who has a brain tumor who seems to do nothing but sleep at the kitchen table on a daily basis and a gardener who seems to hold hedge clippers in his hand daily, but never seems to clip anything. Added to the disorganization is Kannon's mother who is constantly handing Charlie bags of money to make sure her daughter eats her "vegetables".
There are almost daily trips to what Kannon calls "Vegas" which Charlie assumes are shopping jaunts. They are not. There is one extremely comical episode in which Kannon runs naked (with a bed sheet) into traffic outside her house and Charlie literally tries to reel her in. Then cleans up the public relations mess.
Entwined in the story is Charlie's own personal dysfunctional history with a mother who died very young and an overbearing father with anger issues who screams a lot, so much so Charlie can't get his voice out of his head. He also highlights the difficulty of trying to have any kind of personal relationship when you are on call 24/7 at the whim of a superstar. His own dating chronicles are just as funny as his personal assistant shenanigans.
But through all the craziness, Charlie and Kathi develop a relationship which cannot really be defined. Part respect, part sibling, part parent/child but most of all devotion to each other and a mutual love.
I want to say I truly hope some of this is based in truth because in my head I want to believe Kathi Kannon and Carrie Fisher really did have these absolutely incredible you could not make this stuff up adventures.
So relax, sit back and go along for the most enjoyable ride! This would surely be a great beach read.
Thank you #NetGalley #HenryHoltandCo #ByronLane #AStarIsBored for the advanced copy. The book will be published on July 28.
This is the funniest, laugh out loud book I have read in a very long time! The banter between the characters is incredible and witty and even though I am not suppose to I can't help but hear Fisher's voice in my head as I read the story, which made it even more comical.
Charlie works as an overnight writer for a boring publication. He want to leave and dreams of having a more exciting job. Well, be careful what you wish for! On a tip, he applies for the job as the personal assistant to ultra celebrity Kathi Kannon. Kannon, who just happens to be a very famous princess from a sci-fi movie lives on a property she shares with her very famous eccentric mother. During the job interview (audition?) Charlie is extremely confused as to what Ms. Kannon is looking for in an assistant and leaves unsure of whether he even got the job.
The phone rings and Charlie gets his first inking that he got the job but still unsure of what the job entails. As he soon finds out being Kannon's personal assistant is a trip, both literally and figuratively. Between doling out her pills in the morning (see bottom draw in bedroom), to taking her on hilarious vacations (see Japan), to being not only her caretaker but her protector, Charlie finds the chaos disturbingly exciting. And the perks are not so bad either.
As Charlie tries to put Kannon's life in some sort of order, she on the other hand fights to have the continued mayhem. There is a housekeeper who has a brain tumor who seems to do nothing but sleep at the kitchen table on a daily basis and a gardener who seems to hold hedge clippers in his hand daily, but never seems to clip anything. Added to the disorganization is Kannon's mother who is constantly handing Charlie bags of money to make sure her daughter eats her "vegetables".
There are almost daily trips to what Kannon calls "Vegas" which Charlie assumes are shopping jaunts. They are not. There is one extremely comical episode in which Kannon runs naked (with a bed sheet) into traffic outside her house and Charlie literally tries to reel her in. Then cleans up the public relations mess.
Entwined in the story is Charlie's own personal dysfunctional history with a mother who died very young and an overbearing father with anger issues who screams a lot, so much so Charlie can't get his voice out of his head. He also highlights the difficulty of trying to have any kind of personal relationship when you are on call 24/7 at the whim of a superstar. His own dating chronicles are just as funny as his personal assistant shenanigans.
But through all the craziness, Charlie and Kathi develop a relationship which cannot really be defined. Part respect, part sibling, part parent/child but most of all devotion to each other and a mutual love.
I want to say I truly hope some of this is based in truth because in my head I want to believe Kathi Kannon and Carrie Fisher really did have these absolutely incredible you could not make this stuff up adventures.
So relax, sit back and go along for the most enjoyable ride! This would surely be a great beach read.
Thank you #NetGalley #HenryHoltandCo #ByronLane #AStarIsBored for the advanced copy. The book will be published on July 28.
December 6, 2020
“I’m just a kid from Louisiana, sitting in my first celebrity mansion, surrounded by more wealth than I’ve ever known, more pills than I’ve ever seen, more uncertainty than I’ve ever felt.”
A Star is Bored is a humorous and insightful story about Charlie, a depressed gay man who gains a life-changing new job as the personal assistant to celebrity Kathi Kannon, his childhood idol. He is swept into a world of celebrities and fame, where he organises Kathi’s schedules, goes on various trips and shopping sprees, helps Kathi manage her substance addiction and manic episodes, and gradually bonds with her. I enjoyed reading about Charlie and Kathi’s growing relationship and interactions throughout the book, and the lasting impact Kathi left on Charlie in helping him gain the confidence to move forward with his life. The witty banter between them also added a nice touch to the story.
“Life only exists in your mind. Everything you see, everything you hear, all of it, it goes through your eyes and ears and is processed by your mind, and the mind can lie, can be sick, can get it wrong.”
Although there were aspects of this book that were enjoyable, I did find this book hard to get into at times, and I felt like the story just dragged on and was incredibly slow paced with lengthy passages. I wasn’t fully invested into the story, and struggled to find motivation to continue through at times. The vulgar language used throughout the book also made me uncomfortable at times, and I felt like it wasn’t that necessary to include that much profanity and heavy sexual content. I still thought the whole idea of the book was good, and I liked the way things were wrapped up in the end, but I personally believe it could have been better paced and written. The themes addressed in this book such as those revolving around mental illnesses were handled well, and I could really sympathise with Charlie’s depression, and Kathi’s addiction, and how they worked to overcome their problems and become better people.
“Therapista says a wonderful, healthy life doesn’t include a requirement to be constantly entertained. She says what we really want is peace of mind, peace in being. Maybe another word for boredom is peace.”
The struggles and challenges each of the characters faced really touched on a deeper level, and reading about Charlie’s low self-esteem and depression was in some ways relatable, as we all have moments where we are unsure of ourselves in our lives. I liked how he really came to question what he truly wanted in his life, and if being on standby for Kathi leaving little time for personal relationships and a social life was going to work out for him at all. On top of that, he had his own personal family dramas with his strained relationship with his father, and his dating disasters to deal with. I was glad that he decided what was best for himself, and how he came to appreciate Kathi’s influence in his life, and how he eventually found the right guy for himself as well. Kathi’s character also held meaning to me, and I enjoyed reading about her witty, sarcastic personality, and her personal struggles to overcome her addiction. Charlie and Kathi’s friendship was incredibly heartwarming to read about, and I’m glad that they did eventually find their own roads to happiness.
Overall, although this book wasn’t for me and there were several things that didn’t sit well with me, there were still parts I enjoyed and it had a creative and unique concept. I really liked how this book had a prominent message which focused on Charlie seeking his purpose and passion in life, and how it showed that it is never too late to change your mind as the future is not set in stone, and how you should decide what’s best for yourself in your life. The book itself was inspiring and uplifting at times, and I am glad that I read it.
I would like to thank NetGallery for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3/5 stars
A Star is Bored is a humorous and insightful story about Charlie, a depressed gay man who gains a life-changing new job as the personal assistant to celebrity Kathi Kannon, his childhood idol. He is swept into a world of celebrities and fame, where he organises Kathi’s schedules, goes on various trips and shopping sprees, helps Kathi manage her substance addiction and manic episodes, and gradually bonds with her. I enjoyed reading about Charlie and Kathi’s growing relationship and interactions throughout the book, and the lasting impact Kathi left on Charlie in helping him gain the confidence to move forward with his life. The witty banter between them also added a nice touch to the story.
“Life only exists in your mind. Everything you see, everything you hear, all of it, it goes through your eyes and ears and is processed by your mind, and the mind can lie, can be sick, can get it wrong.”
Although there were aspects of this book that were enjoyable, I did find this book hard to get into at times, and I felt like the story just dragged on and was incredibly slow paced with lengthy passages. I wasn’t fully invested into the story, and struggled to find motivation to continue through at times. The vulgar language used throughout the book also made me uncomfortable at times, and I felt like it wasn’t that necessary to include that much profanity and heavy sexual content. I still thought the whole idea of the book was good, and I liked the way things were wrapped up in the end, but I personally believe it could have been better paced and written. The themes addressed in this book such as those revolving around mental illnesses were handled well, and I could really sympathise with Charlie’s depression, and Kathi’s addiction, and how they worked to overcome their problems and become better people.
“Therapista says a wonderful, healthy life doesn’t include a requirement to be constantly entertained. She says what we really want is peace of mind, peace in being. Maybe another word for boredom is peace.”
The struggles and challenges each of the characters faced really touched on a deeper level, and reading about Charlie’s low self-esteem and depression was in some ways relatable, as we all have moments where we are unsure of ourselves in our lives. I liked how he really came to question what he truly wanted in his life, and if being on standby for Kathi leaving little time for personal relationships and a social life was going to work out for him at all. On top of that, he had his own personal family dramas with his strained relationship with his father, and his dating disasters to deal with. I was glad that he decided what was best for himself, and how he came to appreciate Kathi’s influence in his life, and how he eventually found the right guy for himself as well. Kathi’s character also held meaning to me, and I enjoyed reading about her witty, sarcastic personality, and her personal struggles to overcome her addiction. Charlie and Kathi’s friendship was incredibly heartwarming to read about, and I’m glad that they did eventually find their own roads to happiness.
Overall, although this book wasn’t for me and there were several things that didn’t sit well with me, there were still parts I enjoyed and it had a creative and unique concept. I really liked how this book had a prominent message which focused on Charlie seeking his purpose and passion in life, and how it showed that it is never too late to change your mind as the future is not set in stone, and how you should decide what’s best for yourself in your life. The book itself was inspiring and uplifting at times, and I am glad that I read it.
I would like to thank NetGallery for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3/5 stars
July 22, 2020
A Star is Bored
is an unexpected treat in the craziness that is 2020. Byron Lane's hilariously sarcastic novel is a tale of two different people and their unlikely bond that is formed from a working relationship. Main character, Charlie Besson starts off interviewing for a personal assistant position for film icon Kathi Kannon. Kathi's not only a famous actress, but she has also become a subject of tabloid fodder due to her unpredictable behavior. After Charlie's hired for the position, the two forge a strange, codependent, yet meaningful and strong dynamic. Without telling you much of the story, Byron Lane's own experience working for the late Carrie Fisher is used as a basis for the story. So let your imagination go wild on how utterly over the top that could have possibly been. I laughed out loud several times, while also deeply connecting to the stress of mental health topics that were conveyed.
A Star is Bored
is getting a lot of accolades right now and deservingly so. I can't wait to see what's next for Byron Lane.
August 12, 2020
A Star Is Bored was an entertaining story about Charlie being lost and how getting a job as an assistant to an actress and writer, Kathi, who is also his childhood idle. Charlie is not qualified for the job, so has to figure out what he's supposed to be doing. It's an interested look into the fictional lives of Hollywood. I really enjoyed the interactions between Charlie and Kathi and how their relationship progresses throughout the book.
Noah Galvin did a great job narrating. I feel like a lot of books leave minor story lines open, but A Star Is Bored tied up all of the story lines, even ones that were only mentioned near the beginning of the book.
Thank you NetGalley and McMillan Audio for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date July 28
Now Available
Noah Galvin did a great job narrating. I feel like a lot of books leave minor story lines open, but A Star Is Bored tied up all of the story lines, even ones that were only mentioned near the beginning of the book.
Thank you NetGalley and McMillan Audio for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date July 28
Now Available
April 6, 2022
Zaželjela sam se laganog, po mogućnosti duhovitog, zabavnog štiva i bez nekog razmišljanja uzela „Zvjezdanu prašinu“ s police. Sinopsis ne donosi puno, ali meni je dalo naslutiti da sam na dobrom putu s obzirom na ono što želim čitati. Dobila sam željeno, plus puno više!
Više o utiscima pročitajte klikom na link: https://knjige-u-svom-filmu.webador.c...
Više o utiscima pročitajte klikom na link: https://knjige-u-svom-filmu.webador.c...
March 25, 2024
As a whole I enjoyed this book. I didn't find it riotously funny and there were parts when the famous Kathi Kannon said "I'm bored.", I had to concur. It, is eye opening. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 12, 2020
I picked out this book after reading the jacket cover. I found the description of the plot charming and hoped that the story would be witty and lighthearted read. The novel, based upon the author's experiences as a personal assistant to Carrie Fisher, actually left me feeling a bit despondent. The first-person narrative is overly detailed and anxious. I had a hard time reading beyond the first three chapters as I felt that the author struggled to convey to the reader the awe that was clearly inspired by meeting and working for the famous actress. The author continually stated that the narrate felt the force of the actress's charisma and that her "shine" and "wit" made him want to continue to be in her orbit. As a reader, these statements didn't really jive with the descriptions of the interactions described on the page.
The narrator's internal dialogues, which did read like train-of-thought monologues, I found to be tedious. After three chapters in which not much happened, I decided that I would skim the rest of the novel. While I wasn't strongly emotionally invested in the narrator or the budding relationship between employer and employee, I continued to hope that the story would inject some of the lighthearted and zany tales promised in the description. I was disappointed to find that the narrator, who I tended to pity more than empathize with, made poor decisions and was blatantly naive in certain portions of the novel. While the resolution was nice, and there was some personal growth on the part of the narrator, I certainly didn't feel the "shine" that was mentioned throughout.
The cast of supporting characters, from the overbearing mother-of-the-star to the antagonistic and domineering narrator's father didn't feel fully realized. Even the character of "Kathi Kannon" wasn't engaging.
In the end, I finished the novel but I'm not sure I took more from it than perhaps gratefulness that my childhood hadn't been as traumatizing as the narrators, that I hadn't had any type of terrible employment as the narrator, and that I likely wouldn't be reading another novel by this author again.
The narrator's internal dialogues, which did read like train-of-thought monologues, I found to be tedious. After three chapters in which not much happened, I decided that I would skim the rest of the novel. While I wasn't strongly emotionally invested in the narrator or the budding relationship between employer and employee, I continued to hope that the story would inject some of the lighthearted and zany tales promised in the description. I was disappointed to find that the narrator, who I tended to pity more than empathize with, made poor decisions and was blatantly naive in certain portions of the novel. While the resolution was nice, and there was some personal growth on the part of the narrator, I certainly didn't feel the "shine" that was mentioned throughout.
The cast of supporting characters, from the overbearing mother-of-the-star to the antagonistic and domineering narrator's father didn't feel fully realized. Even the character of "Kathi Kannon" wasn't engaging.
In the end, I finished the novel but I'm not sure I took more from it than perhaps gratefulness that my childhood hadn't been as traumatizing as the narrators, that I hadn't had any type of terrible employment as the narrator, and that I likely wouldn't be reading another novel by this author again.
August 9, 2021
Charlie is at a low point in his life when he lands his dream job as the personal assistant to his favorite actress, Kathi Kannon. The author uses his personal experience being Carrie Fisher's assistant in the past to write this book. Unfortunately, aside from being suspiciously close to reality despite being 'fictional', there are a lot of problems with this story.
One of them is that Charlie is actually a terrible assistant, even though he thinks he's hot stuff. He's naïve and lacks assertiveness. As a person, he's obnoxious, pretentious, and pathetic. And he has major daddy issues and self issues that don't really get resolved.
Kathi Kannon is also problematic. The actress isn't witty, charming, glamorous like the narrator keeps insisting, because we never see any evidence of that. As the story progresses, it becomes clear she's just spoiled, lazy, rude, tacky, selfish. Her problems are solved with money and denial. There was no depth to her character and nothing likeable. So my conclusion has to be that the narrator is unintentionally unreliable and delusional. He would dismiss anything bad or wrong about Kathi because he was so enamored with her.
The writing was trying to be something it wasn't and the dots didn't connect like they should have. None of the characters or relationships felt actualized/defined. Small details that should be facets of the characters, were disjointed and fell flat. The dialogue was unnatural. The narrator's inner dialogue was the worst. I think I can see what the author was attempting but it didn't work. The whole book felt like someone gushing over something that you disliked.
And what was with the overuse of the same metaphors and the same literary devices on every. single. page? The author would do this thing where he repeated the first part of a sentence three times and end it with something else (ex. I thought...I thought...I thought...) and I cringed every time I saw it again. It was bad! Basically, this book would've been a DNF had I not been too stubborn to finish it.
ARC thanks to the publisher & Goodreads giveaway
One of them is that Charlie is actually a terrible assistant, even though he thinks he's hot stuff. He's naïve and lacks assertiveness. As a person, he's obnoxious, pretentious, and pathetic. And he has major daddy issues and self issues that don't really get resolved.
Kathi Kannon is also problematic. The actress isn't witty, charming, glamorous like the narrator keeps insisting, because we never see any evidence of that. As the story progresses, it becomes clear she's just spoiled, lazy, rude, tacky, selfish. Her problems are solved with money and denial. There was no depth to her character and nothing likeable. So my conclusion has to be that the narrator is unintentionally unreliable and delusional. He would dismiss anything bad or wrong about Kathi because he was so enamored with her.
The writing was trying to be something it wasn't and the dots didn't connect like they should have. None of the characters or relationships felt actualized/defined. Small details that should be facets of the characters, were disjointed and fell flat. The dialogue was unnatural. The narrator's inner dialogue was the worst. I think I can see what the author was attempting but it didn't work. The whole book felt like someone gushing over something that you disliked.
And what was with the overuse of the same metaphors and the same literary devices on every. single. page? The author would do this thing where he repeated the first part of a sentence three times and end it with something else (ex. I thought...I thought...I thought...) and I cringed every time I saw it again. It was bad! Basically, this book would've been a DNF had I not been too stubborn to finish it.
ARC thanks to the publisher & Goodreads giveaway
Read
July 19, 2021No Stars, I abandoned around 50 pages. It was gossipy and to inflated with details that I felt were of no real value. Frankly, I don't think I'd last around either of these people for even a day; at least, not without wanting to scream.
January 3, 2026
This was a fun and refreshing read. :)
Author Byron Lane spent 3 years working as actress Carrie Fisher's personal assistant and though he insists in the forward and acknowledgements that all characters in this book are fictional, it is clear that his time with Carrie influenced this story.
Charlie Besson is from New Orleans and now lives in California working as a news writer. He doesn't love his job so when a friend tells him that his favorite actress Kathi Kannon is looking for a new assistant he jumps at the chance. Kathi is mostly famous for her iconic role as a priestess in a blockbuster space movie. She's also an author, the daughter of a famous actress....and has a history of trouble with substance abuse. (sound familiar?). Charlie is super nervous at his interview and Kathi is brash and sarcastic. She dubs him "Cockring" because it also starts with C and she says she can't remember his name. Charlie ends up getting the job and so begins his misadventures.
You can't help but picture Kathi as Carrie Fisher and I don't think that is a bad thing. The author is clearly fond of Carrie Fisher and it shows. I really enjoyed the story and recommend it to anyone looking for a fictional, humorous roller coaster ride with a troubled Hollywood star. There were quite a few laugh out loud moments along with some more serious bits. We also see Charlie come into his own and learn to love himself.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
Author Byron Lane spent 3 years working as actress Carrie Fisher's personal assistant and though he insists in the forward and acknowledgements that all characters in this book are fictional, it is clear that his time with Carrie influenced this story.
Charlie Besson is from New Orleans and now lives in California working as a news writer. He doesn't love his job so when a friend tells him that his favorite actress Kathi Kannon is looking for a new assistant he jumps at the chance. Kathi is mostly famous for her iconic role as a priestess in a blockbuster space movie. She's also an author, the daughter of a famous actress....and has a history of trouble with substance abuse. (sound familiar?). Charlie is super nervous at his interview and Kathi is brash and sarcastic. She dubs him "Cockring" because it also starts with C and she says she can't remember his name. Charlie ends up getting the job and so begins his misadventures.
You can't help but picture Kathi as Carrie Fisher and I don't think that is a bad thing. The author is clearly fond of Carrie Fisher and it shows. I really enjoyed the story and recommend it to anyone looking for a fictional, humorous roller coaster ride with a troubled Hollywood star. There were quite a few laugh out loud moments along with some more serious bits. We also see Charlie come into his own and learn to love himself.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
August 1, 2020
This book was SUCH a joy. Not only is it funny & gripping because of the premise (and the obvious draw of the author’s past job experience that led to this story) but the writing is definitely there to back it up. It might be 50 pages too long for me, but the payoff is well worth it.
Want to read
July 25, 2020The author of A Star is Bored, Byron Lane was Carrie Fisher's personal assistant for three years. He continually has stated that this book is a work of fiction...but I truly hope that he did take some liberties from his time with Ms. Fisher!
This is the funniest, laugh out loud book I have read in a very long time! The banter between the characters is incredible and witty and even though I am not suppose to I can't help but hear Fisher's voice in my head as I read the story, which made it even more comical.
Charlie works as an overnight writer for a boring publication. He want to leave and dreams of having a more exciting job. Well, be careful what you wish for! On a tip, he applies for the job as the personal assistant to ultra celebrity Kathi Kannon. Kannon, who just happens to be a very famous princess from a sci-fi movie lives on a property she shares with her very famous eccentric mother. During the job interview (audition?) Charlie is extremely confused as to what Ms. Kannon is looking for in an assistant and leaves unsure of whether he even got the job.
The phone rings and Charlie gets his first inking that he got the job but still unsure of what the job entails. As he soon finds out being Kannon's personal assistant is a trip, both literally and figuratively. Between doling out her pills in the morning (see bottom draw in bedroom), to taking her on hilarious vacations (see Japan), to being not only her caretaker but her protector, Charlie finds the chaos disturbingly exciting. And the perks are not so bad either.
As Charlie tries to put Kannon's life in some sort of order, she on the other hand fights to have the continued mayhem. There is a housekeeper who has a brain tumor who seems to do nothing but sleep at the kitchen table on a daily basis and a gardener who seems to hold hedge clippers in his hand daily, but never seems to clip anything. Added to the disorganization is Kannon's mother who is constantly handing Charlie bags of money to make sure her daughter eats her "vegetables".
There are almost daily trips to what Kannon calls "Vegas" which Charlie assumes are shopping jaunts. They are not. There is one extremely comical episode in which Kannon runs naked (with a bed sheet) into traffic outside her house and Charlie literally tries to reel her in. Then cleans up the public relations mess.
Entwined in the story is Charlie's own personal dysfunctional history with a mother who died very young and an overbearing father with anger issues who screams a lot, so much so Charlie can't get his voice out of his head. He also highlights the difficulty of trying to have any kind of personal relationship when you are on call 24/7 at the whim of a superstar. His own dating chronicles are just as funny as his personal assistant shenanigans.
But through all the craziness, Charlie and Kathi develop a relationship which cannot really be defined. Part respect, part sibling, part parent/child but most of all devotion to each other and a mutual love.
I want to say I truly hope some of this is based in truth because in my head I want to believe Kathi Kannon and Carrie Fisher really did have these absolutely incredible you could not make this stuff up adventures.
So relax, sit back and go along for the most enjoyable ride! This would surely be a great beach read.
Thank you #NetGalley #HenryHoltandCo #ByronLane #AStarIsBored for the advanced copy. The book will be published on July 28.
This is the funniest, laugh out loud book I have read in a very long time! The banter between the characters is incredible and witty and even though I am not suppose to I can't help but hear Fisher's voice in my head as I read the story, which made it even more comical.
Charlie works as an overnight writer for a boring publication. He want to leave and dreams of having a more exciting job. Well, be careful what you wish for! On a tip, he applies for the job as the personal assistant to ultra celebrity Kathi Kannon. Kannon, who just happens to be a very famous princess from a sci-fi movie lives on a property she shares with her very famous eccentric mother. During the job interview (audition?) Charlie is extremely confused as to what Ms. Kannon is looking for in an assistant and leaves unsure of whether he even got the job.
The phone rings and Charlie gets his first inking that he got the job but still unsure of what the job entails. As he soon finds out being Kannon's personal assistant is a trip, both literally and figuratively. Between doling out her pills in the morning (see bottom draw in bedroom), to taking her on hilarious vacations (see Japan), to being not only her caretaker but her protector, Charlie finds the chaos disturbingly exciting. And the perks are not so bad either.
As Charlie tries to put Kannon's life in some sort of order, she on the other hand fights to have the continued mayhem. There is a housekeeper who has a brain tumor who seems to do nothing but sleep at the kitchen table on a daily basis and a gardener who seems to hold hedge clippers in his hand daily, but never seems to clip anything. Added to the disorganization is Kannon's mother who is constantly handing Charlie bags of money to make sure her daughter eats her "vegetables".
There are almost daily trips to what Kannon calls "Vegas" which Charlie assumes are shopping jaunts. They are not. There is one extremely comical episode in which Kannon runs naked (with a bed sheet) into traffic outside her house and Charlie literally tries to reel her in. Then cleans up the public relations mess.
Entwined in the story is Charlie's own personal dysfunctional history with a mother who died very young and an overbearing father with anger issues who screams a lot, so much so Charlie can't get his voice out of his head. He also highlights the difficulty of trying to have any kind of personal relationship when you are on call 24/7 at the whim of a superstar. His own dating chronicles are just as funny as his personal assistant shenanigans.
But through all the craziness, Charlie and Kathi develop a relationship which cannot really be defined. Part respect, part sibling, part parent/child but most of all devotion to each other and a mutual love.
I want to say I truly hope some of this is based in truth because in my head I want to believe Kathi Kannon and Carrie Fisher really did have these absolutely incredible you could not make this stuff up adventures.
So relax, sit back and go along for the most enjoyable ride! This would surely be a great beach read.
Thank you #NetGalley #HenryHoltandCo #ByronLane #AStarIsBored for the advanced copy. The book will be published on July 28.
June 19, 2020
I loved this sweet, fictionalized story by Carrie Fisher’s former assistant about....a personal assistant to an actress famous for playing a space princess. (Who could THAT be?)Although the publisher’s note makes sure to tell us it is all a work of fiction, I clearly heard Carrie Fisher’s unique and wacky voice in every bit of Kathi’s dialogue. The book shows, with humor and sentiment and some sadness, what it is like to be almost a family member to a very effervescent, very talented and very drug-addicted celebrity. The assistant Charlie (nicknamed “Cockring” by Carrie, I mean Kathi) clearly loves Kathi and tried to save her life. It’s a sweet and tough journey to read about Charlie’s struggles - as her personal assistant, at some point ultimately he became responsible for keeping her afloat in almost her every waking moment. This book hurts the heart a little extra when you read all of Charlie’s efforts to save “Kathi” from dying of drug addiction, when we now know Carrie Fisher died that way. This begins as a light and humorous memoir but evolves into something deeper with a lot of heart. Very much recommend.
Thanks very much to NetGalley, Henry Holt, and Cockr....uh, Byron Lane for the ARC of this entertaining, alternately heartwarming and heartbreaking read in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks very much to NetGalley, Henry Holt, and Cockr....uh, Byron Lane for the ARC of this entertaining, alternately heartwarming and heartbreaking read in exchange for my honest review.
September 3, 2020
QUICK TAKE: funny and heartwarming, I really enjoyed this "fictional" story of an assistant and the difficult celebrity he works for. Byron was Carrie Fischer's assistant, and it's hard not to compare his fictional celebrity character here to Fischer. The story is a love letter to those who find family and community in an unusual place. We listened to this one on audio and the narration was very good.
September 28, 2020
The Gist: Byron Lane, former personal assistant to Carrie Fisher, writes a fictional account of Charlie, personal assistant to celebrity Kathi Kannon, who according to the book’s lawyers, is definitely 100% NOT Carrie Fisher.
My thoughts: While this is definitely 100% NOT about Carrie Fisher, a lot of the anecdotes in this book seemed a little too specific, if you catch my drift. Regardless, this was a fun peek into what it’s like being a celebrity assistant. While the job changed Charlie’s life for the better and you can tell how much Kathi and Charlie cared for each other, it’s definitely not all glam and glitz, especially when said celebrity is a former drug addict with mental health problems. Alongside the funny anecdotes and adventures, I enjoyed seeing Charlie's confidence and self-worth grow throughout the course of the novel. The ending, I’ll admit, did make me cry. (And made me miss Carrie Fisher all over again.)
Recommended for: pop culture lovers, those who enjoy a peek behind the celebrity curtain (cc all my fellow Wholigans)
My thoughts: While this is definitely 100% NOT about Carrie Fisher, a lot of the anecdotes in this book seemed a little too specific, if you catch my drift. Regardless, this was a fun peek into what it’s like being a celebrity assistant. While the job changed Charlie’s life for the better and you can tell how much Kathi and Charlie cared for each other, it’s definitely not all glam and glitz, especially when said celebrity is a former drug addict with mental health problems. Alongside the funny anecdotes and adventures, I enjoyed seeing Charlie's confidence and self-worth grow throughout the course of the novel. The ending, I’ll admit, did make me cry. (And made me miss Carrie Fisher all over again.)
Recommended for: pop culture lovers, those who enjoy a peek behind the celebrity curtain (cc all my fellow Wholigans)
June 16, 2021
Not much you can call this other than “exploitative.”
Look, the sheer fact that there are no less than three aggressive (and apparently supposed to be cheeky) disclaimers that declare (“for legal purposes”) this book isn’t about Carrie Fisher point to the fact that it is clearly, unmistakably, and obviously, about Carrie Fisher.
As an avid Carrie Fisher fan, I felt a sense of caution as I got more into the book, and then outright discomfort. It became a pain in the ass to finish. The writing itself is bad - it’s organized poorly, it can’t decide what it’s format is, and it’s chapter after chapter or the same exact superficial storytelling.
Why is the author constantly talking to Siri? Why is he into repeating things as if he’s trying to meet a word count? It’s obnoxious and getting. Why is there so much all caps screaming and tumblr-esque punctuation? It’s an editorial mess. The concept of it being formatted as an “Assistant’s Bible” could have been cool, if it had been done correctly.
And the structure/technicalities of the writing aside - I just can’t help but feel slimy after finishing it. I have no doubt that the author felt genuine affection for Carrie Fisher - but this book is in poor taste at best, and (here’s that word again) exploitative at worst.
Some of the things fictionalized here aren’t even changed enough to be allusions, they are just thinly veiled recounting of things that Carrie Fisher actually has/did/was.
Let’s be clear that Carrie Fisher is allowed to exploit herself, and did so frequently and with candor and honor, in her own writings, but coming from a source like this - even through the lens of a fictional assistant, and a fictional star (Kathi Kannon), it’s grotesque. That it came out many years after the death of Carrie Fisher is also off putting.
I think the author sees himself as painting “Kathi” with an affectionate brush, because he worked closely with her and had a connection, but to the outside reader, this woman just comes off as an unbelievably emotionally stunted asshole, which I do not think Carrie Fisher was. It’s unflattering and disheartening.
Perhaps my bias as a Fisher fan is just too strong to appreciate this book, but if you removed that entirely there still remains the fact that the writing itself, to put it bluntly, sucks. It would be perhaps fair to say I’m being unfair myself by conflating “Kathi” with Carrie, but I hold that ground because the author did such a piss poor job of even trying to make his “star” distinct from who Carrie (in her own words) was.
The author also, bizarrely, manages to make the assistant character (the insert of himself) an unbelievably egomaniacal wet blanket of a human being who is somehow both clueless and pathetically self absorbed. He’s bad at his job to a fault and at the same time an almost villainous enabler because that benefits him.
I finished this book feeling both frustrated and sad. Frustrated that this is marketed as some sort of heart warming pseudo-memoir, and sad that someone who (truly I think) probably loved Carrie Fisher managed to represent her so poorly, and is making money off of this voyeuristic invasion into what should be a sacred (or at least confidential) relationship.
For others out there thinking of writing books like this - maybe remember that changing names only doesn’t actually obscure the story you’re telling, and consider that you don’t get to make money off the struggles of someone else’s life.
For Carrie fans out there thinking of reading this: Don’t. Read Carrie’s books instead. Despite the fact that I think the author had a significant amount of love and respect for Carrie Fisher, he didn’t manage to translate any of that into this caricatured tale of “Kathi.”
Look, the sheer fact that there are no less than three aggressive (and apparently supposed to be cheeky) disclaimers that declare (“for legal purposes”) this book isn’t about Carrie Fisher point to the fact that it is clearly, unmistakably, and obviously, about Carrie Fisher.
As an avid Carrie Fisher fan, I felt a sense of caution as I got more into the book, and then outright discomfort. It became a pain in the ass to finish. The writing itself is bad - it’s organized poorly, it can’t decide what it’s format is, and it’s chapter after chapter or the same exact superficial storytelling.
Why is the author constantly talking to Siri? Why is he into repeating things as if he’s trying to meet a word count? It’s obnoxious and getting. Why is there so much all caps screaming and tumblr-esque punctuation? It’s an editorial mess. The concept of it being formatted as an “Assistant’s Bible” could have been cool, if it had been done correctly.
And the structure/technicalities of the writing aside - I just can’t help but feel slimy after finishing it. I have no doubt that the author felt genuine affection for Carrie Fisher - but this book is in poor taste at best, and (here’s that word again) exploitative at worst.
Some of the things fictionalized here aren’t even changed enough to be allusions, they are just thinly veiled recounting of things that Carrie Fisher actually has/did/was.
Let’s be clear that Carrie Fisher is allowed to exploit herself, and did so frequently and with candor and honor, in her own writings, but coming from a source like this - even through the lens of a fictional assistant, and a fictional star (Kathi Kannon), it’s grotesque. That it came out many years after the death of Carrie Fisher is also off putting.
I think the author sees himself as painting “Kathi” with an affectionate brush, because he worked closely with her and had a connection, but to the outside reader, this woman just comes off as an unbelievably emotionally stunted asshole, which I do not think Carrie Fisher was. It’s unflattering and disheartening.
Perhaps my bias as a Fisher fan is just too strong to appreciate this book, but if you removed that entirely there still remains the fact that the writing itself, to put it bluntly, sucks. It would be perhaps fair to say I’m being unfair myself by conflating “Kathi” with Carrie, but I hold that ground because the author did such a piss poor job of even trying to make his “star” distinct from who Carrie (in her own words) was.
The author also, bizarrely, manages to make the assistant character (the insert of himself) an unbelievably egomaniacal wet blanket of a human being who is somehow both clueless and pathetically self absorbed. He’s bad at his job to a fault and at the same time an almost villainous enabler because that benefits him.
I finished this book feeling both frustrated and sad. Frustrated that this is marketed as some sort of heart warming pseudo-memoir, and sad that someone who (truly I think) probably loved Carrie Fisher managed to represent her so poorly, and is making money off of this voyeuristic invasion into what should be a sacred (or at least confidential) relationship.
For others out there thinking of writing books like this - maybe remember that changing names only doesn’t actually obscure the story you’re telling, and consider that you don’t get to make money off the struggles of someone else’s life.
For Carrie fans out there thinking of reading this: Don’t. Read Carrie’s books instead. Despite the fact that I think the author had a significant amount of love and respect for Carrie Fisher, he didn’t manage to translate any of that into this caricatured tale of “Kathi.”
November 7, 2020
A Star is Bored
This was much better than I thought it was going to be. Light, but not too light, and well-written for the most part. Only rarely did it veer off into the sentimental or purple prose territory, and then only the tiniest skosh.
The author, Bryon Lane, was a personal assistant to Carrie Fisher, but the disclaimer at the front of the book takes great pains to declare this is a work of fiction. Really, you have to believe him (and his lawyer)! They seem to protest a bit too much, but whatever. It’s pretty fun, but also touching in spots.
Charlie, sad, suicidal gay boy with an emotionally abusive father and a graveyard shift news job he hates, desperately needs to revamp his life and finds a catalyst when he goes to work for Kathi Kannon, Hollywood royalty, revered film icon, daughter of another revered film icon. The wacky, bipolar, drug addict Kathi teaches Charlie about life, self-worth, and the value of being a spontaneous free spirit and becomes a type of surrogate mother. Told in the first-person by Charlie, this book has the evolution of their relationship at its heart and is really very sweet. There are also plenty of funny moments, as one would have in dealing with a personality such as Kathi, who at times is just a hot mess.
Recommended if you want something amusing, but not completely insubstantial.
This was much better than I thought it was going to be. Light, but not too light, and well-written for the most part. Only rarely did it veer off into the sentimental or purple prose territory, and then only the tiniest skosh.
The author, Bryon Lane, was a personal assistant to Carrie Fisher, but the disclaimer at the front of the book takes great pains to declare this is a work of fiction. Really, you have to believe him (and his lawyer)! They seem to protest a bit too much, but whatever. It’s pretty fun, but also touching in spots.
Charlie, sad, suicidal gay boy with an emotionally abusive father and a graveyard shift news job he hates, desperately needs to revamp his life and finds a catalyst when he goes to work for Kathi Kannon, Hollywood royalty, revered film icon, daughter of another revered film icon. The wacky, bipolar, drug addict Kathi teaches Charlie about life, self-worth, and the value of being a spontaneous free spirit and becomes a type of surrogate mother. Told in the first-person by Charlie, this book has the evolution of their relationship at its heart and is really very sweet. There are also plenty of funny moments, as one would have in dealing with a personality such as Kathi, who at times is just a hot mess.
Recommended if you want something amusing, but not completely insubstantial.
August 1, 2020
I didn’t hate it, but I sure didn’t love it. I went into in thinking it was gonna be laugh out loud funny and at best it was slight giggle funny and at worst it was straight up trashy. Although it was a quick read and I’m sure lots of people will enjoy it, Kathi Kannon and her life was not really for me.
September 27, 2020
And so was I.
too wordy. and dude, if you didn't want it to resemble anyone specific, then maybe you shouldn't have put in so many things that screamed Carrie Fisher and others.
(the writer had previously been her personal asst)
DNF
too wordy. and dude, if you didn't want it to resemble anyone specific, then maybe you shouldn't have put in so many things that screamed Carrie Fisher and others.
(the writer had previously been her personal asst)
DNF
August 5, 2020
I adored Carrie Fisher, not only as an actress, but as an author, way back to her early novels, 'Postcards From the Edge' ('87) & 'Surrender the Pink' ('90). So to read a (fiction) book authored by someone who was her personal assistant for 3 yrs was intriguing, to say the least. You can 100% picture Fisher as 'Kathi' even though Lane has stated that the story is a work of fiction.
.
At times this book was absolutely heartbreaking, but mostly it was laugh-out-loud hilarious! (And the books depiction of mental health struggles was very realistic & not exploitative. 'A Star is Bored' is quirky, engaging, heartfelt, & amusing...anything but boring. I highly recommend this fun book which is available now!
.
At times this book was absolutely heartbreaking, but mostly it was laugh-out-loud hilarious! (And the books depiction of mental health struggles was very realistic & not exploitative. 'A Star is Bored' is quirky, engaging, heartfelt, & amusing...anything but boring. I highly recommend this fun book which is available now!
February 2, 2024
Loved it! Written by a guy who was assistant to Carrie Fisher- definitely can see the potential parallels- sci fi saga, famous mom, drug problem. But repeatedly disclaims(too much 😅) that this is purely fiction. Very funny and kind of sweet. Narrator is a favorite- Noah Galvin.
May 16, 2022
A Star is Bored // by Byron Lane // narrated by Noah Galvin
Phew. I hate to say it but I'm very glad to be done with this book. I'm not sure what first draw my eye to it and why I requested it but it just did not work for me at all. Maybe it was because I very much enjoy memoirs so having a fictionalized version based in part at least on real events was what did it? I know the author says this is purely made up but from the hubbub surrounding this book, I'm not sure I 100% believe that. What I do know is that this celebrity setup will not be one I will pick up again anytime soon. Maybe it's because I don't really care about celebrities in real life either? I've never obsessed over a single person in any way like Charlie, the main character in this book, did so it was very bewildering to me how he worshiped this lady that is so rude and disrespectful and, to me at least, not the genius he made her out to be. So by not being on board with his obsession, that pretty much took the entire premise away from anything that would interest me until the end. I don't want to give anything away but I do think the ending brought it up at least a little bit.
I do think this book probably has its audience. I'm sure some people find the situations he finds himself in with his employer humorous. I also think there are moments where the character's anxiety is very believably portrayed. Overall though, it just was not the right book for me.
Now to the narration... this is the most contradicting I have ever felt about an audiobook. I want to start out with saying that I think this narrator perfectly fits the main character. I think he did a great job portraying the excitement, anxiety, and other emotions of the character. My problem is that he did it so well that he exaggerated my negative feelings about Charlie Besson, which made it even more difficult for me to get through this book. So despite this book just not working for me in any way, I do think that the narrator was chosen well and that if this is your type of book, you will enjoy him a lot.
Thank you for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Phew. I hate to say it but I'm very glad to be done with this book. I'm not sure what first draw my eye to it and why I requested it but it just did not work for me at all. Maybe it was because I very much enjoy memoirs so having a fictionalized version based in part at least on real events was what did it? I know the author says this is purely made up but from the hubbub surrounding this book, I'm not sure I 100% believe that. What I do know is that this celebrity setup will not be one I will pick up again anytime soon. Maybe it's because I don't really care about celebrities in real life either? I've never obsessed over a single person in any way like Charlie, the main character in this book, did so it was very bewildering to me how he worshiped this lady that is so rude and disrespectful and, to me at least, not the genius he made her out to be. So by not being on board with his obsession, that pretty much took the entire premise away from anything that would interest me until the end. I don't want to give anything away but I do think the ending brought it up at least a little bit.
I do think this book probably has its audience. I'm sure some people find the situations he finds himself in with his employer humorous. I also think there are moments where the character's anxiety is very believably portrayed. Overall though, it just was not the right book for me.
Now to the narration... this is the most contradicting I have ever felt about an audiobook. I want to start out with saying that I think this narrator perfectly fits the main character. I think he did a great job portraying the excitement, anxiety, and other emotions of the character. My problem is that he did it so well that he exaggerated my negative feelings about Charlie Besson, which made it even more difficult for me to get through this book. So despite this book just not working for me in any way, I do think that the narrator was chosen well and that if this is your type of book, you will enjoy him a lot.
Thank you for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 8, 2020
***I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for a fair review.***
So everyone is saying the author of this book, although he swears it’s fiction, was once Carrie Fisher’s assistant. To me this information is neither here nor there, I just didn’t find this story to meet my expectations. We get glimpses into the life of an aging star, riddled with issues through the eyes of her latest, “stars in their eyes” assistant. Truth be told, I pictured Catherine O’Hara as the quirky Kathi Kannon. One problem is their relationship didn’t really grab me. I wanted to see more of their day to day interactions instead of sweeping montages and sound bites that eluded to their progressing partnership. In the beginning I chuckled a bit, but I found the story finding itself far funnier than it really was. In reality, all of the characters were varying levels of co-dependent messes, which somehow makes the reader feel guilty for laughing at all. In the end it tries to redeem itself, but somehow the wrap up came off feeling forced rather than final.
So everyone is saying the author of this book, although he swears it’s fiction, was once Carrie Fisher’s assistant. To me this information is neither here nor there, I just didn’t find this story to meet my expectations. We get glimpses into the life of an aging star, riddled with issues through the eyes of her latest, “stars in their eyes” assistant. Truth be told, I pictured Catherine O’Hara as the quirky Kathi Kannon. One problem is their relationship didn’t really grab me. I wanted to see more of their day to day interactions instead of sweeping montages and sound bites that eluded to their progressing partnership. In the beginning I chuckled a bit, but I found the story finding itself far funnier than it really was. In reality, all of the characters were varying levels of co-dependent messes, which somehow makes the reader feel guilty for laughing at all. In the end it tries to redeem itself, but somehow the wrap up came off feeling forced rather than final.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 831 reviews