Little Girl Lost
Drew Barrymore was 14 by the time she finished writing this, and had no idea how to make her 5-year-old self talk like a 5-year-old. For example, when speaking to her father, she asks, "Why do you always have to cause everyone so much pain?" (Whereas I wouldn't even choose those words at age 36. I'd say something more along the lines of, "Why do you fucking suck so bad?") At the mature age of 7, she says (to her father), "Here's to all of the horrible things you've ever said to me! (throwing his cigarettes in his face) To all the times you've ever cut me down! Made me feel like a useless piece of garbage! Your goddamn drinking and drug use makes me sick and I want you out of my life!" However, once I was able to get past in incredibly unbelievable dialogue, it wasn't all bad. Would love to see a rewrite at the age she is now.
3.5 stars
Call Me Anna
The Patty Duke story. Fascinating. She was way more fucked up than I thought she was.
5 stars
High On Arrival
The Mackenzie Phillips story. She had it all - drugs, alcohol and incest.
5 stars
Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice
Sweet little Maureen McCormick did lots of drugs and had sex with her tv brother. Interesting enough to finish but with lots of eye-rolling at her terrible writing. She should have had help.
3.5 stars
UnSweetined
The middle child of Full House fame. Meth, meth and more meth. Kicked it, relapsed, kicked it, relapsed, kicked it, all within the duration of writing her "memoir." Finally kicked it (for now) and ended up with giant boobs and a baby that she wouldn't shut up about. Pretend you're reading a high school essay full of "I'm not writing this for people to feel sorry for me but you really kind of should" and a dash of STFUparents and you've got something that would be interesting enough to read in your dentist's waiting room.
2.5 stars
Wishful Drinking
Carrie Fisher seems to have taken the same writing course as Maureen McCormick, but was able to inject a little more humor. Writing the way you speak is for email, not novels intended for publishing.
3 stars