A revelatory and touching tribute to the lives of Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds written by the person who knew them best, Todd Fisher’s poignant memoir is filled with moving stories of growing up among Hollywood royalty and illustrated with never-before-seen photos and memorabilia.In December 2016, the world was shaken by the sudden deaths of Carrie Fisher and her mother Debbie Reynolds, two … Reynolds, two unspeakable losses that occurred in less than twenty-four hours. The stunned public turned for solace to Debbie’s only remaining child, Todd Fisher, who somehow retained his grace and composure under the glare of the media spotlight as he struggled with his own overwhelming grief.
The son of “America’s Sweethearts” Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, Todd grew up amid the glamorous wealth and pretense of Hollywood. Thanks to his funny, loving, no-nonsense mother, Todd remained down to earth, his own man, but always close to his cherished mom, and to his sister through her meteoric rise to stardom and her struggle with demons that never diminished her humor, talent, or spirit.
Now, Todd shares his heart and his memories of Debbie and Carrie with deeply personal stories from his earliest years to those last unfathomable days. His book, part memoir, part homage, celebrates their legacies through a more intimate, poignant, and often hilarious portrait of these two remarkable women than has ever been revealed before.
With thirty-two pages of never-before-seen photos and memorabilia from his family’s private archives, Todd’s book is a love letter to a sister and a mother, and a gift to countless fans who are mourning the deaths of these two unforgettable stars.
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Laughed, cried, loved it.
Todd Fisher’s story was compelling. His insights into the lives of Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher were fascinating. But did I end up liking Todd Fisher or feeling compassion for him? I’m not so sure.
Thank you, Todd, for sharing the love and life experiences you had with your mom Debbie and sister Carrie. You enabled your readers to understand your family’s joys, triumphs, and tragedies. Your “girls” were truly remarkable, talented women, both of whom I shall not soon forget.
This is a delightful, sensitive and informative book about growing up as the son of Debbie Reynolds and the brother of Carrie. A life of privilege, drama, betrayals, a deep sense of faith and humor.
When I opened the book, I wasn’t sure what ti expect and was thrilled to walk into Debbie Reynolds home with the more than seven refrigerators for the entertaining of friends and business partners. You meet Harry, the second husband, a wealthy man in his own right…..or not. The story unfolds with looks back at Eddie Fisher and how it affected Todd’s mom and sister Carrie. And throughout the book, the three of them, survive and can’t seem to live without the other two.
The funny parts of Todd growing up and asking for a real tank are great. You see how panicked and upset Carrie was at being onstage and performing with her mother. I saw the family trying to believe the life they led was normal.
The relationship between Carrie and her mother are explored and very real. The pushing away and competition only became worse when Carrie used drugs and later the bipolar diagnoses came out.
Todd was extremely close to his sister and seems to have dropped everything to be at her side while he became at a very young age, his mom’s protector. He learned finances, kept track of bills and illegal dealings involving her last two husbands.
Todd gives an inside view of being Debbie Reynolds. Her desire to save the Hollywood costumes became an obsession of Debbie and her son. Todd drops everything to help her find a home for the costumes that Hollywood doesn’t care about. When his partner retreats and starts drinking, I thought, heck pay attention! Because she was on the farm raising her three kids, caring for the home and animals and helping make beautiful art for Debbie’s museum and not seeing Todd, she fell apart. The patience he shows Debbie and Carrie is not as deep when it comes to his partner…..it infuriated me. Debbie drank, Carrie did drugs and Todd picked up the pieces. It seems as though, a normal person would have thrown in the towel or set limits with his family but Todd just kept taking care of both of them with little energy leftover for his own family.
The obsession with the museum was just surprising, to work so darn hard and end up almost broke several times…..luckily it brought Debbie to movies with Albert Brooks and tv shows like Will and Grace as she had to keep working.
Debbie’s third husband nearly destroyed her life and she had to continue working far longer and harder than she wanted. Meanwhile her relationship with Carrie was still hot and cold like many mother/daughters.
Debbie was very protective of Carrie and Carrie reacted by running wild and free. Whereas, Debbie let a male friend explain condoms, sex questions to Todd and let him have an older woman move in with him. Wow!
The pictures and information are fabulous. I felt like I was peeking into the private world of the family. 4.5 stars
This book doesn’t get into the nitty gritty details as it is a memoir written by Todd about his mother and sister. It is more detailed when Todd is discussing himself and everything he did and in it, he is the knight in shining armor.
Always interesting to see what other people’s normal is. Family is family no matter who your parents are.
Not great
Great book for those of us who are fans of Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher.
I didn’t care for it, the author was too grafic about his sexual encounters, I didn’t finishe the book.
Pretty standard story of liquor and drugs along with astonishingly bad taste in mate selection in Hollywood. How do these women not see that they’re being taken advantage of?
This book took me back to the days. Great memories and sad memories. It answered questions. It created new questions and answers. I enjoyed the read, well-written. It made me know why I named my son Todd, but that’s another story. Thank you. Go for it, it’s worth reading.
I really enjoyed this book. It tells many Hollywood tales with kindness and wit. Growing up with an eccentric step-father he grew to love even though the man robbed his mother Debbie Reynolds blind. The pain both children suffered from the abandonment of their father Tony Curtis impacted most severely on Carrie Fisher and is no doubt the reason she had so many mental and emotional problems. Todd tells the story of their lives with humor, love, wit and without bitterness. It is very well-done. For all the tragedy in their lives they emerge as a close, loving family, albeit eccentric.Todd reveals everything warts and all with an understanding and kindness not many children of celebrities have. He is a very special person just like his mother and his sister. A terrific read.
This is ultimately a love-filled memoir and tribute and one of the saddest books I have ever read.
The thing I like best about this book is Todd’s unapologetic attitude of being raised in luxury , given everything he desired, and being handed a career. Also the name dropping g was huge fun! He writes in an upbeat and endearing style. Really likes the book!
An interesting take on Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher, along with Eddie Fisher.
Fascinating to learn the details of Debbie Reynolds life and learning about her children.
It was good but it was very Debby Reynolds focused. The title said my girls so I thought it would be about both of them. For Debby there were whole chapters on her marriages. There was 1/2 chapter or so on Carrie’s marriage to Paul Simon, and a sentence or two on the birth of her daughter and second marriage. I just felt the coverage was uneven based on the title.
This was an easy read that carries the reader along. Yes, others have complained that there is a lot about Todd Fisher’s life, but this is a story about the life of a family. He can’t tell the story about his mom and sister without telling his own story. It gave perspective. Todd is the epitome of what it means to be an enabler, which he defends. It unfortunately contributed to his mom being fleeced by husband #3 (Todd was too young to recognize what was going on with #2). He knew #3 was a swindler, but his mom was happy, so he let it go. He adored sister, but he was unable to take the next step to tough love. That Carrie Fisher made it to age 60 is a wonder. Both Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher are likeable, interesting people. I’m glad I read the book.
Really informative about a great entertainer, and her family. It shows that famous people have tough times just like all the rest of us.
I enjoyed the author’s ( son of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher) entertaining portrayal of his growing up in the family of Hollywood royalty.
I loved this book, Todd was so caring for his sister and Mom. It showed how much Debbie loved her children and would do anything for them. It was a great read!