Throwback Thursday-Riding In Cars With Boys (2001)

When we are teenagers, we think that we have the world at our feet. We think we know everything that we need to know, that our dreams will come true.

Then we grow up.

In the 2001 film, Riding In Cars With Boys, Beverly (Drew Barrymore) is a 15-year-old girl in 1965. Her one goal in life is to be a writer. Then she meets Ray (Steve Zahn), one thing leads to another and Beverly finds herself pregnant well before she graduates high school. Ray and Beverly try to make a go of it for their son, but Prince Charming or father of the year, Ray is not. It will be up to Beverly to not only raise her son, but to achieve the goals she had before she became pregnant.

The thing that I like about this film is how realistic it is. Beverly starts out as an idealistic teenager, but quickly learns that she must grow up for her son’s sake. Parenthood is never easy, but it is much harder when you are still growing up yourself.

I recommend it.

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Shockaholic Book Review

One of the best anecdotes about writing that I’ve heard is that a writer has to fully live to be able to create compelling narratives and characters.

The late Carrie Fisher lived more in her 60 years than many of us do in half that time.

Her 2011 memoir, Shockaholic, is a followup to her hit 2009 memoir, Wishful Drinking.

As she did in Wishful Drinking, Ms. Fisher does not leave any stone un-turned. No topic is off-limits. Her family, her past drug abuse,her mental health issues, her career and so much more are all touched on with a fresh, in your face and funny point of view as only Carrie Fisher can create.

I recommend it.