Memoir Armoire

I wouldn’t normally recommend a book about depression to a general readership but this one is different. With heartbreaking honesty, Brampton explains what severe depression feels like and gives hope to fellow sufferers (in a realistic yet optimistic way). She also emphasises that anti-depressants make some people (including the author) feel worse rather than better, for which I was personally very grateful. Be careful, though: features descriptions of severe depression and alcoholism that may be triggering for anyone currently suffering. (Not one to read when you’re in the deepest depths — but great for later.)

Get yours here (or wherever).

Wishful Drinking (fabulous title!) is a one-woman stage show that has been turned into a (very slim) memoir. We learn about Fisher’s first marriage to Paul Simon, her electroshock treatment, and why both her parents thought that Cary Grant would teach her about the dangers of drug addiction (one of the funniest parts of the book). What we don’t get is a lot of depth: it would have been great to have learned more about growing up as the daughter of a movie star, although we do get a few choice snippets, which are sweet and poignant. But Fisher makes clear that she has lost a lot of her memories as a result of the electroshock and she’s also not one to dwell on tough times. It won’t take long to read it, but read it you should.

Getcherown.