View source for Postcards from the Edge

{{Short description|1987 semi-autobiographical novel by Carrie Fisher}}
{{About|the novel|the film|Postcards from the Edge (film)|the ''Scorpion'' episode|Postcards from the Edge (episode)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}
{{infobox book 
| name          = Postcards from the Edge
| author        = [[Carrie Fisher]]
| language      = English
| country       = United States
| genre         = novel
| publisher     = [[Simon & Schuster]]
| isbn          = 0-671-62441-5
| 
| title_orig    =
| translator    =
| image         =  Postcardsfromedgecarriefisher.jpg
| caption =
| illustrator   =
| cover_artist  =
| series        =
| release_date  = 1987
| english_release_date =
| media_type    = Print (hardback & paperback)
| pages         = 223 pp
| dewey         = 813/.54 19
| congress      = PS3556.I8115 P6 1987
| oclc          = 15316291
| preceded_by   =
| followed_by   = [[Surrender the Pink]]
}}
'''''Postcards from the Edge''''' is the debut novel by the American actress and writer [[Carrie Fisher]], first published in 1987.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Review: ''Postcards from the Edge'' by Carrie Fisher|journal=[[Kirkus Reviews]]|date=August 5, 1987|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/carrie-fisher-2/postcards-from-the-edge/}}</ref> Based on Fisher's own experiences of fame and substance abuse, the semi-autobiographical novel  was later adapted by Fisher herself into a motion picture [[Postcards from the Edge (film)|of the same name]], which was directed by [[Mike Nichols]] and released by [[Columbia Pictures]] in 1990.

Fisher wrote a sequel to the novel, ''[[The Best Awful There Is]]'', which was published in 2004.

==Plot summary==
The novel revolves around movie actress Suzanne Vale as she tries to put her life together after a drug overdose. The book is divided into five main sections:
The [[prologue]] is in [[Epistolary novel|epistolary form]], with postcards written by Suzanne to her brother, friend, and grandmother.
The novel continues the epistolary form, consisting of [[first-person narrative]] excerpts from a journal Suzanne kept while coming to terms with her [[drug addiction]] and [[Addiction#Recovery from drug addiction|rehab]] experiences. ("Maybe I shouldn't have given the guy who pumped my stomach my phone number, but who cares? My life is over anyway.") In time Suzanne's entries begin to alternate with the experiences of Alex, another addict in the same clinic. This section ends with Suzanne being discharged after successfully completing treatment.
The second section opens with [[dialogue]] between Suzanne and [[film producer]] Jack Burroughs on their first date.  It then changes to alternating [[monologue]]s from Suzanne (addressed to her therapist) and Jack (addressed to his lawyer, who serves much the same purpose as Suzanne's therapist). Their relationship continues in this vein – all dialogue/monologue. 

The last three sections are traditional [[Narration#Third-person|third-person narrative]]. 
The third section describes the initial days of the first movie Suzanne made after her treatment. For convenience, Suzanne stays with her grandparents while the movie is made. She is chided for not appearing to be relaxed onscreen, and notes that if she could relax she wouldn't be in therapy. This becomes a running gag among the actors and crew.  The section ends with the crew [[mooning]] her on her birthday, and Suzanne asserts that "there isn't enough therapy" to help her with that experience.
The fourth section shows a week of Suzanne's "[[Normality (behavior)|normal]]" life: working out, business meetings, an industry party, and going with a friend to a television studio for a talk show. She meets an author in the [[green room]] and gives him her phone number.
The fifth section encapsulates her relationship with the author, bringing the story to the anniversary of her overdose.
The [[epilogue]] consists of a letter from Suzanne to the doctor who pumped her stomach, who had recently contacted her. She notes that she is still off drugs and doing well.  She is flattered that he inquires as to whether she is "available for dating", but she is seeing someone.
The book ends on a bittersweet note: she knows she has a good life, but doesn't trust it.

Unlike the movie, most of the conflict in the book is internal, as Suzanne is learning to handle her life without the prop of drugs. Suzanne's mother appears in very few scenes, while Suzanne is in rehab:

<blockquote>My mother is probably sort of disappointed at how I turned out, but she doesn't show it. She came by today and brought me a satin and velvet quilt. I'm surprised I was able to detox without it.  I was nervous about seeing her, but it went okay. She thinks I blame her for my being here. I mainly blame my dealer, my doctor, and myself, and not necessarily in that order. [...] She washed my underwear and left. </blockquote>

Later Suzanne talks with her on the phone, but it is not stressful.

==Reception==
[[A. O. Scott]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote in 2016 that while others before Fisher had written about their struggles with addiction, ''Postcards from the Edge'' "bristles with a bravery and candor that still feels groundbreaking. She went there, long before that was a catchphrase, and before that particular ''there'' was such a crowded piece of real estate."<ref name="scott20161228">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/27/arts/carrie-fisher-a-princess-a-rebel-and-a-brave-comic-voice.html |title=A Princess, a Rebel and a Brave Comic Voice |last=Scott |first=A. O. |date=December 28, 2016 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |page=A17 |author-link=A. O. Scott}}</ref>

According to [[Carolyn See]]'s review in the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'':
{{blockquote|It's intelligent, original, focused, insightful, very interesting to read. ...
''Postcards From the Edge'' can be compared to [[Less than Zero (novel)|''Less than Zero'']]. It almost requires this comparison, because it's about young Southern Californians, drugs, addiction, the good life and death. But ''Postcards'' starts from the "hellpit" and cautiously takes the reader back to something resembling normal life. This is not an inspirational novel, but something on the order of a tough look at reality; a "serious" piece of work.<ref>{{cite news|author=See, Carolyn|title=Book Review: Heartfelt, Original Outtakes from the Life of an Actress|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=July 27, 1987|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-07-27-vw-4085-story.html}}</ref>}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Carrie Fisher}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Postcards From The Edge}}

[[Category:1987 debut novels]]
[[Category:1987 American novels]]
[[Category:American autobiographical novels]]
[[Category:Roman à clef novels]]
[[Category:Novels about actors]]
[[Category:Novels about substance abuse]]
[[Category:American novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:Novels by Carrie Fisher]]
[[Category:Simon & Schuster books]]

[[es:Postcards from the Edge]]
[[fr:Bons Baisers d'Hollywood]]
[[ru:Открытки с края света (фильм)]]