In one of my professional lives, I work part-time at an amazing independent bookshop, which means I have the privilege of getting Advanced Reader’s Editions of upcoming novels and, friends, I could not let you all miss hearing about this one, as it’s relevant to our specific Sartorial Geek interests. I’ve read other books since finishing A Star Is Bored, but this novel planted itself in my heart in a very particular way, and I need to tell you about it.
Just look at this cover. Shiny gold balloon letters? A showbiz pun? The author Byron Lane was Carrie Fisher’s personal assistant? I’m in.
Photo from inverse.com
The fictional assistant in the novel, Charlie, is a bored journalist originally from Louisiana, trying to find his place in Los Angeles as a young gay man struggling with finding a lasting relationship, witnessing his mother’s sudden death as a child, and his father’s inability to raise him with acceptance and support. Through an industry connection, he lands a job with his childhood hero Priestess Talara herself—film icon Kathi Kannon (who possesses Carrie Fisher’s magical verve and razor sharp wit)—after a bizarre interview at the eclectic compound she shares with her legendary mother Miss Gracie (with the cozy grandma aura and indomitable spirit of Debbie Reynolds).
At first Charlie’s job with Kathi is pretty straightforward—“feed her, water her, medicate her”—but the job soon expands to, quite frankly, keeping her alive. He sorts her medications, reorganizes her closet, encourages her to write, and follows her around gathering up the bits of her she leaves behind: cell phone, jewelry, a scarf here, her sobriety there.
The way Lane handles addiction and mental illness in the narrative is sensitive and realistic. The book paints Kathi’s struggles through the eyes of someone who loves her and wants to help her, but with the added complication of also being her employee. Charlie’s adoration doesn’t let her off the hook, but she makes it clear that there are things that are not his business. Kathi and Charlie’s relationship, the heart and soul of the novel, is complex, constantly growing and changing, ebbing and flowing between friendship and professionalism, inching toward found family then pulling back into the confines of employment.
Both characters are, in their own way, lonely, bored, and struggling to find themselves. In the end, it turns out that they’ve found each other at the perfect moment. As Charlie becomes more and more inextricably bound to the tornado that is Kathi Kannon, he also somehow finds himself inside the vortex. He joins the tenuous networking circle of his fellow assistants, eventually finds a lasting boyfriend, and becomes more confident in himself. His conflicted priorities are the driving force of the novel—his professional life vs. his private life, Kathi vs. himself. In an industry with so much self-destruction and so many tragic endings, Charlie and Kathi’s story has a refreshingly hopeful ending, despite the scary moments and brushes with disaster that they weather together.
A Star Is Bored is a work of fiction, but it is clearly influenced by Lane’s time with Fisher. Exactly how much, we’ll never know, but it doesn’t matter—the spirit of their relationship shines through. According to Lane’s Facebook tribute to Fisher after her death, she really did nickname him “Cockring,” they really did go dog sledding, and their relationship really was filled with deep love and respect. They say that if you want to get to know Carrie Fisher, read her writing, because who she is on the page is who she was in real life. And it’s true, please read her writing. But also, please read A Star Is Bored and the anecdotes from Lane’s real experience that he’s shared in interviews. The novel is a beautiful and very funny tribute to the essence of this inspiring, complicated, brilliant woman.
Photo from inverse.com
In another one of my past professional lives, I worked and interned in Hollywood in various capacities. The experiences left me with nothing but fond memories and an endless fascination with the industry’s culture and inner workings, but this book brought to mind a very particular experience. I recognized some of the conversations between Charlie and Kathi. I’ve had these hard conversations with people I personally cared about and professionally admired.
Though I connected with Lane’s novel in a very specific way, the hilarious, complex relationship between its characters resonates on a broader scale. Lane doesn’t shy away from tough subjects and hard emotions, but the humor, affection, and respect that is so prevalent in the text strikes a beautiful balance and leaves the reader with a new hope that friendships between such drastically different individuals are not only possible, but preferable.
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