The Best Awful There Is
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Carrie Fisher |
| Products | Novel |
The Best Awful There Is—later released in paperback under the shortened title The Best Awful—is a 2004 novel authored by actress and writer Carrie Fisher. It acts as a follow-up to her first novel, Postcards from the Edge.
This semi-autobiographical work, typical of Fisher's style, fictionalizes episodes from her own life. It continues the journey of Suzanne Vale, the main character introduced in Postcards from the Edge. The storyline also draws inspiration from Fisher's real-life relationship with Bryan Lourd, the father of her daughter Billie Lourd.
The narrative delves into themes surrounding family relationships and personal agency, mirroring Fisher’s experiences with co-parenting alongside Lourd. Initially published under the full title The Best Awful There Is, it is now commonly recognized simply as The Best Awful.
Plot summary
Suzanne Vale, an actress managing bipolar disorder, is married to Leland Franklin, a studio executive who encouraged her to embrace her "far-flung best self." Their marriage ends when Franklin leaves her for a man after their daughter Honey turns three.
Three years later, Vale has established herself as a prominent TV talk show host. She balances life with her six-year-old daughter, an ex-husband who is openly gay, and an aging mother who was once a celebrated star. Her devotion to Honey fuels her determination.
Vale, who is recovering from drug addiction, experiences a manic episode after discontinuing her medication. This leads her on a quest for OxyContin in Tijuana, accompanied by a tattoo artist friend and a new house guest suffering from clinical depression—someone she met during a visit to her psychopharmacologist.
Following a psychotic breakdown, Vale is admitted to Shady Lanes psychiatric facility, becoming its "latest loony to hit the bin." Despite her mental health struggles, she maintains sharp wit and an ironic outlook while fighting to regain stability from the edge of insanity.