Review: You're on an Airplane: A Self-Mythologizing Memoir

You're on an Airplane: A Self-Mythologizing Memoir by Parker Posey
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is a book that illustrates the manic style of Parker Posey. If you thought the pouty, flighty, loud, odd, smart, spoiled, changeable and often annoying characters she plays were just parts that were written for her, it seems from this memoir that that’s the real her, not just acting. The book is written as if it is one side of a conversation between Posey and an unnamed traveler sitting next to her on an airplane flight. Posey meanders throughout her life, telling stories about growing up, pets, apartments, and occasionally movies. Interspersed throughout the book are grainy, staged black and white pictures of the actress and her dog and props, more arty than enlightening. I expected to read a lot about her movies, but was disappointed. Not much about the Hal Hartley movies, not much about “You’ve Got Mail”. She does talk about how little money she’s made focusing on independent films, though. Interesting life, and you do learn about about what makes Posey tick, but a little Parker Posey goes a long way. From now on, I think I’ll stick to her films.

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