I've been thinking today about memoirs written by celebrities and "celebrities" (the "celebrities" = has-been celebrities). I found out yesterday that Melissa Gilbert recently wrote a memoir called Prairie Tales. I loved watching "Little House on the Prairie" when I was little, and even recently I wondered what became of Gilbert after the series ended (and after she appeared in "The Snow Queen" episode of Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre). However, when I heard about this memoir, I couldn't help but feel bad for Gilbert.In my opinion, celebrity memoirs fall into two camps. The first group consists of successful actors and actresses who have interesting and inspiring things to write in a memoir of their life experiences.(Even though I haven't read Julie Andrew's Home, I would automatically think that it falls into this first group.) The second (and larger) group of memoirs are different: they are written by has-been celebrities that sometimes advertise their memoir as a as "tell-all." In my opinion, these books range from semi-inspiring to uninspiring (and generally are not worth reading). When reading reviews, I feel like these books appear to be nothing more than extended articles on celebrity gossip. Gilbert's memoir seems to fall into this category (you can see an article describing the "tell-all" here).
I wonder what motivates these "celebrities" to write a memoir. Some of the ideas I came up with were:
1 - The "celebrity" wants to become a celebrity. The memoir is an attempt at regaining the spotlight.
2 - The memoir is a way to make money.
3 - The "celebrity" feels that the public needs to view him/her in a new light. (Perhaps Gilbert doesn't want people to view her as the wholesome pioneer girl that she played on TV? Although I haven't read "Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice," it seems like this reason was part of Maureen McCormick's motivation for writing her book.
4 - A combination of the above (probably the case in most instances)
Any other things to add to the list?
But I'm sure that many successful celebrities-cum-writers also have these same motivations to write. So is my attitude the only thing that truly classifies these two types of memoirs? Am I being too harsh on "celebrity" memoirs or do people agree with me? Has anyone read the aforementioned books and wants to agree/disagree with my stereotypes and blatant generalizations?
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I just realized that I wrote this post about three books that I have never read! Ha! How's that for an uneducated opinion? ;)
P.S. I have read reviews of them, though. If that gives me any ounce of credibility...
I think the reason people write memoirs fall into all the reasons you gave.
When it comes to celebrities, I'm inclined to think that more times than not they are trying to get back attention (celebrity status) that they have lost. I think they get a lot of negative criticism for that, and I suppose much of it is deserved (Tori Spelling's memoir, anyone?), but at the same time, I think I can understand to a small degree what it would feel like to once have attention and adoration and then have nothing. I think it is human nature to want people to care about us, to notice us, to esteem us. I think celebrities who fall from grace probably crave the comfort of having attention and adoration again.
On another note, I also think a lot of memoirs that are written -- whether by celebrities or "normal" people -- because a lot of people have the desire to tell *their* story. I think it is human nature to tell "our story" at some point in our lives because we think we have something to share, that we've been through a unique experience, to warn others, or just because some people really like to talk. I mean, have you ever been in a testimony meeting that DIDN'T have the one or two people who get up and recount their entire life story, or been a bus and sat next to someone who told you tales of their life without any prompting on your part? I think it's the same thing with memoirs -- some people feel the need to just tell the world what they think.
That's my thoughts anyway ...
Um, by the way, sorry that was so poorly written. I can tell it was but my mind is a complete fog with cold medication.
Question for anyone:
has anyone read "Angela's Ashes" and if so, thoughts on it? I've been thinking about reading it, but the more I read about the author the more skeezy he becomes, and I hate to support skeezy people's memoirs.
I think your assessment of celebrity and "celebrity" memoirs is pretty accurate. It seems to me that money would be a pretty big motivator, especially for "celebrities," whom I imagine to be out of (lucrative) work, and thus more strapped for cash (at least to support a celeb lifestyle). I have no idea about sales numbers for those types of books, but they must do alright b/c so many of them get published! They aren't anything I would ever choose to read, much less buy and read, but to each his own.
Anyway, the real reason I decided to comment was because your post reminded me of this little blip I just read about Kanye West and his new "book": http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/05/kanye_no_fan_of_books_also_ple.html
It's not a memoir, just a collection of quotes (Kanye-isms), and I'm sure he's not strapped for cash, but - funny, right? Slash sad that anyone would consider themselves a "proud non-reader".
It's been a long time, but I remember LOVING Angela's Ashes when I read it in high school. I read the sequel "Tis" too. I guess I'm not sure what you're referring to specifically when you say the author seems skeezy. I thought that he wrote beautifully and (from what I know of it) his life story was inspiring - growing up in crushing poverty with an alcoholic father, coming to America and working his way through school and eventually becoming a great English teacher. I think the book is worth a read.
E, I think you're right about people wanting to tell "their" story. Good point. I think that's one of the reasons why blogging is so popular; a lot of people want to talk about their life and their ideas (which isn't necessarily a bad thing).
And Jaime, I cracked up when I saw that Kanye link. He hates books, and yet, he wants you to buy his. (That must be an indication that the book is really ideal for anyone who likes to read. Could he be targeting non-readers? Then his book will probably do poorly - those people might not ever read the ads for his book.
And being a "proud non-reader" is pathetic!
The only one I can think of that I've read is Diane Rhem's. I don't think that I would classify it as an autobiography meant to inspire the masses. I certainly wouldn't consider it a "tell all" or money making ploy. Sure, she wants to tell her story, but I don't view the book as a big reflexive shout out. I think that foremost she wrote it for herself-- to make sense of her life. I think that is a pretty common motivation for people to write in general-- journals, blogs, books, etc.
Good point, e. A lot of people do write so that they can make sense of their life. I imagine that memoirs are also written so that readers can learn and make better sense of their own lives.
The memoir is my favorite genre, and the only reason I can think to look forward to being 60, 70, and 80 (besides a growing pile of grandchildren) is the for the chance to publish my memoirs. I almost don't care who's writing the memoir or why, I always find it so fascinating to see why individuals, however mundane their lives may be, think their existence is so . . . awesome. But then again, I think every individual life is valuable, so why not? I think my life is worth writing about, and I'm not a celebrity. All I know is that I almost bought Miley Cyrus's book and I'm sure I would enjoy it.
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