Do Celebrity Books Piss You Off?

[Whispersecret]

Sometimes it just irks me when I see a book published by a celebrity, because I always strongly suspect that a) they had the help of a ghost writer, and b) that they would probably not have ever gotten published if it wasn't for their other life as an actor or whatever. Children's literature seems to have more celebrity books than other areas. Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Bolton, and Bill Cosby are three that come to mind.

How do you feel about it? Were there any celebrity books you thought were good?

 

[jfinn]

David Niven's The Moon's A Balloon was hilarious and Lilli Palmer wrote a great autobiography too, Change Lobster's And Dance I'm not sure if either of them used a ghost, but if they did I'm sure they were paid and the books are great.

I do know that Bill Cosby and Jamie Lee Curtis both write their own stories and are certainly talented enough to get published even without the cachet of their famous names. Same with Carrie Fisher who really only writes anymore. Another actor who gave it up for writing was Thomas Tryon, who wrote very spooky horror including the bestsellers, The Other and Harvest Home.

I guess there are a lot of books out there that are only published because they are "written" by celebrities when in reality they're ghosted but if I like it I just don't care much. Then again, I still miss Milli Vanilli, so what do I know.

Jayne

 

[lobito]

this book wasn't really written by a "celebrity", but it was about celebrities, and it sucked big time.

"You'll never make love in this town again", by some wanna be famous call girl. Written about some of the celebs she had sex with, and what their kinks allegedly were.

I really hoped to read more about Vannas' lez activities.

 

[openthighs_sarah]

What occasionally irks me, I think, is when a relative of a famous writer gets a book deal at the age of, like, 20. Ann Rice's son published a book at around that age, I think, and about 90% of the cover was taken up by the name "Rice". (Parasite, anyone?)

But normally I don't think about it. If someone decides to put Brittany Spears' name on a book, it doesn't take anything away from me and in the long run I don't think it matters at all. Books stand on their own, and I don't think the average celebrity book is really even in competition with any other book (except other celeb books).

And I can even grudgingly admit that it might kind of suck to be the son or daughter of a famous writer, and have people constantly questioning if you made it on your own...

 

[KillerMuffin]

Not really. Some celebs can write. Others can't. I remember the Joan Collins brouhaha. She go this ridiculous advance from the publisher to pen two novels without even a peek at a manuscript (which hadn't been written). So she wrote them and they were awful. They sued to get their money back because the books flopped like great aunt ethel's titties.

The judge ruled in favor of Ms. Collins because she had fullfilled the contract.

She said, and I don't quote, to the press that they had asked for two books, which she provided. They didn't say they had to be good books, they just had to be books that she, herself, had written.

Publishers are in the business of selling books and if they think a name will do that, then they'll get that name. I don't really begrudge them this because any revenue they make gives them that much more revenue to give little guys like us a shot.

 

[christo]

The strangest example I recall of riding someone else's coattails was Jay McInerney's ex-wife wrote a book and kept her last name as McInerney. I even think the author's note mentioned that fact that she was once married to him. Maybe that was in the divorce decree, that she could exploit their marriage one more time. Then again, Jay hasn't exactly been stuffing the shelves lately, so maybe she needed a better lawyer.

 

[TheEarl]

Neil Morrissey's book isn't bad (English actor from Men Behaving Badly and the voice of Bob the Builder) and I've read a couple of Rob Llewellyn's (Red Dwarf actor). They're very funny.

Apart from that haven't really read any others.

The Earl

 

[karmadog]

It pissed me off when Ethan Hawke got his first novel published. I have to admit, I didn't read it, but the reviews were mediocre. So when his second novel got published, I was pissed. Still, the reviewers said the second was better.

I guarantee I'll never buy either one. Not only is he already rich, he's married to Uma Thurman. He doesn't need any royalties from me.

 

[pop_54]

Hmm

Some celeb's write good stuff.
Some write crap.
Some write brilliant crap.

If it's worth a read why not read it, if it aint have a laugh at them and don't let it worry you.

pops............

 

[sweetnpetite]

one word: pen names

slighly off topic:

donnie osmond came out with a rock song in the 80's. It was a big hit, until he stepped up and admited he was singing it. Then it nosedived. sometimes a celebrety name can be a disadvantage. he's a really good singer too, very talented. oh well. he shoulda never let the cat outa the bag!!!

 

[Dirt Man]

Most people would kill to be published...

Why? Because being published leaves a legacy in print. True, being a celebrity will get you into the door of publisher, but getting royalties for your work is all on your shoulders from the moment it goes into print. Unfortunately, most of us need mentors with an in to an agency, or publishing firm just to get looked at. So rant, and rave, it doesn't change shit. The rich get richer, and the poor get shafted more, and more every day.

As Always
I Am the
Dirt Man

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Someone who uses his owen or his father's famous name for selling books is only worth contempt.

A serious author wants to be known for his/her ability to write, and therefor writes under another name, to see if the audience like the BOOK, and isn't just curious about the WRITER's ability to do something else than what he/she became famous for.

 

[JackDRiper]

I may be wrong but I think you're all forgetting something. Most of the books celebrities write are about themselves. They usually write them at the peak of their career or when its in shambles and they need cash to pay for their growing crack habit. People love gossip, what do you think these threads are! Celebrities write about themselves and give away a few secrets so haters and fans alike can read about these peoples lives and remind themselves how truly dull theirs are.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

We're living in a giant, live version of Big Brother...