“There is nothing very appealing about showbusiness memoirs,” Stephen Fry remarks in the third installment of his autobiography. Fry is talking about the kind of sanitised chronological accounts that many entertainers produce. But he raises an interesting question: what is it about celebrity autobiographies that we find so appealing, especially when so many rely on the bland and predictable formula Fry describes.
Often it is curiosity that drives us to know all the details about people who, despite seeing them on our TV or listening to them in our iTunes account, are essentially strangers. That curiosity is as likely to manifest positively – as genuine interest about someone you are a fan of – as it is negatively – in that morbid fascination and need we have to know all the sordid details of our idol’s life.
As the holiday season approaches, the inevitable deluge of celebrity autobiographies descend upon us just in time to stuff into stockings and under trees. Some manage to break through the mundanity; many don’t. Here we take six of the biggest stars and let you know if their efforts are worth your interest, or if you just shouldn’t bother.
‘More Fool Me’ by Stephen Fry:
I am a fan of Stephen Fry. I love QI, I have watched hours and hours of his sketch comedy shows, and more recently, his documentaries. I have read both of his earlier installments of memoir, Moab is My Washpot and The Fry Chronicles, and found them to be quite charming, albeit not especially hard-hitting. I wanted to love More Fool Me, and yet from the first page, I found it lacking. The first half of the book is told in a meandering narrative style; the second half comprises diary entries leading up to a “headlong tumble.” At least, I assume they do, because they are abruptly cut off with little explanation.
The entire book is one long preamble to the selling point (the lowest point in Fry’s life), which is never fully addressed or written about. I presume that will follow in volume four of his autobiography. Fry’s style is discursive and tangential, the intended effect is supposedly conversational, but this feels merely unfocused. There is no doubt that he is an intelligent writer, but unfortunately his great style cannot make up for the lack of substance. More Fool Me might detail Fry’s unwise behaviour, but if you bother with this lacklustre instalment, more fool you.
More Fool Me: A Memoir by Stephen Fry is available now.
‘Who We Are’ by One Direction:
I understand from the internet that I am required to either love or hate One Direction, but I find myself entirely indifferent toward them. In the name of research I have discovered that this is not their first book – it follows four previous installments, the most recent being last year’s Where We Are. I can’t imagine the band has gone through enough significant changes in the past year to warrant a follow-up, but it’s approaching the holidays, and the holidays demand celebrity memoirs. And anyway, I am not the target demographic; this is a book entirely for fans.
Split into five sections – one for each member – the boys follow the expected formula to a T; they are all best friends, they are grateful for their fans, they have always loved music, etc. It’s nothing earth-shattering, but I am sure it offers enough tiny new details to keep superfans happy. The writing is passable but not wonderful, but they won X Factor, not the Pulitzer. The handwriting font they use and the numerous “candid” photos included attempt to personalise the acceptable, if bland, narrative. If you are a big enough One Direction fan that you didn’t have to look up what One Direction fans call themselves (like I did – it’s “Directioners,” if you were wondering), this is a book for you. For those with only a passing interest, it’s not worth the purchase.
Who We Are: Our Official Autobiography by One Direction is available now.
‘Choose Your Own Autobiography’ by Neil Patrick Harris:
With Fry putting off his own fans and One Direction only catering to theirs, it isn’t looking good for celebrity autobiography season. Luckily, Neil Patrick Harris offers something for everyone (except Dustin Diamond, who it seems not even the affable Harris can tolerate). Harris’ book is a delight. Always an overachiever, the How I Met Your Mother actor is seemingly not content with being a mere triple threat. He has added – among many other things – award show hosting, and now, author to his list of skills. Never one to follow the crowd, Harris has turned his life into a Choose Your Own Adventure story that allows you to take on the role of Neil Patrick Harris and make your own way through his life.
I read the book once following the instructions (I suffered a horrific death by piranhas on my way to discuss Sweeney Todd 2 with Stephen Sondheim, so, it was fairly successful), before reading it cover-to-cover. I would recommend all readers adopt this approach: experience the choose your own adventure, then read the book through to catch up on all the details you inevitably missed. The alternate-reality versions of NPH’s life are so outlandish that it is easy to navigate his real story without being confused by what is fiction, and what isn’t. Incredibly funny and frequently poignant, this refreshingly unique take on a memoir is set to please everyone (except Dustin Diamond, but he has other problems).
Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris is available now.
‘Ed Sheeran: A Visual Journey’ by Ed Sheeran and Phillip Butah:
Neil Patrick Harris is only 41, but he has packed enough into his life to warrant some retrospection. At 23, Ed Sheeran might be an unlikely candidate for an autobiography – something he himself admits (“autobiographies are for people like Mick Jagger, who is seventy and has really lived”). Sheeran has cleverly circumvented this in A Visual Journey, by combining his story (so far) with accompanying artwork by artist and friend Phillip Butah. Sheeran’s fans will be familiar with Butah – or at least with his work. He has produced artwork for Sheeran’s albums + and x, and the two are childhood friends.
Sheeran may have swept the charts, but Butah too is a well-regarded artist. In 2009 he was commissioned to paint a portrait of The Prince of Wales, and in A Visual Journey he showcases his full range of styles and talents. Their organic relationship suits Sheeran’s humble and genuine writing style, and the end section, “How the artist works,” authored by Butah, gives readers an insight into the artistic, as well as musical, process. Sheeran is right in admitting that he might not have enough life experience to sustain a full autobiography, but by collaborating with Butah he has produced a wonderful and gorgeous book for music and art fans alike.
Ed Sheeran: A Visual Journey by Ed Sheeran and Phillip Butah is available now internationally and releases in the United States on Nov. 18, 2014.
‘Not That Kind of Girl’ by Lena Dunham:
Where Ed Sheeran is inoffensively likeable, Lena Dunham is a polarising figure who has found as many detractors as she has supporters. Split into five sections comprised of essays, lists and and emails, her memoir Not That Kind of Girl is presented like a quasi-self-help book for the modern age. Many of Dunham’s experiences, especially her privileged upbringing, may be unfamiliar to readers, but her emotional experiences are both hilariously and achingly accurate. If Girls has not convinced you, then this memoir proves her to be a highly skilled observationalist and a talented writer, although the book could have used some more editing (I did not, perhaps, need to read a list of the contents of Dunham’s bag, or ten detailed pages of her food diary).
Dunham is constantly touted (by others, not herself) as the voice of her generation. She is a voice, and certainly an important voice, but she is not the only voice. It is when we expect her to speak for every woman and represent every experience that we find her lacking. Rather, we should follow her instructions and take this as the memoir of one young woman, sharing her own – and no one else’s – experiences. If you can manage that, you will find Not That Kind of Girl a candid and heartfelt self-reflection, and a brave act of open vulnerability when the author is consistently criticised for every aspect of her life, personality, and appearance.
Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s “Learned” by Lena Dunham is available now.
‘Yes Please’ by Amy Poehler:
We end with Amy Poehler. Much like Neil Patrick Harris, Poehler is a well-liked and well-regarded figure who has won swarms of fans through her work on long-running shows (Saturday Night Live, Parks and Recreation), and more recently, after wowing us with her skills as an awards show host. Admittedly, I went into Yes Please as a big fan of Poehler, so I am not surprised to find that this is my favourite of the six. The book is part-memoir, part-self helf guide, in a similar vein to Dunham’s. Dunham does this well, but Poehler does it better; her stories are sharper, her advice more specific.
Poehler is incredibly candid, except when she isn’t – but then she explains why. She does not, for example, write about her divorce to fellow comedian Will Arnett, but why should she? Refreshingly, when so many celebrity memoirists get stuck apologising for their lives or behaviour, Poehler refuses to moderate her personality. Her humour is dirtier than you might imagine, and her language often cruder. Several anecdotes portray her in a less than favorable light. I end with a much fuller picture of who Amy Poehler is – so she has done her job well. Her motto is “Good for me, not for you,” but Yes Please is good for everyone.
Yes Please by Amy Poehler is available now.
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