Celebrities’ memoirs provide inspirational, comical insight

When I heard about Amy Schumer’s newly negotiated $10 million book deal last month, it got me thinking about one of my favorite books from last year. First, it was an autobiography and I, on the whole, am a fiction girl through and through. Second, it was written by someone who wasn’t famous as an author, but famous as an actress. The book was Judy Greer’s memoir, I Don’t Know What You Know Me From: Confessions of a Co-Star. The title of the book instantly struck me as funny because I knew exactly what Greer was talking about. I grew up watching her face in romantic comedies — not as the star but always as the best friend, the frenemy or the sassy work colleague. I was drawn in by Greer’s frankness; she was someone being upfront about who she was and how she was viewed by the public, all the while being refreshingly disarming.

This was, in all honesty, something that I desperately needed. After moving from London to Los Angeles for college last year, I felt that I had spent my freshman year fully immersing myself in L.A. culture. I loved this, and I love L.A. — for its beautiful landscapes, its variety of cultures and its amazing food. The only thing I struggled with was the bizarre celebrity culture. Coming to a place where actors and musicians are hailed as heroes and idols was disorienting. I sometimes felt as though nothing around me was real: the perfectly groomed people, the designer labels, the absurd amount of importance placed on money, brands and social status. England has a very different class system than America. Our class system is older and, in many ways, much more backward. Still, in England, celebrities are “new money.” They are not at the top of the social scale, though this has been changing slightly in recent years as the influence of American culture has trickled over. In the end, celebrity culture confused and, at times, disgusted me. That was why I was so pleased to read Judy Greer’s book and why I am so supportive of the recent trend in humorous celebrity memoirs, especially those written by powerful and inspirational women.

So, needless to say, I loved the book. It was an easy read, and I chuckled to myself constantly. What I liked most about it was Greer’s honesty. She is candid about how awkward interactions can be with fans who recognize her but aren’t sure where from, about being starstruck at award shows and about how hard it has been to come to terms with the fact that she may never be the leading lady. In a society where celebrities are our royalty and where every story we hear has to be one of undeniable success, reading something that sounded like it actually came from a real person was wonderfully refreshing. To hear that the people we idolize and envy have embarrassing moments, awkward encounters and a great deal of self doubt makes a culture that is so untouchable seem a little bit more real.

Another book like Greer’s is Mindy Kaling’s autobiography Is Everyone Hanging Out With Me? In her best-selling autobiography, Kaling discusses growing up with immigrant parents, her opinions on romance, her body image and her struggle to come to terms with not being the stereotypical skinny Hollywood poster girl. Her book is both comical and inspiring. Yet again, here is a celebrity who is being open with her readers and showing them that idolized individuals have their own problems and their own struggles. Her latest book, Why Not Me?, is a continuation of her insightful observations. Similarly, Tina Fey’s memoir Bossypants is ballsy in its discussion of feminism and gender in Hollywood, and Fey doesn’t try to gild or embellish her story. She starts her book by retelling her late-bloomer upbringing. Fey then details her experiences and conflicts faced as the first female head writer on Saturday Night Live and, later, a showrunner on 30 Rock.

Of course, I know I might be being a bit naïve here. Celebrities are always going to try to seem relatable in their autobiographies. Nobody wants to read a book with an arrogant narrator, bragging about how their life is better than yours. Still, I think there is something new and exciting happening here. These books I love are from the perspective of women who acknowledge that they are imperfect and that perhaps they haven’t conquered the world. They are stories of success but also of failure, of acceptance rather than always winning. In a culture where we are constantly being judged and judging each other, these women are here to break down the attitudes of competition, and encourage ones of tolerance and solidarity. Behind the massive paychecks and the red carpets, I think these memoirs have something to tell us about how we view each other and how we should be treating each other. And if I’m reading too far into this, at least they’ll make you laugh.

Kirsten Greenwood is a sophomore majoring in English. Her column, “By the Book,”
runs every Friday.