Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Do Celebritities Read?

Why is it that when celebrities are asked about their favorite books or authors, they almost always say something pretentious? Is it because the last time they read a book it was for high school honors English, or does Gwyneth Paltrow really love Crime and Punishment? Who's favorite author is Dostoevsky? Seriously.

Jodi Foster just loooves 19th-century poet Charles Baudelaire and lists The Complete Greek Tragedies: Euripides as one of her top 6 books. Alec Baldwin's favorite book is To Kill A Mockingbird. This is a good book, but didn't we all read this in the 7th grade? Maybe Alec had to reach way back when he got hit with this question, maybe he was a little "busy" in high school. And I've decided that every agent must advise his/her client that if they can't think of anything, to just say Catcher in the Rye. Practically every other celebrity lists this as their favorite book when asked. Again, good book, but if you polled 100 people on the street, would 50 of them say it was their favorite book?

At least Halle Berry tells it like it is and admits to Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. But again, have any of these guys read since the 8th grade? I know they're busy being famous and all, but where is the shame in liking something a little more... current?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I completely agree. My particular celebrity pet peeve is when they all act like parenthood is a breeze and everything is going wonderfully. Seriously, who does a perfect job with their 1st newborn? I don't care who it is, it's not that wonderful. Although i guess they can afford to hire someone to do the hard parts :)

Maree said...

I bet they're secretly all reading Jackie Collins, but are too embarrassed to admit it :)

Alex said...

I don't know if I'm recalling this correctly, but I think Jodie Foster graduated with honors from some ivy league school, Yale I think. Don't recall her major. Lit?

I thought Gwyneth was well-educated, too, but that one I'm not at all sure I ever heard.

-Alex.

Ivy said...

Thhank you for sharing this