Writing Your Memoirs?

[JackTwist]

How old or accomplished do you think someone should be before publishing their memoirs? At the ripe old age of sixteen, Miley Cyrus recently released her autobiography Miles to Go. Seventeen year-old American Idol Finalist David Archuleta is preparing to release his memoir Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song, and the Power of Perseverance in June.

 

I realize that it's all about making a quick buck while these kids are a hot commodity. But, shouldn't memoirs be reserved for presidents, public figures and celebrities with long, rich careers and/or interesting life stories? Does anyone else here think it's silly for a teenage celebrity to publish their memoirs when they're too young to even vote, haven’t settled on a final bra size or embraced their true sexual orientation yet?

 

http://i.usatoday.net/communitymanager/_photos/idol-chatter/2010/04/19/DavidCoverx-large.jpg

[rvwnsd]

It is getting harder and harder to stomach the sheer volume of memoirs being published, regardless of the subject's age.

[Guest ryan2552]

Does anyone else here think it's silly for a teenage celebrity to publish their memoirs ?[quote=J

YES It is silly.

[NYTomcat]

I find most celebrity memoirs silly. That said I dont think I have ever read anything as poignent and hysterical as Fran Drescher's "ENTER WHINING" really a class act, had you crying and laughing. often at the same time.

[Toulouse]

It's All About the $$$

 

I suspect in the cases of Cyrus and Archuleta, stage-parents may be pushing their teens (cash cows?) to do what whatever it takes to haul in the dough. After all, the shelf-life of a teen pop star is fleeting. I read Miley Cyrus earned a seven-figure signing bonus for her book deal....Billy Ray, must have been singing all the way to the bank!

[justaguy]

That shelf life is important. I can't really blame them for trying to cash in while they can. I don't read such stuff so I'm not part of their earnings; however, if they can garner that kind of money, the market must be there.

[Guest Merlin]

Obama had already published two memoirs before he began his career. Seems to me like a sure fire symptom of a narcissitic personality.

[+ purplekow]

So how many memoirs have you written Merlin? Three...four...thousand?

[Luv2play]

I hate to admit it but the memoirs I really enjoy are those of long dead actresses and others in the theatrical world most of whose work I have never seen. I just enjoy reading the details of their private lives behind the screen or stage in a time when there was so much censorship on film and off.

 

The memoirs reveal much of the reality of life then, stripped of the gloss and veneer of Hollywood and Broadway. An example would be Gloria Swanson, who was the leading actress in the silent film era and carried over into the talkies. She also lived long enough to outlive most of her contemporaries. Her book was Swanson on Swanson. In it she revealed what a swine old Joe Kennedy, her long-time lover, was (but then we knew that from other sources).

 

Surprisingly, I didn't find either Katherine Hepburn's memoir very interesting (terrible writing style) nor Betty Bacall's, although both actresses led very interesting lives (I know, Betty is still with us!). I enjoyed Moss Hart's memoir of his Broadway success although I don't know if he ever got to finish the second part since he died so suddenly and quite young.

 

I especially enjoy the books written by Noel Coward, who spent half of his professional career in the USA, and the letters and diaries of Tennessee Williams. I wish Truman Capote had written a memoir but his short stories told a lot about his early life in the South and then his transfer to New York.

[+ deej]

I hate to admit it but the memoirs I really enjoy are those of long dead actresses and others in the theatrical world most of whose work I have never seen.

 

Well, you could widen that to include musicians from a time gone by also.

 

One very good (and relatively short) read was Sir Georg Solti's autobiography. He was still working when it was written, although it was very late in his career. In fact, he discusses upcoming engagements that he ended up not living long enough to deliver.

 

Recommended for any aficionado of either symphonic music or opera (which is where he got his start).

[Pegasus]

My Favorite Autobiography

 

While studying law in Texas in the early 80's, I was encouraged by a prof. to read "Barbara Jordan: A Self-Portrait." This is a wonderfully in-depth autobiography of the first African American woman from Texas to be come a U.S. Congresswoman. Most people remember Ms. Jordan for her vigorous defense of the Constitution during the impeachment hearings of President Richard Nixon. She later became the first woman to deliver the keynote speech at a Democratic National Convention (in 1976).

 

I found her memoir (and Ms. Jordan's life journey) inspirational and riveting. It is the best autobiography I've ever read.