J K Rowling on holiday

One last thought before I depart for pastures valleys...

I've been a bit of a part time reader of the Mail, especially The Mail on Sunday for some years.  More lately, it seems to me, the MoS has become obsessed with the spending of money and "celebrity".  I am on the point of cancelling my Sunday delivery and have been for months, but they still manage to layer the ever-increasing articles that I hate with some oddly interesting stuff.

But yesterday in the Mail, we had this about J. K. Rowling and her £77 per minute of income and how she chooses to spend it.  Wisely, I'd say, and thank you to the Mail for letting me know she's a woman with her feet firmly on the ground.  Her children are in state schools and her hubbie still works as a GP.   She chose to give birth within the confines of the NHS.   She's tight when it comes to spending money on designer clothing, apparently.  But who cares?  Comparisons to Victoria Beckham are simply off the wall.  (They made them, not I.)  Who needs designer clothing to make some sort of a statement?  When people start to honestly answer this, they'll get a much better idea of their psyches and values and what is, at its basic level, an empty sphere of aspiration and little else.

I'd guess that JKR paid whatever it took to holiday in The Hamptons to ensure some privacy.  But oh, the paparazzi are paid so well on a piece meal basis for an intrusion into a private holiday.  And just because this is the world's bestselling author on holiday.

In a climate of "celebrity culture" that defies all logic, but appeals to the dreams of so many and depletes their banks accounts to ruin in some cases, unless they wake up and smell the grass, authors remain reluctant to move from "author" to " celebrity".  It's the media that makes the push.

As to what is a "celebrity", courtesy of the media today, I'll leave you with my definition:

"someone, more usually female, who drips wealth, earned or not, more usually not, as evidenced by designer gear about the bode and gold bits dripping from it, who has nothing else of note, let alone worth, to contribute to society."   I could add "a.k.a. empty head", but I'll restrain myself.   Celebrity is a concoction of the media with nothing else worthwhile to do.

Enjoy your holiday J.K. , while you can and away from the prying eyes.  The prying eyes have an elevated sense of self - they think and manufacture an interest in your private life, while we sit and just admire or enjoy.   Most of us meet this culture head on and try to ignore it.  Some succumb and are drawn in and do the banks a favour before themselves.

It's good to know your family is grounded.  If someone wants the latest designer little toe nail, we know it's not your fault.  You're the author and creator of the Harry Potter series.   That's where it ends for the majority of readers or admirers.  J.K.R. is Harry Potter or the next in her imagination and not her latest swimsuit or boogie board choice.  Who cares how she spends her income?  It's only because the media tells us something, and in a certain way that we start to wonder and judge.

Authors are authors.  They capture their imaginations into words and then into print and they let us enjoy that moment with them, if it is to our taste.

What is a celebrity?

Short of someone in the public eye for almost nothing of note, I'm speechless.  If you have another suggestion, please comment.  If you can tell me and make me understand why I find the word "bland" such an omission, especially in the media, right now, I promise to repay you.

But I also promise that my ideals may not meet yours, and thus a meeting of minds is key; with anything less, a waste of my time and yours.  Bland is bland and is worthless.  Loads of sparkly bits, dazzling diamonds, hemlines cut to “just that point” and shades of the latest season don’t make real life.

Real life is real life.  Meeting your own budget is real life.  Aspiring to J.K.R’s success and sending power is just that – aspiring and dreaming.  So halt the dream and stay with reality and within your budget, it’s the feel of the waves that you both enjoy and that is what's priceless.

Comments

[amanda]

well i personally think that j.k rowling is an awesome inspiration and who cares if grown ups want to read her books, they are great for all age groups. oh and i am doing a biography report on her and her life has twisted a lot and i thank her for showing us that even if your life starts bad you can still do whatever you put your mind to. so thanks again j.k rowling!!!!

[crimeficreader]

Thanks for the comment Patry. I think you know already that I couldn't agree more!

[patry]

Another reason to admire J.K., an anti-celeb celebrity!

[crimeficreader]

Slowly! Mm.
I take it you mean a journo that concentrates on "celebrity culture/celebrities"?
God help us when those who report on this sad culture become celebrities in themeselves!

[Minx]

Totally agree. Money does not bring happiness, only that calm feeling that you get when you know that all the bills have been covered at the end of the month!
I think most of the celebrity-type journalists should be put up against the wall and shot, slowly!