Never heard of this heart-breaking condition suffered by the likes of Jamie 'Oh-so-smug-I-could-slap-him' Oliver, Victoria Bechham, Davina Taylor (?) and Katie Price?
Well ..........
Its a term being used to describe members of the entertainment community who are able to read but make a huge thing of choosing not to. Nay, not only choosing not to but taking pride in never having opened a book believing that reading is overrated.
JAMIE OLIVER (urgh)is forever boasting "I have never read a book in my life - ever."
Whilst VICTORIA (MRS DAVID) BECKHAM (Aka Posh Spice) also claimed in a Spanish newspaper never to have read a book, though she later ruled that a mistranslation that should have read she had never finished a book. Oh well, that's ok then Victoria.
Or how about .........
Actress and socialite DAVINA TAYLOR who is selling her home complete with the books that line the walls.
"I've not actually read any of them,I just like the covers" she hastens to point out.
But to me, the worst sufferer of the condition?
KATIE PRICE who amongst her other achievements has written no less than 4 autobiographies (and she's still only 33 so there is plenty of time for many more), and 5 novels, none of which she has ever read. Perhaps someone should have pointed out that ..........
Now whilst I'm not necessarily one of those people who believe that all so-called celebs should act as shining examples to the world at large BUT it would be nice to think that just for once they would think twice about boasting about, what I personally see as, their ignorance. I mean is never having read a book really something to be proud of?
Rant over. What do you think?
PS I should point out that this particular rant was inspired by an article in the Guardian newspaper (May 2011). My apologies that these names will probably not mean an awful lot to most of you - I have included links for those of you wishing to know a little more about the individuals concerned.
18 comments:
He must have read a book. I cannot believe he never ever (like ever) read a book in his whole life! We should ask him... ;)
That's pretty sad!!
I'm familiar with the first two names. Somehow it doesn't surprise me that Victoria Beckham makes this claim, but Jamie Oliver? Not even a cookbook?
I can't imagine having never read/finished a book, much less being proud of it!
(oh, my....the word verification is almost an obscenity!!)
It is very sad .
Seems like quite a slap in the face to those who are unable to read, do to lack of education or disability. Very sad :(
Wish to know MORE about them? I don´t think so.
I wonder if a person´s IQ can be negative? Minus eighty?
Now everyone knows these "celebrities" don't write their own books, but how they can have the cheek to appear as authors while boasting that they refuse to read - it's disgraceful. (And the fact that Katie Price's latest "auto"biography is called "You Only Live Once" despite being her fourth life story... ridiculous.)
I don't have as much problems when it is celebs as if it is politicians. I mean they make policies so I hope they are well read. If nothing else... at least history of the country they are running.. right, Sarah Palin? *cough*
I am literally watching Mr. oliver on TV trying to teach us Americans how to save our schools (by feeding our kids better). I was totally on his side but he seems a bit of a hypocrite. I am still crazy for his cute dialect and scruffy hair but I can't take him seriously if he can't even bother to open a book. What kind of statement is that about the value of education.
:-)
Traci
Never having read a book is NOT something to be proud of. It is something to be ashamed of. If only this were as scandalous as hiring a prostitute or taking illegal drugs. Instead, they seem proud of this instead of sorry and ashamed. Urgh.
There is a famous piece by a much adored poet in Malayalam (my local language) which translates "One who grows reading reaps, and the one who doesn't bends". Right from childhood i had this kind of a prejudice against those who don't read that they are stupids. I feel sorry when i think of it now, but still great readers have great respect in my mind.
I'm with you! This sort of "boasting" is just sharing their ignorance, in addition to being a shocking example to their fans.
I agree with you. Books have been such a joy to me. They must have somehting else they get a lot out of?
To claim to have never read a book is sad :(
It is very sad that these celebs have admitted this.
With current stats saying 1 in 3 kids do not own a book, this is not encouraging.
I am not one for reading celeb books. How can you write a book when you have never read a book?
Reading keeps me sane.
carol
that is pretty sad, indeed!
Kanye West also bragged about being a "proud non-reader", and then guess what? He publishes a book. It makes no sense to me when people say they don't read and then they get something published.
How can anyone be proud of not having ever read a book?! :O Silly celebs!
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