Celebrity Book Clubs
I chose to look at the article “Celebrity Book Clubs Create Virtual Reading Community.” Before even looking at the article, I could recall many celebrities’ book choices from a Facebook post or Instagram picture. I knew that Emma Watson was creating an online reading community through books that empowered women. This was to help market the HeForShe campaign as well as further the women’s rights movement. I recall a post from a couple years ago that Emma Watson posted in the Tube (subway in England). She hid books in the Tube station and trains, encouraging people to pick them up, read them, post about it, and hide it back in the Tube station.
Similarly, I knew that Reese Witherspoon had an online book presence. However, I like the article’s inclusion of an Instagram post with the author, Emily Griffin. It’s great to have different kinds of celebrities come together for a good cause - especially books!
The article also included a group called Belletrist, a reading community formed by Emma Roberts. I followed the link on the article page and traveled to the Facebook and GoodReads group page. Since I am beginning to get involved in the GoodReads community again, I thought it was great to connect there. There are a couple books on the Belletrist’s page that I have already put on my reading list!
Even though you know celebrities have nothing in common with you, an ordinary person who likes books a little too much, you find yourselves connecting with famous people today over social media. Reading is such a personal experience. To realize that celebrities enjoy that kind of thing to is pretty surprising. However, Liao explains in her article, “is the star-shared experience genuinely dedicated to reading or are they merely vanity exercises to promote their intelligent side?” (Celebrity). It’s easy to say that celebrities are trying to market all areas. However, these celebrities listed are a part of creating a bigger reading community. It’s not solely focused on making money.
When you realize a celebrity likes the same kinds of books as you, it’s almost like a dream come true! Ok, maybe not...but you get the point! There’s at least someone else in the world who finds books as magical as you do!
Liao, Angela. (30 June 2017). “Celebrity Book Clubs Create Virtual Reading Community.” Bookstr. Retrieved at https://www.bookstr.com/celebrity-book-clubs-create-virtual-reading-community
You know, I think Reese Witherspoon's reading life is really interesting. She's got a women-led production company, and she works to option books written by women and makes movies and tv shows out of them. That's what she did with Cheryl Strayed's Wild and Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies! What's so great is that, aside from her book club promoting a book, the adaptations bring a lot of sales and interest as well. I think the idea that a celebrity could be hosting a book club as a kind of vanity project could definitely be the case for some, but her's comes from genuine enthusiasm, it would seem.
ReplyDeleteRachel, I totally agree! I guess it depends on the celebrity and why he/she is promoting the book club. It may be all for sales, but if the person truly loves to read, that's also a plus too.
DeleteI agree with your response and with Rachel's comment, I do find Reese Witherspoon's book suggestions most intriguing. Maybe I'm biased? Whatever the case once in a blue moon, I "discover" a book through a celebrity. Full points!
ReplyDeleteI don't usually go to a celebrity to find a book recommendation, but it sure can happen randomly! Thank you!
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