Friday 7 July 2017

Brooklyn Beckham...

...has published  a book of photographs: What I See. It is flying high in the Amazon listings, although I gather the photos are rather poor.

Two things:

1. Of course, as a struggling writer*, I envy his success, and the fact that a name undoubtedly gets you places. But -

2. Do people really have to be quite so nasty (read the reviews)? The photos may be bad, but if Penguin, no less, were prepared to publish it, he'd have been a fool to say no. Would you have turned down a deal from, Penguin? I certainly wouldn't. And his name must be a handicap as well as a help, for how will he ever know whether something he has done is good or bad, when the name of Beckham will inevitably open doors wherever he goes? He's only eighteen. I genuinely hope that he's not hurt by those reviews, but that his parents have prepared him for this sort of unkindness.

*Please read my books! Just saying...

16 comments:

  1. I don't either envy or feel sorry him. He ought to struggle at his age and maybe he does. At least he will be comfortable in his endeavours.
    Yesterday I purchased a Telegraph and over quarter of a page was devoted to Pippa Middleton cruising London in an immaculate Series 1 Land Rover, bet she had a sore bum when she got to Wimbledon. I don't have much sympathy for her either.
    I can't think of a B list celebratory who is famous for anything other than clogging up the media.

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    1. You certainly have a point, Adrian.
      (Why would Pip M have a sore bum??)

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    2. You have led a sheltered life if you have never been in a Series 1 or 2 Land Rover.

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  2. Good luck to him - some 'celebrities' will have been published for worse no doubt!

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  3. Before commenting on his book I would have to see/read it. Few of the reviewers were verified purchasers on Amazon so I wonder how many of the reviewers had actually seen the pictures.

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    1. Graham, most of them seem not to have seen the pictures. The "reviews" appear to have been just an opportunity to have a dig at fame and privilege.

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  4. I agree with you. So much that I have to say I find it difficult to be honest in a book review for fear that the author might be hurt by any criticism from me.
    Thanks for reminding me, I need to read your books!

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    1. Thank you, Kay. I don't mind an honest critical review of my books, provided the reviewer has actually read them. (And please do read my books!)

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    2. Re. your books ... happy to say I've read them all, twice!, and enjoyed.

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    3. Jill, you're star! Please recommend them to friends if you would. Do I sound desperate? Moi? Heavens, no. Well, maybe a bit...

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  5. You are right, having a famous name can be just as much an advantage as a disadvantage - I certainly wouldn't want it.

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    1. Meike, I quite agree. Fame seems to attract unpleasantness.

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  6. I expect he's used to criticism both good and bad. His parents seem very level headed and will have prepared him well. If he wants to be a photographer, good luck to him.

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    1. I think what got to me was the sheer nastiness of those comments, and hardly a serious review among them, Maggie.

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  7. Good luck to him - some 'celebrities' will have been published for worse no doubt!


    แคมฟรอก

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