There are certain things in life that piss me off. Not a lot, but some. And when I'm pissed, I'm pissed. Lena Dunham (whose claim to fame is a mediocre HBO show), reportedly got a $3.7 million dollar advance for her upcoming memoir. (That doesn't bother me. More power to her.) I won't put the title because I don't want to. I had pre-ordered the book at Amazon, but cancelled it. The thing that chaps my ass is that she's charging people $38 to come to her book signing. Right, you have to buy tickets...some of which are reportedly being scalped for up to $900. To me, that is the epitome of greed, narcissism, bad marketing and just plain stupidity. It makes me not like her as a person, author, actress or human being, mainly because she's stealing joy from readers. Most of her followers are probably in her age group: 20's to 30's: the struggling years for most who don't make $6 million a year like she does. And she's denying them the opportunity to not only get their book autographed, but to meet someone they respect enough to buy a book from. That is no small thing. But, obviously, she doesn't get it. I guess she's never been a poor book-lover who had to skip on groceries to buy books like I once did.
I have three shelves full of signed first editions by Pulitzer Prize winning authors...from the magnificent Ernest Gaines to John Updike and Rick Bragg. Robert Crais not only signed my books, but also let me take a photo with him and his lovely, Southern belle mother to whom he introduced me. James Lee Burke also took a photo with me and was patient and sweet. Most not only signed my books, but also allowed me to be a total groupie and take a picture with them at book festivals. They were grateful, nice, polite and generous with their time. They sweated in the South Louisiana heat to attend our annual Louisiana Book Festival which is on November 1 this year. They appreciated ME. After all, I was spending my HARD-EARNED money for their books. Not ONE of them ever charged me money for the privilege of signing their name in my books. John Updike even took the time to write an encouraging note to me about my writing! John Updike, who has two Pulitzer Prizes for Fiction.
Also, according to Refinery29.com, "some of Dunham's appearances will include seven performers, functioning as hype men. But, word on the street is the Girls creator isn't paying these artists, many of whom auditioned for the roles." Right, she's stiffing them!! Again, bad karma, and GREEDY!
#boycottlenadunham
Take your money and buy Rick Bragg's new biography coming out in October. Every single book he's written has been just awesome and, for the record, he's a perfect gentleman:
xo,
Marion
A house without books is like a room without windows. ~Heinrich Mann
