i can't stand it

i've had this thing lately where i keep hearing about book deals for people i don't think should be writing books at all. i will preface the rest of this entry with: yes, i am probably deeply jealous and just being a brat. however, i do think publishing houses are signing deals way too cavalierly. but that must also mean that people are actually reading the ridiculous things being published, so i'm not sure who's more to blame for this vicious cycle.

the other morning on the Today show, they did a segment about a truly crazy woman who decided to spend a year doing everything Oprah says to do. she called it a mix of performance art and a social experiment. right. she watches every Oprah episode, reads every issue of Oprah's magazine, and has done ridiculous things like buy a fire pit for her backyard even though she doesn't have a backyard, simply because Oprah said she had to buy it. she's bought clothes because Oprah recommended them, garden supplies because Oprah thought they were great, and adopted a cat because Oprah thought it was a good thing to do. she ordered a fire pit for her non-existent backyard because - say it with me - Oprah said it was a must-have.

now, this story is mind-boggling enough already. then Matt Lauer asked her why she was doing this, what was the purpose. she apparently writes a blog about her daily Oprah adventures, and i'm not sure who reads it (besides Oprah, naturally) but i guess enough people do because she said she was going to turn her experiences into a one-woman show. but then, she had an even better idea.

she's going to write a book.

this is not shocking to me at all. just disheartening. i am sure she's picturing the episode of Oprah where her book is announced as a Book Club selection and it shoots to the top of every bestseller list in the world. and you know what? it'll probably happen. because that's just how things are these days.

i know i sound like sour grapes. guilty as charged. it's just frustrating to think of all the writers out there toiling away, struggling, doubting themselves, drinking too much, producing excellent work and they have no shot in hell of getting a book deal. but this kook (nothing personal, i just find it a little insane that, especially right now, someone would waste a lot of money trying to be the most ardent Oprah disciple on the planet) gets a deal just by being a kook.

mb