Starstruck: When a Fan Gets Close to Fame

Michael Gross has created one of the most compelling and entertaining books I've read in quite some time. He examines fame from multiple aspects. Starstruck: When a Fan Gets Close to Fame examines the attitudes and fantasies of the admirers of celebrities, the fans who move into the realm of exploiters by selling the autographs and memorabilia that they collect intended only for sale, the fanatics who seem to define their own lives through their imagined relationships with celebrities and much, much more. The world of fame can be viewed from either side of the "red carpet." There are those who earn their living catering to the whims of the famous, seemingly fostering their sense of entitlement and need to feel set apart from the fans. These publicists, agents, assistants, sycophants, etc. also develop their own sense of entitlement, since their relationship with celebrities gives them their own fantasy of elevated status to be on the glory side of that "red carpet," and thereby earn their living. Interestingly, there can be a greater attitude of contempt toward the fans from these professional hangers-on. The author describes in perfect detail the stars who show an arrogant contempt for their fans, forgetting that without them, they would no longer be stars! Most interestingly, he also detects another form of arrogance from celebrities who hug and greet fans with a great show of affection because they want them to think that they (the fans) are every bit as important as they are. Is that attitude actually sincere, or the act of yet another inflated ego who imagines that his persona can validate the status of another? At any rate, it is a relationship based on fantasy. Without the admirer, the admired would be a nobody, himself. Starstruck: When a Fan Gets Close to Fame is a book that informs, entertains and explores the world of fame, brilliantly illuminating the very dark side of those bright lights. Don't miss it!

Gross doesn't just write about pop culture and the sometimes bizarre interactions between fans and stars, but he also has the guts to talk openly about his own experiences as a fan in an intelligent, honest and self-deprecating way. I was especially struck by his account of how Gross planned to tell Dolly Parton a sad story about his mother and one of Parton's songs, and how it took him some time to recognize that his initial angry reaction to the cancellation of the interview was because of the loss of the chance to achieve some brief, false intimacy with a star via this story. I just wish all fans and writers could be that self-aware.

Expecting to read an earnest, sober treatise on the nature of celebrity and individuality, I was surprised by the depth of my emotional reaction to Starstruck. Gross introduces elements of his own life into the narrative almost from the beginning of the book -- at first tangentially, then deftly weaving his story with those of the fans and stars whom he interviews. The climactic "scene" works on so many levels, I found myself wishing for a movie studio to option the book. Even as pure gossip Starstruck is a juicy read: I'll never look at Katie Couric quite the same way again. While I would have appreciated more on the history and sociology of our culture's fascination with celebrities, the book serves as a powerful, resonant, and personal meditation on what it means to be a fan.

What happens when a fan becomes obsessed with obtaining autographs of famous personalities? As a teen, author Michael Gross collected thousands of autographs by writing fan letters to politicians, actresses, and more. As an adult, he probes the world of celebrity admiration with a more researched eye in Starstruck: When A Fan Gets Close To Fame, examining everything from concerts and tabloid reporting to chasing stars for autographs. And Gross should know: he's one of the crowd. A fascinating, personal probe of what makes fandom.

Michael Gross' book Starstruck is an extraordinary compendium of not only his own experiences as a fan, but serves as a unique and important analysis of the world of celebrity. At a time when we are saturated with entertainment culture, Gross manages to lift back the veil on this unique late 20th century phenomenon to explore both the personal and the political consequences of our collective obsession with fame. From poignant and hilarious stories of his own crazy desire to be near the famous - his boyhood letters to Ronald Reagan are priceless - to his adult understanding of those who have dedicated their lives to famous people - Dolly Parton fans in particular - Gross's authorial voice is both critical and sympathetic at the same time. This book is original, engaging, and utterly compelling. A great read for those of us who flip through grocery market tabloids and those of us interested in a more serious look at cultural politics. Five stars!