Before reading the autobiography of Katie Price (aka 'Jordan') entitled, 'Being Jordan', I wasn't sure what my opinion of her was at all. Like many, I'd read the odd piece of gossip about her in the tabloids, and knew my husband would groan deeply every time the famous/infamous glamour model's name was mentioned. But the first real opportunity I got to form my own opinion was when she entered the TV reality show 'I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.' Like most, I guess you can't help but initially notice her largely inflated bust and skimpy clothing, but what incenses some people towards her, was not immediately obvious. Even after watching the programme for a couple of weeks, unless you're offended by her flirty behaviour, this to me was still not apparent. Her steely nerve exhibited during some of the worst trials within the TV show impressed me, so when I received a copy of her autobiography as a gift I was pretty curious to take a look.
My paperback version includes a couple of chapters about her time spent in the jungle on 'Celebrity', and her romance with Peter Andre. It also takes us to within a few weeks of her giving birth to their first child and much-publicised wedding. *I gather these sections are NOT included in the original hardback version.
I read the 316 pages within the space of a couple of days. Not because it was the most thrilling or revealing read, but because I wanted to get to the bits that would reveal what she was really like. What
made her 'tick'? Was she just this shameless hussy portrayed in the tabloids and magazines?? I wanted to get to the parts that would sate my curiosity!
The book begins with her early family life, which was not at all settled. Her parent's marriage was very rocky and finally resulted in divorce. Thereafter Katie did not have much of a relationship with her real father. However she does state that her stepfather, Paul Price, more than bridged the gap in the father-daughter relationship and her deep affection and respect for him is evident.
She began modelling in her early teens and recalls a couple of encounters with unsavoury photographers. Aside of another chapter in which she relays the anguish she went through when suffering from a rare form of cancer, most of the 34 chapters chart her path to fame and fortune. Amongst other 'milestones' chartered, is her eventual debut as a Page 3 model in The Sun newspaper, and her time spent at the Playboy Mansion of Hugh Hefner. We are availed of details concerning various boyfriends she had along the way, and how these relationships shaped her perceptions of later liaisons. I think it's here that she displays some vindictiveness and resentment, especially when certain boyfriends eventually rejected her, or were disloyal. I didn't find it necessary to read about the size (or lack of it) of some of her former boyfriends 'prowess', or the positions with which they adopted for sex. I found these revelations cheap, and wondered why she included them? I personally felt it was out of spite or revenge. This side of her personality I did not find endearing. I also felt that the way she felt towards the father of her disabled son, Harvey, was unnecessarily dwelt upon, and her portrayal of his attitude to his son could've been toned down for the sake of her son when he grows older.
Katie does go some way to justify certain decisions she made in her life, including her 3 breast augmentations, but I felt she fails to disprove a lot of what has been written about her in the Press. There is gossip to be had regarding some of her more 'famous' partners, whom I shan't identify here, but I feel due to the high press coverage of these relationships few would be surprised.
If I had read the original hardback publication without the additional chapters, I would've found Katie a very emotionally cold person. However, the extra chapters do reveal a glimmer of a more genuine deeper person that IS capable of pulling down that iron defence, which is better known as 'Jordan'. It appears Peter Andre has managed to gain her trust and bring out a more natural and warmer person within. Having said that, it's obvious throughout the book that she has a great instinct for what makes money, and has immense drive and ambition. Perhaps this is the same determination and drive I had witnessed, whilst enduring the 'Bush tucker Trials' on the TV reality show?
Her style of writing is easy to read and understand. I wasn't aware of any bad language as such, just some intimate sex talk at times, which I guess is to be expected. Dispersed throughout the book are nearly 60 photographs, black & white as well as colour, which help to document her life. A couple of these are 'topless' but the rest are either family/relationship snapshots, or tasteful model shots.
Although this book has reached the dizzy heights of a 'Best Seller', I'm not sure it would indulge an avid fan of Jordan with any more information than could be gleaned from other, more 'neutral' sources. I could see this being a necessary part of a fan's memorabilia, but for me being interested in the more human side of her, it fell short of the mark.
Overall my feelings are, that whilst this provides a fairly good and interesting read, it's mostly a rehash of what's already been written about many times before. I believe it's an attempt at altering the public's image of her, with the result that records she is trying to set straight are more focused upon, rather than giving us more of an insight into her true personality. I therefore failed to feel much sympathy towards her cause. For me, the judging of a good autobiography is dependent upon how well you 'think' you know the writer afterwards, but on this occasion I can only state that I finished the book being only a little wiser, and at RRP £7.99, I would have been miffed if I'd personally paid that price.
A continuation of her autobiography has recently been released called 'A Whole New World' which takes her life-story to the present day. Maybe in the latest addition to her autobiography more of her 'openness' will be displayed? I for one will not be paying for the 'privilege', but if a copy should accidentally fall into my lap, then I might just feel inclined to give it a read.
For anybody considering a career in glamour modelling I could see this autobiography being quite 'educational', otherwise I'd recommend it only to people who want a superficial insight into Katie Price as a person and how she became Jordan, and those who'd enjoy some fairly graphic detail of her romantic and sexual encounters. For the latter reason I would not like my young teenage daughter to read it, but if you've a spare few hours and don't blush easily, you might well find this satisfying.
Best wishes.
Paperback Version available via Amazon UK ISBN 1-84454-132-0 New £3.99 (Used & New) £2.29 RRP. £7.99.
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Advantages: Easy reading if nothing else Disadvantages: Sounds arrogant in some parts
memphisto_chick 28.08.2006 (28.08.2006)
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Review of Being Jordan - Katie Price
Feb 14th, 2006
(Mar 21st, 2007)
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