It’s Thursday and you know what that means…another edition of Booking Through Thursday is here. This week’s question is:
Have you ever been put off an author’s books after reading a biography of them? Or the reverse – a biography has made you love an author more?
I’m wracking my brain, but cannot come up with an instance of an author’s biography changing my view of his work.
It’s happened with music. Before learning of Liszt’s debauchery, his music sounded so different. I still enjoy it, it just has new meaning.
But a book? Oh wait, there’s Stephen King. After reading On Writing, which does touch on some of his boyhood experiences, I have read his work with a slightly different eye. But, it has not caused me to enjoy his writing more or less.
When it comes down to it, the only thing that should matter when it comes to books is whether or not your enjoy what’s between the two covers. I may read it with new eyes, but it still boils down to whether or not I enjoy it.
(Thought I should add that I’m speaking in terms of fiction here. If we’re talking non-fiction, then the author’s biography or bias could greatly influence whether or not I read more of that author’s books in the future.)
# JLS Hall wrote on February 5, 2009 at 4:55 pm:
You’re right about the difference between authors of fiction and nonfiction – I hadn’t really given that much thought. I guess I think in terms of fiction writers because that’s mostly what I read.
# Jenners wrote on February 7, 2009 at 11:56 pm:
I agree with you. I don’t think learning about an author’s life would change my view of the book — perhaps would shed light on certain aspects but I think the work stands on its own. But then again you have James Frey … not that there is a biography on him but it might be good if there was!