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.)

I think this may be a quirk, but there are actually two questions posted for Booking Through Thursday, one dealing with treating yourself and the other about treating others. Just to cover my bases, I’ve answered both.

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I’ve always seen mention of a thing called Booking Through Thursday and have constantly reminded myself to participate. Well, I’m participating. Albeit a little late.

Today’s BTT is about time (or lack thereof):

1. Do you get to read as much as you WANT to read? At this very moment? No. While I have had a bit more time to read than some previous months this year, my time is a bit cramped and I find myself wanting to write in the free time that I do have. That’s not to say that I don’t steal a bit of extra time to read a chapter or two here or there. Especially on nights like this one, when the rain is gently beating against the window, all that’s needed is to dim the lights and put on some light music and cuddle up with a book before bed.

2. If you had (magically) more time to read–what would you read? Something educational? Classic? Comfort Reading? Escapism? Magazines? This is a tougher question to answer, considering that I love all those genres listed. Right now, I’d definitely want to do some escapism and classic reading–in that order. (I’m well aware that those two texts seem as though they are on opposite sides of the spectrum.) Right now, I just want to get lost in fantasy worlds with amazing people and creatures. The heaviness of reality’s stress is starting to weigh on me (the holiday season tends to do that) and a good escapist fantasy could be just the thing. And the classics simply to reconnect with my youth a bit. Of course, magazine and comfort reading is always welcome. I’m still debating the “educational” stuff; I already need to read enough of that as it is.