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? Well, my first thought was "no". The end.
Then I thought some more...
Please indulge me while I seem to go off topic.
I never had a hard and fast opinion of Marilyn Monroe. Until 25 years (or so) ago when I read Marilyn Monroe: Confidential by Lena Pepitone, just because I've always liked biographies. Since then, while not a fanatical fan, I do consider myself a fan of Marilyn Monroe.
A couple of weeks ago I was lurking through blogs and ran across one that was OK, but, again, I had no hard opinion. Then I noticed she had a political statement button on the sidebar. I laughed, thinking this blogger was being funny. Then I noticed she had a political blog. I zoomed over, only to find she was serious! I've never been back.
As for authors, I think, for me, it works about the same way.
If I see (or read) an interview with an author of a book I haven't read, and I'm not impressed, I won't read their book no matter how interested I may have been before. On the other hand, if I am impressed by them, I'll pick up one of their books even if I had never thought to before. Harlan Coben (I found him amusing) falls in this category, as do Patricia Cornwell (I liked the way she argued points logically) and Walter Mosley (he just seemed like someone who could be a personal friend).
At the same time...I enjoyed Funny Boys by Warren Adler. After I wrote my review, in looking for an author link I came across his blog. Politically and socially, I agree with him almost 1% (yes, that's almost not at all), but I still like his writing style and story. And, frankly, as with Cornwell, I like the way he argues his points even if I reach a completely different conclusion.
So, I guess I'm saying, it depends on when I find "biographical" information.
Also, I have been less than happy with books written by authors that I like on a more personal level based on, sadly, not caring for the book.
3 comments:
Well, my first thought was "no". The end.
Then I thought some more...
Please indulge me while I seem to go off topic.
I never had a hard and fast opinion of Marilyn Monroe. Until 25 years (or so) ago when I read Marilyn Monroe: Confidential by Lena Pepitone, just because I've always liked biographies. Since then, while not a fanatical fan, I do consider myself a fan of Marilyn Monroe.
A couple of weeks ago I was lurking through blogs and ran across one that was OK, but, again, I had no hard opinion. Then I noticed she had a political statement button on the sidebar. I laughed, thinking this blogger was being funny. Then I noticed she had a political blog. I zoomed over, only to find she was serious! I've never been back.
As for authors, I think, for me, it works about the same way.
If I see (or read) an interview with an author of a book I haven't read, and I'm not impressed, I won't read their book no matter how interested I may have been before. On the other hand, if I am impressed by them, I'll pick up one of their books even if I had never thought to before. Harlan Coben (I found him amusing) falls in this category, as do Patricia Cornwell (I liked the way she argued points logically) and Walter Mosley (he just seemed like someone who could be a personal friend).
At the same time...I enjoyed Funny Boys by Warren Adler. After I wrote my review, in looking for an author link I came across his blog. Politically and socially, I agree with him almost 1% (yes, that's almost not at all), but I still like his writing style and story. And, frankly, as with Cornwell, I like the way he argues his points even if I reach a completely different conclusion.
So, I guess I'm saying, it depends on when I find "biographical" information.
Also, I have been less than happy with books written by authors that I like on a more personal level based on, sadly, not caring for the book.
Well, my first thought was "no". The end.
Then I thought some more...
Please indulge me while I seem to go off topic.
I never had a hard and fast opinion of Marilyn Monroe. Until 25 years (or so) ago when I read Marilyn Monroe: Confidential by Lena Pepitone, just because I've always liked biographies. Since then, while not a fanatical fan, I do consider myself a fan of Marilyn Monroe.
A couple of weeks ago I was lurking through blogs and ran across one that was OK, but, again, I had no hard opinion. Then I noticed she had a political statement button on the sidebar. I laughed, thinking this blogger was being funny. Then I noticed she had a political blog. I zoomed over, only to find she was serious! I've never been back.
As for authors, I think, for me, it works about the same way.
If I see (or read) an interview with an author of a book I haven't read, and I'm not impressed, I won't read their book no matter how interested I may have been before. On the other hand, if I am impressed by them, I'll pick up one of their books even if I had never thought to before. Harlan Coben (I found him amusing) falls in this category, as do Patricia Cornwell (I liked the way she argued points logically) and Walter Mosley (he just seemed like someone who could be a personal friend).
At the same time...I enjoyed Funny Boys by Warren Adler. After I wrote my review, in looking for an author link I came across his blog. Politically and socially, I agree with him almost 1% (yes, that's almost not at all), but I still like his writing style and story. And, frankly, as with Cornwell, I like the way he argues his points even if I reach a completely different conclusion.
So, I guess I'm saying, it depends on when I find "biographical" information.
Also, I have been less than happy with books written by authors that I like on a more personal level based on, sadly, not caring for the book.
Well, my first thought was "no". The end.
Then I thought some more...
Please indulge me while I seem to go off topic.
I never had a hard and fast opinion of Marilyn Monroe. Until 25 years (or so) ago when I read Marilyn Monroe: Confidential by Lena Pepitone, just because I've always liked biographies. Since then, while not a fanatical fan, I do consider myself a fan of Marilyn Monroe.
A couple of weeks ago I was lurking through blogs and ran across one that was OK, but, again, I had no hard opinion. Then I noticed she had a political statement button on the sidebar. I laughed, thinking this blogger was being funny. Then I noticed she had a political blog. I zoomed over, only to find she was serious! I've never been back.
As for authors, I think, for me, it works about the same way.
If I see (or read) an interview with an author of a book I haven't read, and I'm not impressed, I won't read their book no matter how interested I may have been before. On the other hand, if I am impressed by them, I'll pick up one of their books even if I had never thought to before. Harlan Coben (I found him amusing) falls in this category, as do Patricia Cornwell (I liked the way she argued points logically) and Walter Mosley (he just seemed like someone who could be a personal friend).
At the same time...I enjoyed Funny Boys by Warren Adler. After I wrote my review, in looking for an author link I came across his blog. Politically and socially, I agree with him almost 1% (yes, that's almost not at all), but I still like his writing style and story. And, frankly, as with Cornwell, I like the way he argues his points even if I reach a completely different conclusion.
So, I guess I'm saying, it depends on when I find "biographical" information.
Also, I have been less than happy with books written by authors that I like on a more personal level based on, sadly, not caring for the book.
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