Knowing About the Author Log Out | Topics | Search
Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Email This Page

  AddThis Social Bookmark Button

AALBC.com's Thumper's Corner Discussion Board » Thumper's Corner - Archive 2003 » Knowing About the Author « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

booked

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 11:29 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi, all
I have a question: does knowing personal information about an author affect the way you read his/her work? Or whether you read it at all? Does knowing an author is/was racist affect how you read his/her work? Does knowing an author is/was gay affect how you read/interpret his/her work? Does knowing an author has certain political convictions (communism, for example) affect how you read/interpret his/her work? Can you forget about the authors' beliefs when you read his/her work, or is it always in the back of your mind? Actually, this question could apply to watching certain actors as well; for instance, whenever I see Wesley Snipes in a movie, I always recall some unflattering comments he made about black women once in an article in Ebony, and, much as I hate to admit it, it takes away from the movie a bit.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Chris Hayden

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 10:13 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

booked:

Yes my knowlege of personal information about an author not only affects the way I read the work, but whether I will read it at all.

Certainly, if I know, for instance, that that author who extols the beauty of black women and insists we do the same beat his wife I have to wonder why he is not practising what he preaches.

This is not limited to black authors--Nietchze was a nearsighted, mild mannered little introvert but he wrote all those purple, thundering exhortations--it makes it like some sort of comic book.

Certainly I temper it in the case of some fiction, after all the author is somewhat of a role player, and I can forget about his personal life if he/she is writing well--as long as his personal beliefs or philosophies are not too far out for me.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tee C. Royal

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 11:19 am:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hey Booked...I would say yes and no. For example, there are two authors that I simply DO NOT care for their personalities. For this reason, I've never read any of their work and I won't run out to buy their books when they hit. I'll wait as long as necessary to get the book for next to nothing. And, I doubt I will ever read them, but I'm a collector, so they have to go in my collection.

On the other hand, there are authors that I know personally and those that I know "of" and I try not to let that over-shadow my enjoyment or lack thereof when reading their book. I try to tell myself to let the writing stand alone and come to the forefront. To date, I think I've done a pretty good job separating the two.

I doubt I'd read work by someone that I knew was racist or that falls in my other areas of things I won't tolerate...it would mostly be a case-by-case scenario. I don't have a problem with gay authors, but I'd probably have a problem supporting an author I knew molested a child or something of that nature.

-Tee
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Kola

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 01:58 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hey, Tee (love ya)

The vast majority of "child molesters" are hetero-sexual males.

I thought I'd mention that...because some folks might misinterpret your post and take it the wrong way--which I knew exactly what you meant.

Hope all is well. Hope we get to meet at your 2004 book expo for Rawsistaz. Much love.

Kola

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tee

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 06:06 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hey Kola, what could be interpreted the wrong way?

-Tee
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

sisgal

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 04:40 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Bookwise, I can't think of any author...but in the entertainment industry I have to say, I'm having a difficult time enjoying R.Kelleys music...and I kind of like that new song of his, but then I think about what he's done and well, it just ain't the same. When Wesley Snipes made his comments about black women, well, I wasn't too happy with him either, but I still watched him in movies. I met an author once, she wasn't very personable and after buying her book and reading it, I decided I wasn't crazy about her or her book..so that's it for her. When someone approaches your table, to buy a book, at least act interested, instead of walking away so you can go mingle with other well-known authors...

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Cynique

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 05:25 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I know it's petty, but because of her conservative politics and close affiliation with Republician George W.Bush, I passed on reading Condoleeza Rice's biography.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

akaivyleaf

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 03:57 pm:   Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I guess I don't delve into author's personal lives and I've not met a great deal of them either, so it's pretty easy for me to pick up a book and read it. I'm sure I'll feel differently when I get to know an author but for the most part I try to enjoy the story.

Cynique... as far as Condi- I've tried repeatedly to read the book but there is a mental block there for me along the same lines as her ties to "Dubya" and I just cannot get into the book. It is sitting in the TBR pile again.

Topics | Last Day | Last Week | Tree View | Search | Help/Instructions | Program Credits Administration

Advertise | Chat | Books | Fun Stuff | About AALBC.com | Authors | Getting on the AALBC | Reviews | Writer's Resources | Events | Send us Feedback | Privacy Policy | Sign up for our Email Newsletter | Buy Any Book (advanced book search)

Copyright © 1997-2008 AALBC.com - http://aalbc.com