The life of the author

[mlucius224]

Do you or people you know choose not to read books by specific authors because of events that have happened in the life of the author? I have recently talked to friends who will no longer read Nicholas Sparks books because he got a divorce. I don't think that the personal life of the author should affect our enjoyment of their writing. It isn't that I don't get what they are suggesting, why read something romantic from a guy who couldn't keep the romance alive in his own marriage, but is that fair? What do you think?

[rssllue]

I don't know about Mr. Sparks situation or not, but I do think that there is some merit to taking the personal life of the author into account. Their life shows a certain perspective that will most likely show up in their writing as well, which could disenfranchiseme some readers.

[Tanaya]

Wow! When I first read that some won't read Nicholas Sparks anymore, I thought that was pretty extreme. But then again, it makes perfect sense. You want the author you enjoy so much to be authentic, or else their writing loses its sincerity. That's such a shame. I've never personally stopped reading an author because of their personal life.

[Fran]

I think that is really rather extreme.
I'm no fan of Nicholas Sparks but I gather he writes fiction & in that case I really don't see what his personal life has to do with his books.
(Anyway maybe the divorce was his wife's decision!)

[chytach18-]

I do agree that personal life of the author is his or her personal life, and nobody`s else. However, if his or her social or political opinion is shown in the writing and that, in its turn, has an impact on political or social group of people, that`s another matter. It was recently revealed that Gunter Grass, the author of The Tin Drum, had connections with the Nazis, and that had a massive negative impact on his readership.

[gali]

I do agree that personal life of the author is his or her personal life, and nobody`s else. However, if his or her social or political opinion is shown in the writing and that, in its turn, has an impact on political or social group of people, that`s another matter. It was recently revealed that Gunter Grass, the author of The Tin Drum, had connections with the Nazis, and that had a massive negative impact on his readership.

I agree. I don't care about the personal life of the author, but avoid authors such as Grass due to their racism.

[krood10]

For me, I usually don't get too invested in an author's personal life. I'm usually in it for the story. However, there are instances where the author becomes almost as important as the story (J.K. Rowling for instance). There are some authors that I want to learn about and feel connected to, and I think that affects how I read their works. If I find out one of these authors I've grown to love has made a decision I don't agree with, it ruins the books for me. This rarely happens.

[DATo]

Something like divorce or even having been convicted of a crime (O'Henry served time for embezzlement) wouldn't prevent me from reading their work; on the other hand, if the cause of contention was related to the craft of writing - if the writer was found to be a plagiarist, if it was proved that the book was largely ghost written, or if the author had claimed the story was true when it wasn't (famous case in Oprah's Book Club) - then I am through with that writer, then, and forevermore.

[LivreAmour217]

Something like divorce or even having been convicted of a crime (O'Henry served time for embezzlement) wouldn't prevent me from reading their work; on the other hand, if the cause of contention was related to the craft of writing - if the writer was found to be a plagiarist, if it was proved that the book was largely ghost written, or if the author had claimed the story was true when it wasn't (famous case in Oprah's Book Club) - then I am through with that writer, then, and forevermore.

I agree completely! I think it's too extreme to stop reading works by an author over something like a divorce (especially when you might not know all of the circumstances), but honesty is another matter entirely! If the author plagiarized or lied, then he/she doesn't deserve our time and money!

[I am ludlum admirer]

I admire on Robert Ludlum and Dan Brown but I don't want to know about their personal life. I love their idea, their spirit and their works.

[ebeth]

I agree I have never stopped reading an author's book because of their personal life. I completely understand why people might do that, but the way I look at it, it's like judging the person almost. However, now with some singers when it comes to music, I have hard time listening to if I know they have physically abused someone it's hard to support someone like that, but when it's just someone getting a divorce that's a little different.

[MarisaRose]

I have only ever heard of this once, my brother and I discuss mystery/thrillers all the time and I suggested we read a book by Anne Perry as she has many novels in her series and they get relatively good reviews. My brother told me he would under no circumstances read a book by Perry as she had been convicted of participating in the murder of her friend's mother! I was shocked and had to agree with him; we both decided we did not want to this author or promote her books.

[Hampton_Roe]

I usually don't tend to learn anything about the author of the book that I read. If I like what they write, I'll read it whatever they do in their private life. I read so many books and newer knew who wrote them.

[Ripley3131]

I've never been one to judge an author's work by how they live their life. The only time that might matter for me is if I'm interested in a self-help book that was most likely written by a hypocrite. That's the only scenario that I can think of where it might matter to me.

[April B]

It sounds crazy to me not to read an author's books because of their real life activities. I rarely pay attention to such things primarily because it isn't any of my business. But unless they turned out to be some sort of psychotic puppy killer(or an equally abhorrent criminal), I would never consider not reading a book because the authors done something we normal humans do-like get a divorce...(sighs while shaking head...)