What's the Name of That Book??? discussion
Just to chat
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Are there books you refuse to read because you disapprove of the author?
Anne Perry helped kill her best friend's mother when she was a teen.I don't generally read murder mysteries so it's a moot point, but I wouldn't want to read a murder mystery by a convicted murderer.
C. wrote: "After his perverted totally unrelated to the story, so uncalled for sex scene in Cujo, and the father-daughter incest theme of Dolores Clairborne, I won't touch Stephen King's filth again!"He's actually huge liberal who is very supportive of women's rights, which is why he writes about so many abused women escaping their abusers. He was in the recent Women's March. He writes disturbing stuff from the point of view of the oppressed - bullied or abused children, abused women, corrupt prison systems, etc.
Melanti wrote: "Anne Perry helped kill her best friend's mother when she was a teen.I don't generally read murder mysteries so it's a moot point, but I wouldn't want to read a murder mystery by a convicted murde..."
Wow didn't know that, will have to look into it
Melanti wrote: "Anne Perry helped kill her best friend's mother when she was a teen.I don't generally read murder mysteries so it's a moot point, but I wouldn't want to read a murder mystery by a convicted murde..."
Agreed. I'd actually read one or two of her historical mysteries (before I found out who she was/what she had done) and I doubt I'll ever read any others. There's something creepily inappropriate about a convicted murderer making a living writing about murders, even if in the context of the story the killer is brought to justice. It feels too much like she's still hanging on to what she did and using an authorial career to justify..... I don't know how to phrase it, glorifying? or otherwise living out those sort of fantasies.
I'm sure some people change in prison, but killing someone, and then later choosing a career that lets you imagine ways to kill and depict the act of murder over and over in different configurations.... it's just makes it seem like you're looking fondly back at what you did rather than that you're someone who feels any remorse for it.
Ellen Hopkins. I emailed her a question and she was so rude in her reply. I refuse to read anything else she has written.
Tytti wrote: "Jeremy wrote: "how do you feel about listening to the works of Wagner, who was a vocal supporter of the Nazi party"Wagner died in 1883, so I am not quite sure how he could have been a "vocal supp..."
HA!
I can't really think of any since I care less about the author and care more about what books they write, however it seems like a lot of the authors mentioned here write books I have no interest in anyway, so. However I do follow topics like this extensively.
I stopped reading Leigh Bardugo after last Grisha book and I will never read her books again
Erin ☕ *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "He's actually huge liberal who is very supportive of women's rights, which is why he writes about so many abused women escaping their abusers. He was in the recent Women's March. He writes disturbing stuff from the point of view of the oppressed - bullied or abused children, abused women, corrupt prison systems, etc."Yes, I've always liked that about him -- and the bullies/oppressors in his stories generally get what they deserve :) There is a lot of what one might call "rough justice" in King's books, which is not true of all horror writers. Some will use injury/torture/death of the innocent as a way to raise the horror level and yank at the reader's emotions. King doesn't do that -- or if he does, like I said, he ends by punishing the evildoers.
Nicola wrote: "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?, based on the serial killer Charles Schmitt and probably her most famous work. I actually read this last week and it is definitely very powerful."Powerful, for sure. I read it ages ago and it was literally YEARS before I could even attempt anything by her ever again. Some of her stuff really ought to be classed as horror.
Here, here, Michele! I really like what you wrote about King and justice in horror novels.
Mod
Rosa wrote: "Here, here, Michele! I really like what you wrote about King and justice in horror novels."Thanks :)
I was told by a friend who read the book for a book club that Gone Girl is a good book. I started to read it, and almost immediately wanted to slap the main male character. After a while, I flipped to the back of the book, and wanted to slap his wife. I have no issues with the writing style, which was what impressed my friend, but if most, if not all, of the main characters irritate me to the point of it being like fingernails on a chalk board, I'm going to drop the book, and not pick up another one by that author.As for authors that you're boycotting, if you really want to read them, but not financially support them, buy second hand from an independent second hand book store. You're supporting a small business, and the author doesn't get anything.
Michele wrote: "Samuel R. Delaney. He's a fan of NAMBLA."Seeing this: I have to add Piers Anthony, some of his Xanth novels - not sure about others - show clear paedo- / hebephile traits.
Michele wrote: "King doesn't do that -- or if he does, like I said, he ends by punishing the evildoers..."
Not always, in his short story "Fair Extension" for example evil gets rewarded.
Courtney wrote: "Ellen Hopkins. I emailed her a question and she was so rude in her reply. I refuse to read anything else she has written."What did she say?
Melanti wrote: "Anne Perry helped kill her best friend's mother when she was a teen.I don't generally read murder mysteries so it's a moot point, but I wouldn't want to read a murder mystery by a convicted murde..."
Oh! My school librarian did a little research on her. Did she use the pen name Jean Plaidy?
Rosa wrote: "Oh! My school librarian did a little research on her. Did she use the pen name Jean Plaidy? .."Jean Plaidy's GR profile says it's a pen name for Eleanor Burford. Nothing to do with Anne Perry, as far as I can see.
Last year I found out that James Lileks, whose books have delighted my family for years, is a conservative who supported the invasion of Iraq. This was very painful. My mother couldn't believe it when I told her.I actually felt scared when I thought about how much this man has influenced my own sense of humor.
Ray Bradbury, whose stories have filled my mind with beauty, was another upsetting disappointment. In 2001, before 9/11, he called George W. Bush "wonderful" and just what the country needed. He called President Clinton a "sh*thead" and Charlton Heston "an intellectual." You know, the guy who held a pro-gun rally in Columbine ten days after the massacre.He raved about Michael Moore calling his movie Fahrenheit 9/11 without his permission. That was wrong of Moore, certainly, but Bradbury went on to say that "nobody will see his movie" and that Moore won the Palme d'Or because "the people there hate us."
What? How could anyone be like this, let alone an author of luminous novels and stories about the importance of peace, freedom, and intelligence?
I feel like my love for these authors has been poisoned. How can I ever read their work again without wondering about their morality? As for separating the authors' politics from their work, I don't think that's possible. As Thomas C. Foster said, it's all political. And according to Nicole Hollander, whose character "Love Cop" keeps incompatible people apart, "Love doesn't last; politics do."
Rosa wrote: "Ray Bradbury, whose stories have filled my mind with beauty, was another upsetting disappointment. In 2001, before 9/11, he called George W. Bush "wonderful" and just what the country..."Politics is a very polarizing subject, so I try to stay away from judging authors based solely on their political stances.
Bradbury's a pretty confusing guy, though, with lots of seemingly contradictory bits in his work.
For instance, he was anti-technology and anti-TV, and to a certain extent Fahrenheit 451 is about how watching TV will rot your brain and destroy society. Yet, he was perfectly fine writing screenplays for film and having his own work adapted for the screen. His shows were fine; it was just the ones he didn't like that were bad for you.
He was very anti-political correctness and anti-feminism, too.
I actually wish I'd never read that essay collection of his. Big mistake. Now that I know he has these views, I can't help but pay more attention to those aspects in his fiction.
Rosa wrote: "Ray Bradbury, whose stories have filled my mind with beauty, ..."I feel you when it comes to Bradbury, on one hand he wrote one of my alltime faves, but on the other I feel some of his writing tends to have quite problematic undertones when it comes to the portrayal of women.
Someone else here commented about Woody Allen. He actually wrote some very funny books early in his career, in the 60's I think. I read them before the whole marrying-his-foster-daughter thing happened and liked them, but I'd never read them again. Nor can I stomach his movies anymore.
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Jean plaidy is most definitely not Ann Perry. two totally different people. plaidy did write under several other names (e.g. Victoria holt) but is not Perry.
For what it's worth, Ayn Rand has often been badly misrepresented. I'd suggest you read her and make your own judgment, rather than relying on secondhand opinions.
Kris wrote: "El, I can't say why exactly. I think it was something I had to read in the 80s in college that dealt with a predatory male, who was a so NOT cleverly disguised Satan, and an innocent girl. I don't ..."I read that story too. It was based on the true case of a serial killer in the 50's.
Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
Reading all these comments, it seems I'm in the minority in that I pretty much disregard the author's real-life personality and just go whether I like their work. The author being an evil prick doesn't make the writing less valid. I adore the books of Ray Bradbury, Roald Dahl and Marion Zimmer Bradley, and continue to; even knowing that they were hateful. Luckily the proceeds don't go to them. If the proceeds did...I have to say I probably would still buy their books, if I really wanted them and no secondhand copies were available. The money funds authors producing art we love. Leave the police etc. to deal with any hate speech or abuse that they author is guilty of, it's not our place to punish them by shitting on their career (unless their work is crap too - like Scott-Card's and King's).
Just my controversial opinion.
Melanti wrote: "For instance, he was anti-technology and anti-TV, and to a certain extent Fahrenheit 451 is about how watching TV will rot your brain and destroy society. Yet, he was perfectly fine writing screenplays for film and having his own work adapted for the screen. His shows were fine; it was just the ones he didn't like that were bad for you."You can criticize bad TV while still wanting to create quality shows for people.
Elizabeth wrote: "Reading all these comments, it seems I'm in the minority in that I pretty much disregard the author's real-life personality and just go whether I like their work. The author being an evil prick doe..."How could a bad person be a brilliant writer? Isn't a keen moral sense necessary to call any work "great?" I'm just wondering.
And watch your language.
Rosa wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Reading all these comments, it seems I'm in the minority in that I pretty much disregard the author's real-life personality and just go whether I like their work. The author being..."Hmm I think you're right, but morals are so variable (I'm not advocating total moral relativism but they are) that a morally deficient writer could still write works that are "very good" if not "great" because of their wordcraft, plotting, characterisation, worldbuilding etc.
I guess it depends on whether you like deep analysis of social issues or just a good story. Personally the deep analysis reminds me way too much of high school English class.
Rosa wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Ellen Hopkins. I emailed her a question and she was so rude in her reply. I refuse to read anything else she has written."What did she say?"
I'm sorry this is so late. I forgot I had commented on here.
So my friend and I were arguing over if her book where she talks about her daughter was true or not. My friend said anyone can write it's based on a true story. So I emailed her to ask and she wrote back that I needed better friends who weren't stupid.
Elizabeth wrote: "Reading all these comments, it seems I'm in the minority in that I pretty much disregard the author's real-life personality and just go whether I like their work. The author being an evil prick doe..."How was Roald Dahl hateful? I've never read anything about what a great person he was.
Courtney wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Reading all these comments, it seems I'm in the minority in that I pretty much disregard the author's real-life personality and just go whether I like their work. The author being..."He was an anti-Semite and a racist, and had other things wrong with him too. His streak of cruelty is evident in his terrific children's books, more so in his adult fiction. He was probably a victim of the cruel British school system.
Courtney wrote: "Rosa wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Ellen Hopkins. I emailed her a question and she was so rude in her reply. I refuse to read anything else she has written."What did she say?"
I'm sorry this is so la..."
Yow. That's rude, alright. How bizarre.
Elizabeth wrote: "Reading all these comments, it seems I'm in the minority in that I pretty much disregard the author's real-life personality and just go whether I like their work. The author being an evil prick doesn't make the writing less valid."From my way of thinking, it's vital to read people who espouse things I find vile to understand their arguments, their place in the culture, and their influence on others. I just finished reading Lovecraft's complete works, and I read it precisely because I find his worldview wrong. I find the idea of avoiding books whose authors I disagree with a little baffling, to be honest.
Amy (Other Amy) wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Reading all these comments, it seems I'm in the minority in that I pretty much disregard the author's real-life personality and just go whether I like their work. The author being..."I agree wholeheartedly with this.
Elizabeth wrote: "Reading all these comments, it seems I'm in the minority in that I pretty much disregard the author's real-life personality and just go whether I like their work. The author being an evil prick doe..."Not too controversial at all, Elizabeth. I think I'm in the same boat as you!
While some authors (some you mentioned, Bradbury and Dahl) had/have views I don't agree with, i usually don't have a hard time seperating art and artist. I feel like, if i can read a book without the proceeds going to them, (libraries and secondhand shops for instance) i can enjoy them without having to support the author, if for whatever reason i don't want to. Once you've released fiction out into the world for people to read and interpret for themselves, it doesn't belong to just you anymore.
@Amy (Other Amy), good point!
Mod
I've heard bad things about Dahl, that he was emotionally cruel to his wife; I'm not really that familiar with him. But it was revealed recently that he intended Charlie in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" to be black, and his publisher or rep advised against it.
Lobstergirl wrote: "Rosa wrote: "He was an anti-Semite and a racist"I've heard bad things about Dahl, that he was emotionally cruel to his wife; I'm not really that familiar with him. But it was revealed recently th..."
Really? I never knew that, that's really interesting.
Rosa wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Reading all these comments, it seems I'm in the minority in that I pretty much disregard the author's real-life personality and just go whether I like their work...."I meant to say anything but a great person sorry. I did not know he was an anti-semite. This hurts me as a Jew. I feel like tossing his books now.
Don't...they're too good. I feel hurt as a Jew, too, but I think he was more anti-Israel than just Jew-hating. He did fight in WWII for England, after all. I would like to talk with him, though. It's so disappointing and upsetting, I know.
Lobstergirl wrote: "But it was revealed recently that he intended Charlie in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" to be black, and his publisher or rep advised against it...."People are complicated beings; they grow up in a historical setting and are shaped by their environment. Unless someone is actively using their work to advocate/promote hateful viewpoints -- as opposed to, say, expressing personal opinions to a friend in a letter -- I'm OK with treating their work on its own merits.
Recent differing opinions about Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss) and his alleged racial insensitivity is a case in point.
Pick a current Republican and one who works for Fox. Not a chance.
Elizabeth wrote: "Reading all these comments, it seems I'm in the minority in that I pretty much disregard the author's real-life personality and just go whether I like their work. The author being an evil prick doe..."MZB wasn't just hateful but badly abused and molested her daughter, and allowed and encouraged others to as well. I can't go back to her books because the meaning and emphasis particularly around sex and power dynamics is totally changed for my by knowing how she really viewed them.
Mein Kampf or anything else by Hitler
In regards to MZB, I simply LOVED her Mists of Avalon. SO much, I purchased multiple copies and gave them as gifts. Further, one of my passwords was Avalon! She once was a Guest at a bay area Scifi fantasy convention I attended. She was regarded and protected like a goddess. I cannot even have it on my book shelf.
Natasha wrote: "Any book "written" by a YouTuber."YouTubers write books?
What's the Name of That Book???
Books mentioned in this topic
A Room with a View (other topics)Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? (other topics)
Fahrenheit 451 (other topics)
The Official Fahrenheit 9/11 Reader (other topics)
Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Ray Bradbury (other topics)Ray Bradbury (other topics)
Thomas C. Foster (other topics)
Nicole Hollander (other topics)
Ray Bradbury (other topics)
More...
Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?, based on the serial killer Charles Schmitt and probably her most famous work. I actually read this last week and it is definitely very powerful.