hating the writer not the book

[Dfordoom]

I'm wondering if a lot of books get disliked because people don't like what they've read about the author, or don't like the author's image, or just assume that the writer is someone whose books they won't enjoy.

Hemingway is the classic case. I wanted to dislike him when I first read him, but I just couldn't. He's just so good.

But I've never been able to bring myself to read anything by Norman Mailer.

Dashiell Hammett is another example for me. As a human being I find him repellant, but he was a great writer just the same.

[Joanne]

I enjoy poetry but I won't read Ezra Pound, such an anti-semite. Norman Mailer was scheduled to be on a talk show, and the host said he'd need another chair for the man's ego. I am influenced by how authors behave.

[Ellen]

I try not to be too influenced by what I know about a writer. It's hard for me with Ezra Pound & impossible with Ayn Rand. Of course, her books from what I understand espouse her belief system. I suppose it could extend my levels of understanding to read her but there's so little time and so many other things I want to read.

I don't generally want to read to be preached to even if I agree with preacher. I want to learn or be transported to another experience or be amazed by language or be entertained. Lots of things I like to get out of reading but not preaching.

I have a real problem with Atwood because of that. I almost like her, but it usually gets spoiled by feeling that things are being over-simplified to get across a point (except for The Edible Woman which I liked a lot).

[Dfordoom]

Ellie wrote: "I don't generally want to read to be preached to even if I agree with preacher.

Yes, I totally agree.

[Brycen]

Ok I have a weirder problem than not liking the author. I have not read Wheels of Time for a couple of odd reasons which I will list in a minute. Now a friend of mines is trying his darnedest to get me to read them.He is driving me nuts.

So these are my reasons.

1. An ex who was a total jerk liked the Wheel of Time series. It was the last gift I purchased him before we broke up. I bought him the newest book out at the time in 1995.

2. I can not stand that there is a WOT track at Dragon con that runs 8-5 leaving a perfectly wonderful conference room open that they will not use for another half sized track at night.

I have tried to quit reading Anne McCaffrey because she was a complete brat at Dragon Con one year. She ran over a friends toes with her wheel chair. Said friend was just minding her own business.