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Books/book club

Would this put you off?

(90 Posts)
Kartush Sun 16-Feb-25 21:59:31

I have a question,
If you have read books by a particular author and really enjoyed them, would finding out something unsavoury about said author
a. Change your opinion of the books you have already read
b. Stop you reading any more of their books.

M0nica Tue 18-Feb-25 17:38:00

Skye17 It is what a lot of men do, without anyone particularly criticising them. Some women are just not maternal.

When my sister married she became mother to an autistic girl, whose birth mother had walked out and who had been brought up lovingly and gently by a caring single father.

ordinarygirl Tue 18-Feb-25 18:09:56

I don't think it would put me off a writer that I already like BUT it might put me off reading books by a "new " author who has done something which I consider to be offensive.

SueDonim Tue 18-Feb-25 18:36:31

Is this about the writer Alive Munro? I think it would change my attitude towards her, though I’m not sure I’ve read anything of hers.

GrammaH Tue 18-Feb-25 18:37:07

Good grief spabbygirl, that's a bit of a sweeping statement and has probably made a good few gransnetters do a sharp intake of breath. Perhaps that's what you wanted? On the OP's question, I'd say no, I wouldn't be bothered at all and would carry on reading if I enjoyed the writer's books.

SueDonim Tue 18-Feb-25 18:37:17

Alice.

Mojack26 Tue 18-Feb-25 18:47:47

No,that's like cutting off your nose to spite your face. It's not going to make any impact on them

DeeDe Tue 18-Feb-25 19:14:29

If I enjoy a book, it wouldn’t bother me tbh

Maggierose Tue 18-Feb-25 23:04:02

It depends on two things: whether I was enjoying reading the authors before I learned bad things about them and what they had actually done. For instance I can happily read Philip Larkin, Evelyn Waugh and Kingsley Amis even after learning that they were absolute shits. But however “good” a poet Anne Sexton may be, I have never read her and never will after reading her daughter’s memoir.

Maggierose Tue 18-Feb-25 23:06:49

An interesting book on this subject is
Monsters - What do we do with great art by bad people? By Claire Dederer

Georgesgran Tue 18-Feb-25 23:18:15

Lord Byron nursed his dog Boatswain through rabies without any fear of being infected. Later he wrote Epitaph to a Dog in memory of that dog.

Byron? Mad, bad and dangerous to know.

M0nica Wed 19-Feb-25 08:37:23

But Byron was merely a standard drunk and womaniser, possibly bi-sexual, given to drunken orgies. Fairly run of the mill,as things go

And the 'mad. bad, and dangerous to know' was said by Lady Caroline Lamb, one of his lovers.

Grandmabatty Wed 19-Feb-25 08:44:21

It probably would put me off reading. I had heard the allegations regarding Alice Munro and was disappointed. However she isn't around to answer to them.

Maggiemaybe Wed 19-Feb-25 08:49:00

pascal30

JamesandJon33
Marmin What is wrong about playing tennis naked?
I think it must be very freeing.

I read this as freezing. Which could also be the case.

JamesandJon33 Wed 19-Feb-25 09:15:06

Depends where and when 🤭

creakingandchronic Wed 19-Feb-25 09:24:25

Most celebs seem to have skeletons in the cupboard have affairs etc. I tend to avoid gossip style media posts magazines etc as I have no interest in the boring lives of the celebs.
the only thing is if they were involved in paedophile activities then no I would no longer want to support them and add to their finances so they could spend more on their sick interests

Norah Wed 19-Feb-25 09:35:47

No, wouldn't change my opinion on what I had already read. However, I'd probably not read any more of their books. Rather depends how unsavoury I suppose.

Goldieoldie15 Wed 19-Feb-25 09:51:38

Would simply not touch anything written by that Archer bloke.

Boz Wed 19-Feb-25 10:12:48

Anne Perry, a London-born author, served time in prison for murder as a teenager. She was inspired by her own experiences to write historical and socially conscious crime fiction.

Boz Wed 19-Feb-25 10:17:25

JKRowling loves pensioned off greyhounds. A Rescue Centre for greyhounds tells the tale of a lady taking one of their dogs and giving them a cheque for £5000. The generous cheque was signed by JKRowling.

Iam64 Wed 19-Feb-25 10:27:10

I never liked Woody Allen so not watching his films after the allegations was no challenge. Same with Michael Jackson, I always thought him a worry, not someone I’d want near children despite his ability to entertain.

AAGill made beautiful art but was an abusive father. His art/pews are in many Churches and I suppose should stay there.
I like jk Rawlings writing and politics. I buy them for children. I enjoyed reading them with my children/grandchildren
I dislike Jeffrey Archer and his politics so don’t read his books

Not a sophisticated approach 😀

Boz Wed 19-Feb-25 11:33:16

A.A.Gill was a journalist - have you got the right man here?

Barleyfields Wed 19-Feb-25 11:49:41

Just what I was thinking Boz. I think Iam meant Eric Gill?

Norah Wed 19-Feb-25 12:41:45

Boz

A.A.Gill was a journalist - have you got the right man here?

Eric Gill perhaps?

Truly talented. Unsavoury horrible person.

Iam64 Wed 19-Feb-25 13:21:40

Norah

Boz

A.A.Gill was a journalist - have you got the right man here?

Eric Gill perhaps?

Truly talented. Unsavoury horrible person.

Thanks all you’re correct
I was rushing 😞

Stansgran Wed 19-Feb-25 13:23:56

@Iam64 don’t you mean Eric Gill not A A Gill. The latter was a restaurant critic who got on my nerves for calling his partner the Blonde in his write ups. The former believed I think that incest was his right.
Both of them coloured my opinions of their work.