Paying Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 6:00AM in Louise Ure
By Louise Ure
This feels a little creepy to write, just after Alafair's post yesterday about cyber-bullying an author. But it's a look from the other side ... from the reader who thought she knew a writer's heart and didn't.
I found myself in an unfamiliar situation a couple of weeks ago: choosing to not read a man’s fiction because I found his personal character and politics unsavory.
I’ll leave him nameless in this blog, but you would surely know his name. He has written more than a dozen books and his work has been lauded for decades. He is revered as one of America’s preeminent crime fiction writers.
So you can imagine my anticipation when I was invited to a small private luncheon with this icon --this man whose work I have admired for longer than I’ve been writing.
And that’s where my “I know him because I know his work” rationalization crashed headlong into the reality that an author’s real voice is not always consistent with his voice on the page.
This man’s words on the page are powerful, and so deeply emotional that you would think he placed his own feet inside his characters' shoes. In person, not so much.
While still glib in real life, he came across as untrustworthy and inauthentic; someone who doesn't reach out for new experiences. He said, for example, that he will only travel through affluent neighborhoods because he doesn’t like to see billboards in Spanish or HIV prevention ads on bus stops. They would sully his world.
In his work, his characters care deeply about things. They are driven to find the killer, to stop the pain, to make things right in a world gone mad. In person, the less information the better.
He has no television, no radio and no computer. He reads no newspapers or any other author’s work, either in fiction or non-fiction. He prefers to sit quietly, by himself, in a dark room.
The cops in his books are not cartoonish; he creates real people with their own obsessions and weaknesses and self-doubt. His writing sings with clarity and precision.
But in real life this author thinks the cops can do no wrong and believes that torture, whether done by the police or soldiers, is justified to get a confession. “Better to torture an innocent man than to chance that one bad guy gets away,” he said at the lunch.
He called me un-American when I expressed a different point of view.
So there I was, with Famous Author’s Latest Oeuvre in hand, and I walked out without getting an autograph. I didn’t want his signature on any book in my house. And I'm considering removing his earlier works from my shelves as well, as I no longer think I can appreciate them without identifying the writing with the real life man.
This seems like such an odd fit of pique for me. While I’m perfectly comfortable not going to see a Mel Gibson movie, or finding a new favorite country singer after spotting Leann Rimes at the Republican National Convention, this is the first time that I have purposely spurned a writer of fiction because I didn’t like him personally.
(Wait a minute, come to think of it, there is one other guy, who years ago at one Bouchercon or another, invited himself to the lunch I was hosting, ordered lots of food “for the table,” then got up and left when the bill arrived. I still haven’t bought any of his books.)
But it brings me to my central question today: Do we expect the real life man to live up to the author’s voice on the page? And if you can’t stand the man behind the curtain, can you still admire the magic he conjures up?
I don’t mean that an author has to resemble their characters, or even have their same world view. There are too many good examples of the shy author who writes thrillers with daring, adventurous protagonists. Or the senior citizen whose protagonist is a hip and humorous 20-something.
I also don't mean that every writer has to echo my own values and life experience. I guess I mean something closer to ... heart. If an author’s work has depth and emotional resonance that rocks you, should you expect that to be reflected when you meet him in person? Would it be okay if he were shallow or rude or purposefully mean?
Should it even matter that I don’t like the man behind the words?
In some ways, I wish authors weren’t so “available” to us readers. In an ideal world, I’d remove both the author photo and the short bio from every book jacket. There would be no Meet the Author signings or conventions. Blogs and websites and Twitter and Facebook would be outlawed, unless they dealt strictly with a discussion of the work.
That’s why we buy books anyway, right? To get lost in a fantasy world created by someone we’ve never met. Why do we have to taint that magic by bringing the real life author -- warts and all-- into the equation?
Maybe I shouldn't have gone to that lunch. Maybe I would still revere his books.
How about you ‘Rati? Do you pay any attention to the man behind the curtain?
Reader Comments (73)
And I'm definitely skipping Mel Gibson movies in the future.
But I'm inconsistent; I saw the Ghostwriter and the Pianist although I think Roman Polanski should be extradited and do time here. I don't know why I have one standard for writers and one for directors/screenwriters. Maybe because I have no desire to be a director/screenwriter?
This reminds me of how I feel about actors. I'm much more likely to believe and enjoy the performance of actresses/actors who avoid the papparazzi and gossip shows because I don't know too much about their personal lives.
But you know, from what you say I highly doubt that he has no television or radio, since some of what he believes exactly parrots certain media figures' ideologies. So add "liar" to his other frailties.
How the mighty have fallen.
And I think Karen is right, too. This guy is full of shit, in many ways. "Dark room" indeed.
OTOH, as the Dylan song goes, "you ain't him." Someone has to be awfully damn good to get away with that kind of behavior.
I think it is human nature to connect with others relationally but I do not think it is human nature to marginalize others. If we make over 60K/year we earn the top three percent of the worlds wealth. So the question becomes, 'What are we doing?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eih_ybKdVXU&feature=related
On the other hand, we're human and we all react to people in our own way. Three authors come to mind in my experiences. One, although I read this author's first book out of curiosity, I won't read any more of her works because of seeing her in a panel at LCC. Second author, I visited her blog and was completely turned off by her politics and though I don't like the person, I still read her works. (it's why I say leave politics and other personal opinions off of a blog intended to promote the author not the person). The third author, I dislike the beliefs of and I will never read a word and have removed the books.
So what is it? The degree of perceived personal slight? Does art transcend human nature? Somebody loves the people we despise so they have worth; everyone does. But we also have choice and I think ultimately that is the answer. Life's too short; have an opinion and move along being the best person you can be because that's is all for which we are responsible.
Dang! You got me all philosophical this morning and I haven't even finished my coffee. This doesn't bode well. :) Good post!
Reading has changed for me since I became a writer. I used to avoid jacket photos of authors as much as possible, because even seeing what my favorites looked like could alter my perception of the words. All that's gone now. I have a hard time separating people from their work.
Most importantly, I never discuss politics, and try to avoid religion with my readers and online. Who cares what I think? My books are what's important, not my opinions. At least that's how I see it. I wish more people felt the same.
Grace, I was originally thinking of him as a troll, but your San Simeon comparison is even better.
Shizuka, Debbie and PK among others seem to live with the inconsistency of sometimes separating the artist from his work and sometimes damning his work for personal reasons. That's where I wound up, too, but unsure how I make those distinctions.
Vicky, the guy's work is deserving but I'll leave that support up to others. (And Shizuka, I'd have to put Polanski in that list, too.)
Karen, he may well be a liar. He was up his own ass in so many ways, it wouldn't surprise me.
Cornelia, I'd almost forgotten that jerk. Forgotten, I said. Not forgiven.
JD, I started to add that perspective to the blog post but it was just too damn mature and reasonable.
BL? A continuous loop tape and a hand on the shoulder? Good Lord. I hope that there was some way, even as a student, that you let them know the depth of their hypocrisy.
JT, "Who cares what I think? My books are what's important." That's the world I want to live in, but our ever increasing access to authors makes it difficult.
I too would have a hard time enjoying a book by someone whose views I despised. As a reader, I want to follow characters whom I feel at least some sympathy toward. You can't feel that sympathy if you keep hearing the author's real voice behind the dialogue.
I'm one of those who can't enjoy a book if I know the person behind it is a bit of an arse. I've even stopped reading books mid-way after enountering such people. Wrong, I know - the author is not the book - but I can't help it.
Life is too short to try to make ourselves enjoy works by authors we don't like, respect, etc. Plenty of books and movies to go around, no need to force oneself to enjoy an artist who we really don't enjoy.
I haven't read Julie Powell's follow-up to her Julia Child year either (for similar "I just don't like you anymore" reasons). But I do have Polanski's Ghost Writer in my queue (go figure - I can't forgive his personal life but I can't stop loving Chinatown either).
MJ, I think Shizuka posed the question for us correctly on the distinction between our view of musicians/directors/actors versus writers. "Is it because I don't aspire to be a musician/director/actor?"
Because we have so little time to balance writing, day job and family, our family usually suffers. I've seen so many examples of famous, successful men who share no relationship with their children. I lose respect for the authors who fall into this category. A person is more important than a career, if you ask me. Or it's better to take a slower route--juggle if you have to. If you've made the commitment to raise kids, then raise them.
And that's my soap-box speech for the day.
On the other hand, I remember the scene in "Amadeus" where Mozart says, "I am a vulgar man. But my music is not vulgar." If you enjoyed this author's work so much prior to meeting him, and you will truly miss his characters, hmm... maybe you just buy his books at the used bookstore, or the library sale.
Thanks for speaking up, but it is a real surprise that you are un American. ha! I wouldn't want to spend a day in his America.
Hugs Judy
Luckily for me, the writers I have met have all lived up to the good impressions I've formed of them through their writing.
I have a friend who works in a bookstore and met a famous writer one day when he came to do a signing. She was SO turned off by his attitude that she stopped reading his work and never recommends his books anymore.. Influenced by what she told me (I trust her judgement) I don't read his work either. So, there is that effect as well.
I don't read Dennis Lehane, firstly because after he stopped writing his series and got into the Big Stand Alone books, I found his writing style insufferable, but also because of the impression I have of his being someone I wouldn't want to spend any time with. So why should I bother with his work?
JB Lynn, yep, that would be enough to get me to doubt the author's authenticity.
And Judy, you've summed up the epitome of "putting your money where your mouth is."
Writers are always told when receiving rejections to understand it was the writing that was rejected, not the person. The two are separate.
That being said, I don't think being a genius entitles anyone to be an asshole. Call them on it, or don't spend time with them. They're writing is separate.Wagner's dead, so I can listen to his music without putting food on his table. I don't know that I would grant a contemporary author I detested personally the same latitude ,no matter how much I enjoyed his writing. I'd cruise a used book store if I felt I had to read him.
on a side note - look forward to meeting you at Bouchercon.
Movies only take up a few hours of your time; reading a book can take days or weeks. Most art is about the message, first and foremost; in stories, the story comes first, and it's about the writing. But most of all, in fiction more than other things, it's a relationship.
In every other medium, you really are hearing it, seeing it, smelling it. In fiction, it's your imagination. Imagination is far more powerful than real life. Something a friend once told me: to torture someone, bring a banana, a toy train, and a lightbulb into a room, tell the person you're going to torture them, and get 'called away unexpectedly'. Almost always, they will be confessing the second you arrive, driven mad by the fear of their imagination.
When I read a book, I trust that the ending will be satisfying, that if the hero doesn't win they at least gave it a good go, that I will be inspired to be like them, that the hero and heroine will fall in love, the mystery will be solved, the ghost will pop out of nowhere, whatever. If I wouldn't trust that person in real life, why would I trust them with my imagination?
Eika, I'm still thinking about toy trains, bananas and light bulbs.
I'm hoping to be there, but it will be difficult for me. I'm still so vulnerable after Bruce's death and it's tough to be in social situations.
If I do get up the courage to attend, treat me like glass, please. Either look right through me or put your arms gently around me.
And if I can't get up the courage, know that my heart and my thoughts are with you.
There was one thing I disagree with. You said :
"To get lost in a fantasy world created by someone we’ve never met."
I would say it makes no difference if we know the person or not. I'm sure you have tons of writer friends and you still read their books with joy. I know I would.
But hoo boy, I'd put torture right up there with racism as something I won't countenance.
There are so many wonderful writers -- who are also wonderful people -- (even if we don't agree politically or whatever) that I'd rather support them than someone who really rubs me the wrong way.
I don't have a lot of money. I want to spend my discretionary dollars on people I like or care about. It's called spending with intent.
I'm like JB -- I almost never read author bios, even after reading their books and for many many years--until I was published--was hardly aware of who authored what, save for whatever got pounded into me in grad school. The work must stand on its own.
I have very recently said that I'm just not wasting my money on books by people I find offensive, rude and/or mean.
I do realize that may be viewed as childish by some. I don't care. It's my money, to be spent how I choose. But more than that - it's my own sense of ethics I'm supporting. That my little bit of money is not going into the pockets of a jackass is really beside the point. As I get older and realize I'll never be able to read all the books I want to read, screening out the asses is a good way to start slimming the list. Mostly, I guess - I'm just not interested in wasting my time.
And to call someone un-American because their views differ? Lord A Mercy. How did you keep yourself from punching this arrogant ass in the nose?! Tough to do, wasn't it? I'll stop now. I feel a rant coming on , , , ,
I had this discussion back in 1981 when I was at dinner with Carol Kane, Matthew Modine and Diane Keaton. Carol was disgusted with all of the gossip going around about her and Woody Harrelson. Diane was grousing about having no privacy with Warren Beatty. (Mathew was telling a graphic story of his wife's birth experience in a London hospital which was TMI at a dinner.) Anyway. I told them that I didn't give a shit about their personal lives or who Don Johnson was cheating on with Melanie Griffith. I want actors to act. I want to see some good acting up there on the screen and then I didn't want to read or hear another thing about them. They all applauded.
Writers write. Actors act. Let it be. I don't want to know what a writer is like. I want to savor a good story.
No newspapers? No TV? No computer? Whatever. Just shut up and write. If you write anything that is personally noxious to me I'll throw your book in the trash and pick up another one. Like there aren't enough good writers out there to waste my time being disgusted? So. Don't tell me anything about yourselves.
But DO post your dog pictures.
I am semi-kidding, but I really mean it about not wanting to know what an author "believes" in. I want to know what her character believes in. That's enough.... and thank you all for staying away from politics and religion and women's rights and immigration in your Murderati posts.....
but it's ok if Toni wants to talk about her football....who's man enough to stop her anyway?! ; )
With all due respect, Louise, I think you mean exactly that. When this author displayed a world view opposite your own, you took an immediate dislike to him, and talked about removing his books from your home. I see this political elitism all the time in the blogs. Most of the comments above are good examples. It is a major turnoff, and the practitioners of this elitism risk losing a great deal to protect themselves inside their little cocoons.
Some of my favorite authors (the one you mentioned included--I know who he is) have political views quite unlike my own, but you know what? I don't care. And really, neither should you. An author (yourself and myself included) should live or die on the strength of his or her work. Period.
What they think about in their spare time or how they vote matters not.
Think of it this way. People who have read your blog today, who may just hold the same political beliefs as the author you mentioned, could shut themselves totally off from your work, now that they see which side of the fence you prefer, and especially after seeing how you regard people who prefer the other side.
Cutting yourself off from writers you disagree with politically is never a good idea. Cutting yourself off from half of your own potential readership is a worse one.
:D
okay, that totally made my day.
Joking.
I guess I have been lucky as all the authors I've had the privilege to meet and spend time with have always been really nice.
I think it was at least as much in the way the person expressed themselves (the "anti-American" slur for example) as the views themselves.
"Cutting yourself off from half of your own potential readership is a worse one."
So don't express, however mildly an opinion different from "half your potential readership" because you might alienate them, but Louise shouldn't be alienated by someone who expressed their opinion, including an endorsement of torture with a disregard of the consequences of torturing the innocent, in the most offensive way possible?
Curious double standard there.
I rarely discuss politics or religion. I have been known, on occasion, to make a political comment but try to be mindful of the audience. (I worked in the California State Legislature for 13 years. Avoiding politics all together when so many of my good friends still work in the building would be impossible.) Most people who have read my blogs know I'm Catholic because I talked about my research for my Seven Deadly Sins books; no one seemed to have a problem with it because I think I was polite and it was in context with my conversation. But being Catholic and going to church doesn't mean I won't read a book written by an atheist or a someone who's Jewish. That would be silly.
I think there is a double standard, however. For years I've read criticisms and snide remarks about our former president on this blog, some veiled and some blatant. If I wrote something critical about our current president, I suspect I would be vilified. I wouldn't stop listening to a singer or reading an author or watching an actor because they made a public political statement I didn't agree with, regardless of political party. I have a lot of friends on both sides of the political aisle. Having a different opinion or even a different worldview doesn't mean I can't appreciate what they create.
But likewise, anyone who calls me "un-American" for my opinions, and who does it to my face, had also better have his damn health insurance paid up.
Speaking of criminals Toni, entertainment purposes...how do we stop them from playing Gary Glitter at the games? :D
When we have this discussion in our house, my husband often says, "The movie should be made (book written) and nobody should go see it.
My characters don't necessarily share my views and I don't consider myself a hypocrite because it's fiction. Perhaps this author feels the same way. On the other hand, if somebody finds my story, characters...offensive, put the book down. Really I don't mind. I just hope to never personally put a person down and leave them feeling as you did Louise as you sat at that dinner.
Louise, before you donate the books, consider how many fans might be created. Keeping them in your house might be the best course of action!
Finally, as for alienating a potential book buyer, stand up for your beliefs with respect, not with an eye to the bottom line. We leave money behind...respect follows us.
And Pari and Kaye, it sounds like both of you practice "spending with intent." (It does seem the most likely path to enjoying your spending.)
Anon, once again your ballsy-ness makes me laugh. "But DO post your dog pictures?"
PK and Debbie, your comments are so sweet and thoughtful. Thank you.
Okay, I'll shut up now.