Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme; each week’s question, and links to opinions on it, can be found here. This week’s question, as suggested by Simon Thomas: Have you ever been put off an author’s books after reading a biography of them? Or the reverse – a biography has made you love an author more?
My answer: Back in 1998 we moved to the Charlotte area with J’s company. While J was at work all day, I was exploring the area with two kids in tow (just two then, ages 2 and 6 months). I drove around our suburban development, and into Charlotte itself; we spent a lot of time in the car as I ran the various errands associated with moving into a new home (where can I get a decent haircut? What’s the children’s room in the library like? I can’t believe I’m exchanging these towels for the third time, will I ever find a match for colors in the shower curtain?!?).
All the time we drove around we listened to two cassette tapes (for you younger readers, those were old-fashioned devices for playing music, before MP3s or even CDs 
) They were Raffi’s Bananaphone and Singable Songs for the Very Young. I tolerated the music, my 2-year-old sung along, and the baby was content.
That fall I read that Raffi was putting out an autobiography. How interesting, I thought. I put in a request for Raffi: The Life of a Children’s Troubadour at the local library, and they called me when the “hot off the presses” book was available for pick up.
I eagerly dove into it, and was, well, disappointed. I expected the focus to be on his work, and the reasons he writes and sings for children. I read more about his personal life than I cared to know, but I guess that’s the nature of a biography.
My younger kids still request his music (we’ve upgraded to MP3s), I continue to tolerate it, and the older kids listen to something else on their iPods. I can’t help but think of his autobiography when I hear Baby Beluga or Down by the Bay. It’s a feeling similar to when Toto pulled the curtain away and exposed the Wizard for who he really was.
What about you? Has your opinion been influenced by a biography or autobiography?
I think it’s normal to be affected by what we learn of an author.
Good example. Happy Booking Through Thursday!
It does affect at times. Like it did for you..
Here is my BTT post!
Interesting! I don’t read many biographies or memoirs, but I think I should start reading more…
I am glad I didn’t finish this biography…I couldn’t get past the first chapter. We love Raffi and I wouldn’t want anything to change that:)
Okay, wait a minute – do you still live in the Charlotte area? We lived in Mint Hill from 1994 to 1999 and we’re 2 hours south of there now. If you’re still there, we have to do a meet-up!
Raffi was very popular in our house about that time, too, (we even went to see him in concert), so I’m glad I never read the biography!
I answered BTT on my blog today.
I am sometimes surprised when they author turns out to be not at all like I thought he/she would be, but it doesn’t effect my opinion of the book.
Actors are another matter though. If I am creeped out by a performer, I can’t not see them in the roles they play.
Do you sing along? and what’s a cassette tape ;}