Quote:
Originally Posted by gmw
Isn't illumination an effect? Judges get recused because it is almost impossible to totally ignore your own personal experiences and prejudices. So I see this as a nice ideal, something to try for, but not something that's really achievable.
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I think maybe we're talking about two different things? I was referring to elements of the author's life in his book, where I think it's irrelevant to the quality of the book and that a book should be approached without looking at it through that prism. That couldn't be achieved here entirely, of course, as it was obvious Maurice must be a variant on Greene, albeit less successful (or at an earlier point in his career). That doesn't mean that the author's bio can't provide insights, but to the extent a book can only be understood through the author's life, I think it's failed.
As for bringing my own personal experiences, well, sure. It's one reason a book can change as you reread it over the course of your life. However, I really don't need to like a character to find him interesting or successful, nor do I have to agree with his thoughts and actions, so long as they're consistent and believable in themselves.