While Reading a book, is it a factor for you if the author?

Question

is male or female?
Young or old?
Married or of questionable preference?
Or does the work of their ability stand on it's own merits?

Answer 1

Very often you can tell the gender of the author by reading the book.

Fiction is one thing but if we are talking non-fiction well....

Generally a book stands on its own merits. HOWEVER personally some info about an author will cloud my view of a book. For instance a book writ en about the bad traits men share. I would view it one way if written by a man, another if written by a woman and if written by lesbian I would pretty much discount her opinion as being overly biases to begin with..

A book on child rearing written by a person who is childless I would view as nothing but theory.

A book on Christianity or Buddhism written by an atheist I would regard as biased to begin with.

I am sure you see what I am saying.

Answer 2

When I read a book (or rather before I read a book) the author is a factor that I do take into consideration.

However, not the criteria you state (i.e. male/female, straight/gay).

To my mind the reputation and ability of an author is enough.

Are the works of George Eliot any the less because she was revealed to be a woman.................no.

Are the works of Oscar Wilde any the less because he was committed as a homosexual..........no.

My only interest in these questions about an author are if I wish to study a work in great depth and I want to know the context, beliefs etc of the author that may have influenced the writing. Otherwise, who cares?

A great work of art is a great work of art.

Answer 3

The work stands on its own. While I'm reading, I may wonder how that author came up with his ideas or characters but it doesn't influence my enjoyment or choices.

I was thinking along these lines recently when I was reading "Lost in a Good Book" by Jasper Fforde. I was curious about a male author writing a female main character. As a non-writer, I would assume that it would be easier for a man to write male characters and vice versa. I don't think this train of thought influenced me but it certainly was present.

Answer 4

It doesn't matter. As long after I've finished the book and thought it was a good writing, I would go buy and read more from the same author. After awhile, I will venture into another author. I always like to try out different authors to see which style or what kind of story appeals more to me.

Currently, my favourite authors are Jodi Picoult, Tami Hoag, Robert Ludlum, John Grisham, Khaled Hosseini, Da Chen, Dave Pelzer.

Answer 5

The book stands on it's own merits. But I encourage everyone to read books by people with opposing views or lifestyles. It really gives you insight you would never otherwise get. It also will equip you for intelligent discussions having gained insight into the mind of the other side. I find it very refreshing.

Unfortunately for me, "Raredawn" has given you a much better answer than mine. Shoot!

Answer 6

What matters to most is the ability to tell me a story, to bring me into the world the writer has created for me to see. His/her characters need be believable, three dimensional. Give me a vibrant setting but don't bore me with mundane details. Let me round out descriptions wherever I can for it is much easier, and far better for the reader, that I form a vision close to but not exactly quite that of the writer so that I AM able to become immersed in the story. All I need to know is the hair and eye color of the character and any other important details; limp, lisp, lost, etc. The rest is up to my imagination to complete the writer's world.
Male, female, young, old, no matter; it need not even be original, by and large, just believable, as much as it can be. As Mr. King has said, and to which I concur, "It is the tale, not he who tells it."
Let each story stand on -and be weighed, as you say- on it's own merit.

Read on, world!
Have an awesome day!

Answer 7

yes, it is a factor - and you know it, if you're an attentive reader.
male and female writers concentrate on different things. for example, I as a female prefer books by males - because there vision differs from mine. for example, books on love. If the author is male - through the book I get closer to you guys; the author gives me keys to your world!

Answer 8

Hey I luv u,

No, The book stands on it's own. I do not care who wrote it. But, that is just me.

If it is good, then I might observe who wrote it. Or I might use the author to help find the book. But it makes no difference to me.

It might explain the perspective, male/female - but I try not to let that crowd my entertainment value from the book.

Answer 9

it really depends on how greatly the first page is written.. bc if i wanna read the next one after that then the book is decent so far... title is important more than author, if the title is catchy ill check out the first page.. if not then i pass it by.. even though it might be a great book

Answer 10

I'm somewhat ashamed to admit this, but I tend to shy away from buying books by female authors.