Can you enjoy the work of an author if s/he is a total jerk?

[greyowl]

No I find it sort of reflects poorly on the author ; it really leaves a bad impression esp when they openly criticize and or demean.

[Carla Hurst-Chandler]

Harlan Ellison, HST, and Hemingway were (by all accounts) difficult authors. Perhaps even jerks. But they were also literary demi-gods

[ALynnPowers]

I don't get to know them in real life, so I never find out about how their personalities actually are.

[SteveH]

Dylan Thomas: great poet, deeply unlikeable person. I love his poetry. I've never read Evelyn Waugh, but am assured by those who have that his novels are brilliant. He, however, was thoroughly unpleasant. Some people apparently think that fascist sympathiser and traitor Ezra Pound's poetry is wonderful, though I find it pretentious.

[jordyn21]

In a way I can still enjoy the substance of the book but it is always in the back of my mind that the person who wrote these words and characters is a jerk. Then I over think why the author made this happen or had this character be like this and if anything bad in the book happens I automatically just assume that its because he is a jerk and wants to be mean to his readers lol. So I can only sort of appreciate a book if I know that the author is genuinely a mean person.

[hareid03]

I don't usually look into authors that I'm reading. Like, I might have a series that I love or even an author that I think writes really great books but I don't know a single thing about that author. For instance, I really love Harry Potter. It's my favorite series of all time and most likely always will be. But I don't know anything about J.K. Rowling. And honestly, she could be a convicted serial killer and that wouldn't really change my view about the Harry Potter series, I wouldn't love the books any less. An author's deeds don't really have an impact on how I view their books, good or bad.

[tinegunner]

I could probably still read their books but it would depend on what sort of jerk the author was. I've heard Jonathan Franzen is a bit of a jerk but I still love his books and his being a bit snarky wouldn't turn me away. If the author was a racist or a rapist or something, then I would have a lot more trouble with it.
Then again, I still like Woody Allen movies despite everything - although I wouldn't be sad if he ended up in jail.
Artists generally aren't perfect, which is what makes them sometimes have much to say.

[Hadiqa]

That depends. . . I do not search the author when I choose a book to read neither do search her after finishing it :p

[FredWilliam]

I don't pay much attention to entertainment/celebrity news, so there is a good chance that I won't know if an author is a jerk. If I like the work, I will read it.

[LadyKaylee]

I love Ender's Game and the whole Enderverse series, but I know that Orson Scott Card is a homophobe. I balance the knowledge that my purchase of his books supports homophobic causes by donating my time to the cause of equality.

[Carla Hurst-Chandler]

I love Ender's Game and the whole Enderverse series, but I know that Orson Scott Card is a homophobe. I balance the knowledge that my purchase of his books supports homophobic causes by donating my time to the cause of equality.

That is a shame. Did not know that about him.

[SequesteredLeo]

That's kind of how I feel about Terry Goodkind. I have yet to give him a chance because I've seen how he berates other authors, but I have yet to find another author that acts do immaturely towards him as he does others. It's kind of a turn off.

I may eventually read his work because I do hear he is good, but I don't know yet.

[lehel_vandor]

Great question... Personally, I found that the answer is a "yes" only if he/she is so astonishing, that I can forget the real person behind the works - otherwise it is difficult to really enjoy the writing, especially if the works have a strong humanitarian message. In latter case, I just get annoyed by the contrast between what he/she writes and what is known about the person

[lovablegeek123]

Ohhhhh that's a tough one honestly. I have no idea if I could or not. I don't look into the authors personal life too often...it's like meeting your hero only to discover they're really just a disappointment. I like to think I could let their works speak for them.

[SammieWonder]

I don't pay much attention to entertainment/celebrity news, so there is a good chance that I won't know if an author is a jerk. If I like the work, I will read it.

I feel the exact same.

I'm also shocked to learn that Card is a homophobe. I, too, cherish his works.