I’m writing a review of Chuck Palahniuk’s Lulaby.
In the course of writing I found out his father was murdered and he was asked by the state to weigh in on the murderers fate. Death penalty or no. He says this was an inspiration for the book, in which the characters are given the power of life and death over others through a poem that can effectively kill a person just by thinking about them. All his characters misuse and are corruptedby this power.
I think knowing this bit of autobiography adds to my reading of the book.
I am also sitting here right now listening to “She Said” by the Beatles. I’ve heard the “she” is actually Peter Fonda, on acid, at a bad party John went to.
I think knowing this adds to my fun in hearing this song.
I think biography is often superfluous to a work of art. Sometimes it even gets in the way.
But let’s talk about when has some biographical note sigifigently contributed to your experience of a work of art.
Either profound philosophical understanding, or meer entertainment.
Or smutty inuendo. Whatever.