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Biographical Fiction

Elyse Mac

Elyse Mac

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Hello ladies and gents,
I was just going to ask what other peope's opinions were of biographical fiction. It seems that I am always picking up books at the book shoppe that are bio. fiction and I wonder why I'm drawn to it. I can't really get a grasp on whether I think it is great, or if it is invasive. I'm currently reading Susan Vreeland's "The Forest Lover" about the Canadian artist, Emily Carr, and I just got through with "Earthly Joys" by Philippa Gregory about famous gardner, John Tradescant. Would love to know everyone's views.
Cheers
Elyse
 
My first reaction is that I would rather read a good, solid biography of the non-fiction variety. When I read biographical fiction, I can't help wondering which parts are true and which are not. Truth is stranger than fiction anyway. I also like autobiographies. A good one feels like the person is really talking with me.
 
Yes, quite a good point. I do love a good biography. I absolutely love Audrey Hepburn's biography. Honestly have not ever read an autobiography.
You're right. I often find myself wondering which parts are true and which are made up. Many times, I think it's wrong to add to people's lives who cannot tell the true story, or which have not told the true story.
 
I agree with you Mari in that I find myself continually wondering if what I am reading is a fictional part of the story or not. I would take a non-fictional biography over a fictional one almost 100% of the time unless it is about someone where very little factual information is known. Say a fictional biography about Homer for instance which tells of a romance he had with a blacksmith's daughter. On second thought, I would probably never read a novel like this...
 
I also find reading non-fiction bios better than reading fictions ones for the same reasons. I usually find myself researching the person who the story was about if I read a bio thats fiction because I really can't stand wondering which parts were true and which wern't.

~MonkeyCatcher~
 
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