Did you at any time question the validity of a White author speaking as a Black man?

Did you at any time question the validity of a White author speaking as a Black man? Does this custom (male authors writing in a woman's voice, etc.) ever give you pause? Does it influence your opinion of a novel?

NO. I do not feel that a person's race or ethic background effects their mind or emotions

Alice Q

No, I never questioned this - and I have to admit that I have read many books in which a male author speaking as a woman or vice versa or a White author speaking as another race did NOT come across as authentic. I think Koontz 's voice comes across as authentic. I never had any pages on which I was jarred out of my enjoyment of the story by being aware of the author's race... or age.

No, I assumed it was a black author.

No...I have found that some authors have a particular facility for inhabiting another's persona, such as a woman writing as a man or the reverse. It is tricky, but, in this case, I never questioned it. I did find that the child seemed especially perceptive for his age. I have questioned this in other writings and put it down to the adult looking at his life from a more mature age and recollection.

No, I usually do not think about the characters of a book and who is the actual author writing the story. I don't feel that it matters who the author is writing the story as long as it is a well balanced, well written story.

No, I didn't think about it, but maybe I should have. I did question the authenticity of the things the author had the kids say. I taught for many years and raised three children. None of the kids I was around were as perceptive as the ones in the book and didn't speak at the level Jonah and the others did.

No I did not which I think is the mark of a good author. He was writing about the ethos of all of us no matter our color or background.

I agree with Christineb in that Koontz was writing about the ethos of all of us no matter our color or background.

I agree with terriej, in that I assumed it was a black author. I did not question the voice, except like others pointed out that at times (more when Jonah was much younger) he seemed really perceptive for a child. But then I remembered that this is being spoken into a recorder from hindsight as an adult, so that helps explain that, too.

No, not at all. Dean Koontz has a remarkable facility for inhabiting the thoughts and perceptions of young people - and I think this story really had little to do with race and more to do with the emotions and perceptions of a child as seen through the eyes of an adult.

Never even thought about it. So I guess the answer is no

White, black, pink or purple...what does it matter if the author is a good one and writes with honesty? Never entered my mind. The book wasn't about 'race'. And when it was discussed it was so done so with dignity.