About the Author- Choice of three

Ordered The Importance of Living by Lin Yutang, and whilst I'm waiting for that to arrive I've whittled it down to my final three:

Patricia Highsmith

Key info:
- 1921-1995
- Mother tried to abort her
- Led a troubled life, haunted by psychological issues
- Was gay and struggled with volatile relationships
- Atheist, racist and anti-semitic
- Died of lung cancer

Themes:
- Murder
- Crime thriller
- Insanity, obsession
- Romance

Notable works:
- Strangers on a Train
- The Talented Mr Ripley
- The Price of Salt

What do I think?
I vaguely researched her right at the start, but I obviously didn't do it in depth enough. I really don't like her character. AT ALL. Although I liked her works, I just can't identify with any of her personal ideologies and find it difficult to get excited about working with her writings.

Outcome:
No thankyou.

Italo Calvino

Key info:
- Lived 1923-1985
- Most of his life lived in Italy
- Strong pacifist, refused military service and went into hiding
- Died of a cerebral hemorrhage
- Anti-fascist family who worked in botany

Themes:
- Morality
- Supernatural
- Literature

Notable works:
- Our Ancestors
- Invisible Cities
- If on a winter's night a traveller

What do I think?
I really loved his work, and find his personal life very interesting and his morals are something I can really identify with. My only reservation is that his stories are already so visual that I may fall into the trap of just drawing what he describes.

Outcome:
Since I haven't read Yutang's work, I will wait until I do, and if I'm not too keen on Yutang then I will definitely do Calvino.


Lin Yutang

Key info:
- 1895-1976
- Chinese name: 林語堂
- Translator, linguist and inventor
- Born in the mountains, considered himself a 'child of the mountains'
- Went through different religions: Christianity-Taoism-Buddhism-Christianity
- Invented the first Chinese typewriter
- Happily married with three daughters, who were all authors

Themes:
- Mindfulness
- Cultures
- Faith
- Universality

Notable works:
- The Importance of Living
- Moment in Peking
- The Gay Genius
- A Leaf in the Storm
- (and many critical essays)

What do I think?
I found his life so so interesting, and I'm already thinking of all the imagery available to me without even opening his book! I'm really excited to look at him more, and hope I enjoy his book!

Outcome:
As long as I like his writing style I really want to explore Yutang more over the course of this module.