It's Probably Interesting but...

The New York Times reviews a biography of Alice Walker by Evelyn C. White called Alice Walker: A Life. Walker is 60 and far from dead so one has to wonder how does a biography get written about someone still alive? Things of necessity must be left out so as not to upset the still living person and those others that are still living who are part of the subject's life. Because of what is left out, one then has to wonder what the value of such a work is. Walker apparently only partially approved of the biography. So there is another road block. And of course, since the writer is still alive, if the biographer talks to friends, what depth of information will be available from these friends that would be at all illuminating to the writer's life? They will stick to public anecdotes and leave the truly personal stories unsaid. No doubt the book is interesting, especially to those who enjoy Walker's early work including The Color Purple. But beyond that, I cannot see how it could be of much use. The Times reviewer seems to think it well done in spite of everything. I, however, think I'll be skipping this one.