It’s a book about writing a book about separating the art from the artist. A book about monstrous people who do great things but also an account of the author trying to come to terms and find a way to handle the conflict.
I probably wouldn’t have read this book if I knew the format, but luckily I read one of the chapters published in some magazine (Paris Review?). But I’m glad I read it. “Monsters” gives no clear answers or framework for where to draw the line. Instead, it provides a framework for thinking about these issues. It addresses the thorny issues of “back then they didn’t know better,” redemption, and monstrousness coming from abuse in childhood or from the entertainment issue. Mostly it deals with the idea that great art and bad behavior may be intrinsically linked (and how, historically, this tends to skew masculine).
A main focus of this book is the author trying to reconcile her love of Roman Polanski’s films with her disgust over his actions and the admitted tragedies of his life (mother died in the Holocaust and wife in the Manson murders). Much of the conversation revolves around what the films mean to the author personally and takes into account the dramatic shift in biographical detail that is only recently accessible to everyone. There are no easy ways out (i.e. don’t financially support them if they’re alive) and no panacea for all bad behavior. There is a reasonably good take on cancel culture.
After some 200 pages of careful discussions about the complications of trying to reconcile behavior and art there is a bit of an unsatisfying conclusion that feels a bit rushed or even unnecessary given the rest of the book. A bit unsatisfying, but there is still a lot to take from this book and it’s wonderfully stand-alone-worthy chapters.
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