History or Gossip

Last week Sean and I watched the film Amelia. I didn't like it. I liked Amelia Earhart less and less as the film went on. I didn't like George Putnam from the beginning. And I wondered how true the film was to history and Amelia's personal life versus how much was sensationalized for a storyline.

So I read a biography of Amelia Earhart in the children's section of the library.

I was left with a feeling that her story had been somewhat twisted by the film writers and maybe I should cut her some slack in my feelings for her. I didn't find a biography of her in the adult section. I did find a biography of Eleanor Roosevelt though. And slightly curious about Eleanor from a small scene in the Amelia movie, I picked it up. Then I spotted one titled FDR and Lucy. So I picked that one up, too.

I read a lot of biographies as a child. I think I read one on Eleanor Roosevelt. Probably Franklin, too. But I didn't remember their story. And I was curious about their relationship - I knew they were cousins of some sort. Turns out they were 5th cousins. Not as close cousins as I thought. But I also had a sneaking suspicion that their relationship was ... complicated. And when I saw FDR and Lucy I could guess why. Or at least part of why.

I started the biography of Eleanor first. It's interesting. But I began to feel like the author was giving Eleanor a whole lot of credit - as if she could do no wrong or think no wrong or something. And so I started FDR and Lucy. And while I think it probably paints a more realistic picture of the trio of relationships... I plan to return both books unfinished.

I can't get over the feeling that I'm reading details of someone's life that I shouldn't be reading. That it's really not my business.

The personal dynamics are interesting. I guess analyzing their personalities and guessing about what made them the way they were is interesting. But at the same time - it's not my business. I don't want to know.

And that seems strange to me.

I have no problem with Entertainment Tonight. People magazine. Other celebrity gossip stuff is okay with me. I don't feel so intrusive when I read articles or watch interviews about celebrity relationships.

And then I think I know the difference. The Roosevelts didn't want me to know. And they didn't go on TV (so to speak) and say they weren't going to talk about it. They just didn't talk about it.

And I think because they didn't want to talk about it, I don't want to hear about it.

End of story.