mimibottoms reviewed on 1/28/2008 + 58 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 9

I was very excited to read this book when I got it for Christmas in 2007... I'm a long time Snoopy fan and have a nice collection of books and figurines. I have a great amount of respect for the man behind this American classic. This biography, however, is seriously disappointing. It portrays Charles "Sparky" Schulz as a cold, bitter, depressed, and womanizing man. I have no doubt that he had unpleasant events in his life that led him to create such wonderfully rich characters and write such poignant storylines in his comics. I also have no doubt that he was not "perfect." And yes, he made huge amounts of money from his creation. But, this book casts such a black light over his personality, his career, and his personal life that I find VERY hard to reconcile. It is very worthy to note that Charles Schulz' children and wife have been very vocal in their disappointment as well. They have publicly pointed out the inaccuracies and blatant negativity of the so-called biography. Charles Schulz' eldest son, Monte, has said the family feels betrayed by Michaelis feeling he used them and the open access they provided to perform psychoanalysis on Sparky Schultz that is not reality; it is work of fiction. I DO NOT recommend this book; there is another biography of Charles M. Schulz, written when he was still living, that contains a true (not psychoanalytical) view of his life and the creation of Peanuts.

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