"Defiant Joy: The Remarkable Life & Impact of G. K. Chesterton" by Kevin Belmonte

G. K. Chesterton is one of my favorite authors to read. His work never ceases to stimulate the mind. How many other writers can take mundane items, habits, or points of culture and transform the way you think about them? At times, after reading one of Chesterton's wonderfully famous "paradoxes", the book falls limp into my lap while I throw my head back and offer up a laugh that is a mixture of joy at getting the profound joke and of puzzlement about how I could have let something so simple escape my notice.
However, I was terribly disappointed by this biography. It is really a biography of the [selected] WORKS of G. K. Chesterton more than of the man himself. Very few details of his life emerge outside of his literary accomplishments and their critical reception - which is discussed at great length. There was not even a clear telling of the time of Chesterton's conversion or a lengthy discussion of his family.
The author takes great pains, however, to defend Chesterton's works and skill - I felt as though the book could have been written by someone who was Chesterton's father or mother. At times, praise for G.K.C.'s literary offerings bordered on "gushing", and became very tedious to wade through.
One other negative item was the issue of block quotes. There are HUNDREDS of them, nearly two on every page. They severely disrupt the flow of the book. I appreciate the author's research and effort, but the block quotes made reading his book a chore. (Just a pet peeve: most block quotes began with an interruption. Here's an example. The quoted passage begins in normal type: "The main thing," Chesterton once wrote, [then proceed after this with the block quote]. It seems trivial, but it drove me crazy!)
This is not the book to buy if you are looking for detailed information about the MAN. But if you are interested in the impact of his works during his lifetime, you will find it interesting.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers through http://www.booksneeze.com/. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.