Just Kids and good reads

I’ve been reading lots of books since I graduated from my MA last month. The advantage of unemployment is time, so figured I’d use it by reading the books I’ve always wanted to read (and apply for jobs, ahem). I also have a little bit of a creative block, and I find literature often inspires me most for my photography.

So I’ve finished Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment, which was incredible (and very accessible to my surprise) and I am now reading Flaubert’s Madame Bovary, which is also quite entertaining (even if Emma hasn’t cheated yet). So after indulging myself in stories about murder and adultery, I thought I should read a biography, something I rarely do.

Patti Smith’s Just Kids was my choice and I was blown away. It is an incredible short biography for someone who’s an artist, activist, author, poet and – uh probably the most raw female live performers ever, but it works incredibly well. The reason for this is that she writes about authors and musicians that influenced her rather than describing a career. Her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe obviously plays a big part of the book and the way she writes about her lover/best friend is incredibly moving. I am not into the hippie culture and never was, but Smith’s description of life in the 60′s and 70′s is very revealing, as she witnessed the most famous figures in poetry and music as they either rose to fame or destroyed themselves slowly.

Patti and Robbie looking very bohemian on a fire escape

Patti Smith comes across very humble and sensitive, her style is beautifully poetic and very rhythmic. I think being broke in 2011 in London is half as romantic as being broke in New York in the Seventies, but I can relate to quite a few things Smith is describing (especially about staying home, playing the guitar, reading for hours and being silly with that special one).

As for photography, the book wasn’t that inspiring in a technical way (I am not a big fan of Mapplethorpe) and also a bit depressing for a job seeking photographer (to succeed one basically needs a super rich sugar daddy), but very inspiring in the way that Smith and Mapplethorpe never gave up on their creative drive, always looked for new creative challenges and were never apologetic about their art. As soon as I had put down the book I felt like going out and just snap away spontaneously without being too concerned about concepts.

So if you are looking for a book about how to make it as an artist/poet/musician or photographer, buy some other boring book. If you want to indulge yourself in a personal and moving story about best friends and you want to be inspired while being broke, then get Just Kids!

And if you have a best friend, buys her/him this biography. I got it from my very best friend, and it made reading this book even more special for me. You know who you are!;)

And now two of the best opening lyrics in rock history.

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