#ReadWomen2014 Non-Fiction: 'Joni Mitchell: In Her Own Words'

I don't think anyone who has read this blog in the past would be surprised to hear that I'm a huge Joni Mitchell fan. Along with Margaret Atwood, Joni is up there on a pedestal for me because of my mom, who loves Joni Mitchell and played her music around our house. It's only natural to question your mother's taste in anything, but Margaret Atwood and Joni Mitchell are two women she got very, very right, and I'm very thankful that she passed it on to me.

This is a nice contrast to Just Kids by Patti Smith, which I read not too long ago, and which was a very straightforward, chronological memoir (that makes it sound less good than it was; it is exceptional). Joni Mitchell: In Her Own Words is more like a very extensive interview that took place across decades between Joni and her friend and fellow musician Malka Marom. This really makes the book a rewarding experience for fans, because the interviewer is bringing a lot of prior knowledge to the conversation, and Marom seamlessly references song lyrics, previous interviews, Joni's writing and artwork, etc. It's gotten me into a very Joni Mitchell state of mind, and I've been playing her albums all week.

#ReadWomen2014 Non-Fiction: 'Just Kids' by Patti Smith

Musical memoirs and biographies are not my cup of tea, in part because so many of them celebrate eras in music that are of greater interest to Baby Boomers than to me. When someone publishes a 1,000 page unauthorized biography of Destiny's Child, I'll change my tune (no pun intended).

What I really love about Patti Smith's memoir Just Kids, however, is the way she is able to completely transcend the specifics of her life and her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe in order to write a memoir that is simultaneously revealing and universal. It feels like you are getting glimpses into the otherwise private, closed-off lives of two extraordinary artists, but at the same time you really don't need to be a huge fan in order to find the story compelling. There is very little of the usual post-revisionist memoir life "moments," i.e. the events that in the opinion of the writer, were significant in their lives and coincidentally, can be concisely and effectively described in prose. What Just Kids manages to accomplish is a really intimate portrait of the life of an artist and writer, and in no way does it come across as the memoir of a famous person who is conscious of their image or brand.

I've really fallen in love with the audio book version of this, which is read by Patti Smith herself. Her gravelly voice and Jersey accent enhance every line and something about it has felt so perfect as the days are getting shorter and colder. Maybe it's that I'm wearing black jeans and boots again, so hearing her voice in my head just enhances the mood I'm already in.

This Week in Books: Patti Smith Woke Up Like This.

First of all, this happened and it's everything.

I've stated before that I'm not really doing YA coverage, but if I were, I'd start with Francesca Lia Block, probably the most influential writer of my teen years. I read all her books, and I hope they're still in a box somewhere (Mom?) so I can revisit them someday. This interview she did with The Rumpus was excellent, but also made me feel out of touch because she has published so many new titles since I stopped paying attention.

Flavorwire is one of my favorite sources for literary coverage on the web, and no one understands my love is reading lists more than they do, which is why the new "50 Novels by Women Under 50" list made my week. Besides the obvious cross-over appeal between the list and what I cover on the blog, it also had everything I want from a reading list-- I got to feel smug and proud about the books I've already read; I got affirmation on a lot of books that are on my radar, waiting to be read; and I got to discover so many new books that I trust I'll enjoy, because their other recommendations are so spot on.

Patti Smith reviewed the new Haruki Murakami novel for the NYT. Nothing else to say.