Re: coincidences and biographies

[Jorge L <jorge_ele>]

postmoderngoddess... wrote:
(...)
>I'm reading Patti Smith's unauthorized biography by
Victor Bockris. Does
>anyone know how valid this biography is, as it's
unauthorized? It's very
>interesting, but the word "unauthorized" always makes me
wary in
>biographies. Is there another biography that's
better/more accurate; or
>does anyone know how this one rates as far as accuracy?

My very personal opinion, that books does not rate far in
accuracy... after I read it, I got the feeling it rates
far in insulting purposes... mainly after the middle of
the book, as far as I remember. Don't get me wrong, I
don't think bios must be pieces of worshipping, I don't
think bios must be "authorized". The problem (for me) is
Bockris has a very definite goal, ant it is spreading
insinuations about Patti's life, thoughts, feelings... He
enters areas of personal life that -- I think...-- are
not open for discussion...

No matter what other people may think about the book, it
is a good thing to read it... I read another bio, by Nick
Jonhstone... Unlike Bockris, I found it
more "respectful", but not interesting at all...  A bio
of Mapplethorpe, by Patricia Morrisroe, includes some
stuff about Patti... Seems she didn't like it, didn't
like Morrisroe's views about her, and Mapplethorpe, and
art, and life... Maybe it is so, but I didn't find that
book insulting, as I found Bockris's...

Well, seems that I don't know real good books about
Patti :-) Right, I don't. And what I wrote above not very
helpful... When you finish the book, if you feel like it,
say something about... I'm curious about what your
opinion will be...

Some interviews I read on babelogue site were very useful
for me... Already found it? One year ago, I printed pages
and pages of that, and read all of it...

Gee, now I notice someone typed all that for me... This
is the moment to say I feel grateful, and obliged... Oh,
and the persons who had the idea of building babelogue
(and did it), they rate among saints... :-) Thanksgiving
day 95, am I right?

Jorge

PS - and Liina, you're so right about coincidences! j

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