Why am I passionate about this?
I've penned 11 novels and numerous essays, and if there's one thread that ties them all together, it's rawness. I gravitate towards reading books and watching films where writers peel back the layers of their lives, exposing past wounds and delving into what they've learned from them. As an entrepreneur with a master's degree in marketing, I’ve found that this kind of vulnerability is not only compelling but essential in any form of storytelling. Whether I’m crafting a narrative for a new startup or reflecting on my own experiences for a novel, it’s this unfiltered honesty that resonates deeply with audiences.
Tori's book list on books that are raw, honest, and vulnerable
Why did Tori love this book?
Patti Smith writes like a poet who accidentally wandered into a rock concert and decided to stay. Her memoir is both a nostalgic love letter to a gritty, pre-gentrified New York City and a tender tribute to her friendship with Robert Mapplethorpe.
What’s captivating is the way she captures the magic of artistic struggle—when life is simultaneously poverty-stricken and creatively rich. It's a reminder that the road to self-discovery is paved with both heartbreak and small, everyday miracles, all written with Smith’s signature blend of grit and grace.
14 authors picked Just Kids as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD
“Reading rocker Smith’s account of her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, it’s hard not to believe in fate. How else to explain the chance encounter that threw them together, allowing both to blossom? Quirky and spellbinding.” -- People
It was the summer Coltrane died, the summer of love and riots, and the summer when a chance encounter in Brooklyn led two young people on a path of art, devotion, and initiation.
Patti Smith would evolve as a poet and performer, and Robert Mapplethorpe would direct his highly provocative style toward photography. Bound in innocence…