As I got older, I began reading more literary fiction. I focused on language and style, and genre fiction took a backseat. But nothing is as exciting, as thought-provoking, as heart-warming, or as funny as the fiction I read while growing up.
In college, I began to write creative nonfiction and in trying to figure out what made my experiences worth reading, I sought out writing that was real, sincere, and moving. Memoirs became my single favorite thing to read. I felt like I was getting some sort of direction and guidance from the author. One of the absolute most important books in my life is Just Kids by Patti Smith, who is a writer, artist, and musician. Her memoir captures the period of her life spent with Robert Mapplethorpe in New York City during the 60s and 70s, and is a beautiful ode to youth, innocence, and making art. I love the vividness of her writing. Details are so important in the book – names, locations, dates, clothing, numbers, the song that was playing. I’m able to imagine exactly how she felt.
Just Kids has served as a talisman for me these past few years, a reminder that Patti made it bravely through her 20s, and if I need answers, I can always flip through the pages. I want to live as fearlessly as well, and hopefully someday, be able to write it all down.
Hi there! My name is Taina and I live in Boston, Massachusetts. I grew up in Singapore, which is a long way from where I am now. I went to college for writing, and I treasure the opportunity to tell my experiences through the written word. I love eating food from different cultures and going to live music concerts. Having grown up in a compact, dense city, I’ve always taken public transportation but I’ve begun driving for my work commute. I hope this will give me more reason to drive and explore the United States, and share more of my adventures with you.
