Double Take by Kevin Michael Connolly (spoilers)

[anomalocaris]

I confess, I had a bit of a crush on Kevin Michael Connolly before I knew he'd written an autobiography. He's drop-dead gorgeous, an adrenaline junkie who's into skydiving, axe-throwing, whitewater rafting, extreme competitive skiing and even more extreme skateboarding. By the time he was twenty-three years old, he'd traveled around the world twice as a photojournalist. His photos are amazing. So, of course I was prepared to love his autobiography. How could I not?

What I wasn't prepared for was the fact that he uses words as deftly as he uses a camera, creating verbal images with every bit as much impact as his photographic ones. I was also unprepared -- though I shouldn't have been -- for his unflinching emotional honesty. Introspective without being narcissistic; at times openly emotional but never maudlin, Connolly constantly questions his own preconceptions, and sometimes catches himself coming up short.

Double Take is a quick read, but an unforgettable one. If you’ve seen Connolly’s work, you’ll love hearing about its origins. If you haven’t, you’re still in for a ride. Strap in. Because, if you want to ride with Kevin Michael Connolly, you’d better be able to keep up.