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2.5 stars
Most of this book is basically a series of lists, told and re-told and then told again, in great detail:
1. The people they met
2. The food they ate
3. The clothes they wore
4. The places they lived
5. The things they owned
6. The progression of their art, and how they were influenced by each other and by other people.
The first five categories are of little interest to me; this caused huge swathes of the book to feel very tedious. (“Usually he got the hot dog and I got the sauerkraut, but thi ...more
Most of this book is basically a series of lists, told and re-told and then told again, in great detail:
1. The people they met
2. The food they ate
3. The clothes they wore
4. The places they lived
5. The things they owned
6. The progression of their art, and how they were influenced by each other and by other people.
The first five categories are of little interest to me; this caused huge swathes of the book to feel very tedious. (“Usually he got the hot dog and I got the sauerkraut, but thi ...more
What a great ride with Patti Smith! Set with the backdrop of the NYC music and art scene of the late 60s and 70s. The best autobiography I have ever read. A love story in multpile ways... 1) Patti Smith's relationship with best friend and sometimes lover Robert Mapplethorpe; 2) New York City. I loved all the references to places like FAO Schwartz, Scribner's Book Store, Coney Island, Max's Kansas City, CBGB, and their time living at the Chelsea hotel; 3) tons of music references as well: Janis J
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Idk much about Patti and Robert but it was lovely reading about leads who were compelled to create art that they were willing to starve. I liked the photographs too since I didn't have to imagine the descriptions but sometimes I wished they were in color.
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This is Patti Smith's recounting of Robert Mapplethorpe's and her story. I chose the book because I am fascinated by artistic circles, like the Bloomsbury group--how does it come to pass that these creative people get to know each other and inspire and support each other (or not). I didn't learn much new here--young, starving artists living in large cities get to know other artists in their neighborhood, through their jobs, by visiting the same restaurants and clubs, even, through ads in the loc
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I really liked this book, it's a touching story of their life-long love/friendship and a good snapshot of a really cool time to be young in NYC.
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Nov 21, 2018
Krissy
marked it as to-read
**2019 Popsugar Challenge Prompt #3: A book written by a musician**
Aug 16, 2012
Crannie
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Aug 30, 2012
Kathy
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Aug 23, 2016
Karen
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Mar 05, 2018
Idit
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Dec 20, 2020
James
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Dec 30, 2021
Dayna
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Oct 01, 2022
Valerie
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