From the Bookshelf of Around the Year in 52 Books

Just Kids
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Why we're reading this
1970 - Punk rock

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What Members Thought

Donna
Feb 03, 2019 rated it really liked it
This is the story of Patti Smith's meeting and friendship with controversial artist and photographer, Robert Mapplethorpe. Both were young unknowns when they met in the gritty bohemian art scene of late 1960s, early 1970s New York City. They immediately bonded in a lifelong relationship that mutually shaped their lives and artistic paths. They eventually lived in the infamous Chelsea Hotel, where they regularly encountered a virtual who's who of artists and musicians of the time.

I'm a contempora
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Jen K
Aug 17, 2020 rated it really liked it
This is a memoir of Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe as they explored and came into their own in their art and of their relationship. Robert was one of the first people that Patti met when she moved to NYC from NJ to make it as an artist and they quickly formed a bond that lasted throughout their lives as friends, lovers, muses and support systems. They lived a bohemian life scrounging for money and balancing time for art with time for work and eventually ended up in the epicenter of art at t ...more
jordan chaffee
Jan 18, 2020 rated it it was amazing
What a magical book to start a new decade with.

I never knew much about Patti Smith. I've listened to Horses a few times, and really admire her style and attitude, but knew nothing of her personal life or of Robert. I was drawn to this book because I'm a fan of memoirs, and wanted to know more about the beat/punk movement she grew into.
Every paragraph of this story feels lyrical and magical. It describes a feeling more than a setting. Patti now feels like a dear friend, partially due to her being
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Sally
Dec 20, 2014 rated it it was amazing
What an amazing book. It brought back all my late sixties memories from NYC. The telling of the relationship pieces was something that I've never experienced. The acceptance of so much of the sexual and artistic experiences was what made her great. It's also quite touching to hear her tell of Robert's loyalty to her and his love of her. A must read but you need to be in an accepting, loving place yourself. ...more
Anna
Feb 07, 2011 rated it really liked it
Lindsy
Jun 19, 2011 rated it really liked it
Shelves: memoir-biography
Desta
Jul 21, 2011 rated it really liked it
Ligia Lesko
Jan 04, 2012 rated it liked it
Mary Anne
Aug 06, 2012 rated it really liked it
Shelves: 2016-read
Katt Hansen
Oct 31, 2012 marked it as to-read
Megan
Oct 12, 2013 marked it as to-read
Ceci
Jun 05, 2014 marked it as to-read
Pamela
Sep 27, 2014 marked it as to-read
Shelves: memoir
Kim
Jul 30, 2015 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Hitzuji
Jan 13, 2016 marked it as to-read
Susan Davidoff
Feb 17, 2017 rated it it was amazing
Sally
Jul 27, 2017 marked it as to-read
Tammy
Sep 27, 2017 rated it it was amazing
Kimberly Imbrigiotta
Oct 19, 2017 rated it really liked it
Elizabeth Rainbow
Dec 26, 2017 marked it as to-read
Aiden
Oct 19, 2018 rated it liked it
Shelves: 2018-reads
Blakely
Dec 10, 2018 marked it as to-read
Lexi V.
Jan 12, 2021 rated it really liked it
Karigan
Aug 05, 2021 marked it as to-read
Amanda
Oct 12, 2021 marked it as to-read