Just Kids in Reading with Style

Apr 12, 2020 Connie G rated it really liked it

Shelves: autobiography-memoir, artists-or-art, photography, new-york, music

This is an intimate memoir of Patti Smith's relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe in the 1960s. They lived together in poverty for several years in New York City, devoted to their art. Even when Robert came out as gay, they remained close friends. Patti is a writer, poet, rock star, and artist. Robert was famous for his art and photography. As Robert was dying of AIDS, he asked Patti to write a memoir of their relationship, and "Just Kids" pays tribute to their love. ...more

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Apr 11, 2018 Whitney rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: music, painting

I thought I finished reading this book, but whenever I reopened it to look at a random page, more of Patti Smith's words or photographs caught my attention and I would sit and read whatever passage again! And I continued to find notes and phrases of interest.

Smith conducts herself like an eternal priestess in training. Nowadays she probably has been promoted to full-scale priestess, but her writing is level and relatable.

From a young age, she craved art. She loved poetry and visual arts and per I thought I finished reading this book, but whenever I reopened it to look at a random page, more of Patti Smith's words or photographs caught my attention and I would sit and read whatever passage again! And I continued to find notes and phrases of interest.

Smith conducts herself like an eternal priestess in training. Nowadays she probably has been promoted to full-scale priestess, but her writing is level and relatable.

From a young age, she craved art. She loved poetry and visual arts and performance arts. She understood that artwork is a "calling," as if God or angels speak to humans and lead them toward the difficult life of "artist." Smith recalls in her book that she did not fear the idea of poverty and pain that could accompany an art-filled life. However, she very much feared the possibility of "not being called." She had the FOMO before Millennials even abbreviated the concept. (FEAR OF MISSING OUT)

Patti Smith has always had a strong list of priorities. Item #1 is always to find the right "Scene"! She planted herself in New York City, and dammit if she wasn't determined to enter the Warhol Circle. Half this book describes her snail's pace toward a certain table at Max's Kansas City, which was the only nightclub worth mentioning in the 1960s-1970s, frequented by musicians, artists, poets, etc. Slight spoiler: it does not seem like Smith ever met Andy Warhol directly, but soon after gaining the correct table at Max's, she found a new "Scene" she wanted anyway: The Chelsea Hotel!

Honestly, I am not certain how calculating Smith is as a person. Her book reads like she just minds her own business until suddenly someone famous starts talking to her: Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, etc. And then once the famous person is present, Smith documents the entire encounter according to her memory.

Throughout the book, she is careful to document the following, aside from the "who's who" portion:
1. What she is wearing
2. What she is collecting
3. What she is "working" on, be it painting or drawing, or being photographed
4. What she is eating
5. What Robert is doing.

And, yes, I mustn't forget Robert Mapplethorpe, because here is the man who was Smith's life raft during her early New York years. She loved him and loved him, and to this day she still loves his memory. Unfortunately, history suggests that he perhaps was not all that lovable, but that does not matter! He created art, and the two of them created a miniature world to cultivate creativity. That ART LIFE was more important to Patti than any romance or physical relationship. And she had the privilege of being his only woman friend: priceless.

For a chance to meet the baby priestess Patti Smith, this book is an amazing introduction! ...more

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