Just Kids: A National Book Award Winner
Just Kids begins as a love story and ends as an elegy. It serves as a salute to New York City during the late sixties and seventies and to its rich and poor, its hustlers and hellions. A true fable, it is a portrait of two young artists' ascent, a prelude to fame. It was the summer Coltrane died, the summer of love and riots, and the summer when a chance encounter in Brooklyn led two young people on a path of art, devotion, and initiation. Patti Smith would evolve as a poet and performer, and Robert Mapplethorpe would direct his highly provocative style toward photography. In this milieu, two kids made a pact to take care of each other. Scrappy, romantic, committed to create, and fueled by their mutual dreams and drives, they would prod and provide for one another during the hungry years.
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Community Reviews
(First book downloaded on the nook!)
I've loved Patti since my high school days, listening to the "Horses" album over & over... OK, I'm still listening to it over & over (on the iPod now). I remember thinking what a GENIUS she was, and how she had that air of self-confident, "I could give a flying f*** what people think of me" attitude. What an eye-opener to learn that she was, really, just a kid, trying to find her way in the world in Brooklyn & NYC, and not really sure of how she was going to do it.
Loving, tender tribute to Robert Mapplethorpe and their life-long friendship. They started out as lovers and as he was struggling with his sexual identity, they became friends, and helped each other find their way creatively.
It's a great period piece about Brooklyn and New York, too. Patti lived in my neighborhood when she first arrived, right around the Pratt campus, so it was fun to hear her talking about places I know, albeit more than 40 years ago and it was definitely a different world back then!
Great read. Makes me love her even more.
OK, one thing about the nook - you don't get all those great pictures that the hard copy books have! :(
I've loved Patti since my high school days, listening to the "Horses" album over & over... OK, I'm still listening to it over & over (on the iPod now). I remember thinking what a GENIUS she was, and how she had that air of self-confident, "I could give a flying f*** what people think of me" attitude. What an eye-opener to learn that she was, really, just a kid, trying to find her way in the world in Brooklyn & NYC, and not really sure of how she was going to do it.
Loving, tender tribute to Robert Mapplethorpe and their life-long friendship. They started out as lovers and as he was struggling with his sexual identity, they became friends, and helped each other find their way creatively.
It's a great period piece about Brooklyn and New York, too. Patti lived in my neighborhood when she first arrived, right around the Pratt campus, so it was fun to hear her talking about places I know, albeit more than 40 years ago and it was definitely a different world back then!
Great read. Makes me love her even more.
OK, one thing about the nook - you don't get all those great pictures that the hard copy books have! :(
One of my favorite books. Patti Smith has a way with words, and what a story she tells. A story of love, friendship and absolute devotion to art. A fascinating and whirlwind tour through the late 60s and early 70s art scene in New York.
Patti Smith is a great storyteller and this was a complete escape to read during early COVID lockdown - wishing I was with the fabulous and freaky at the Chelsea Hotel
Yes, it’s very beautiful. A little boring if you don’t know any of the people that she’s constantly name dropping…. but the ending is definitely gorgeous and impactful.
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