Just Kids: A National Book Award Winner

We had a large and enthusiastic book group meet at The LGBT Center in NYC to Smith's memoir of punk NYC and her long but tragic relationship with the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Everyone either liked the book or loved it. I think we actually have better discussions when there's some minor disagreement, but this was a very pleasant and, for many of us, a rather nostalgic evening. There were a few comments that Patti's style of writing was simple and repetitive at times, which could be distracting. We all agreed that the writing was tender and sweet, wistful in its poetry, especially considering that it covers some difficult times for Patti and Robert Mapplethorpe and the punk period in general. It's all very down to earth and human. "Just Kids" is a perfect period piece. It describes a specific scene from the inside and gives some minor insights into the places and characters that dominated the art and music communities at the time. The connection between Patti and Robert was strong, and their mutual connection to the art and music world was equally strong. Patti admired the worlds of Mickey Spillane, Arthur Rimbaud, and Jean Genet, but it was Robert who lived the adventure. It was not the most positive or endearing portrait of Robert, but was ultimately very moving. Robert was a striver and wanted to be rich and famous. It almost seems like Patti gently fell into her role as a poet and musician; "Just Kids" doesn't describe her struggle, just that she knew that she was going to be an artist - and eventually was. For those of us who have lived in NYC for a while, and especially those of us who lived (or visited) NYC during that period, a map would be an interesting addition to the book. Many of the places that Patti describes are very close together. In addition to this being a punk memoir, it's also often a neighborhood memoir. I think that if there was one point of contention about "Just Kids," it was Patti's reluctance to discuss sex. She was screwing Robert Mapplethorpe at the beginning and much of his photography was very sexually explicit, so it seems a bit old fashioned or puritanical that Patti would avoid it so strenuously. Both she and Robert were Catholics, but they took very different approaches to it in their artistic development. Ultimately, "Just Kids" - as the title suggests - is a story about how two artists lost their childhood innocent sense of wonder and turned into famous artists, and finally how Robert lost his life and Patti lost her friend.

I was drawn to this book by a podcast interview she did with Malcom Gladwell. I was drawn to her humility, intellect, and “everydayness.” Her music seemed like just one part of a very observant person. The book was as vivid a portrait of late sixties to mid-late seventies New York as any film, piece of music, or art form could possibly be. Her proximity to the music/art scene coupled with her gift for observation while in the midst of it all made for compelling reading. In spite of her personal fame and success, she is more of a guide than a major character throughout much of the book, even though it is ostensibly the story of a period in the lives and relationship of two people, of which she is one. She met Robert Mapplethorpe within hours of her arrival in the city, and ran into him again a short time later. Soon they were inseparable, and over the course of their relationship and beyond, they were each other’s muse. Their romantic relationship ended in the mid-70’s, but they remained part of each other’s lives through Patti’s marriage and Robert’s significant lovers. The book closes with the tragedy of Mapplethorpe’s death. Although it was no surprise, given the historical facts, Smith tells of it with such tenderness and raw love, that I struggled to read through tears for the last few pages. But the book is not a tragedy. Rather it is more a celebration of a time and place, and a relationship that nurtured to significant artists of the twentieth century. It can also be seen as a cultural travelogue through the city of New York at a very specific time, filled with iconic characters passing through at significant moments in their careers. Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin at their creative peaks, and shortly before their untimely deaths. Sam Shepherd, Andy Warhol, and many others of cultural significance dance across the pages of this remarkable work. Smith’s writing is not given to frequent moments of “wow” in her phrasing or metaphor choices. It is her gift for getting out of the way and matter-of-factly telling a story in such a generous way that the reader can feel present during treasure. I spent as much time reading as I did on my phone, googling names and places that she referenced.

Me llegó mal cortado, eso no es un problema para mí, y fuera de eso es un buen libro

Patti smiths writting is quite different from what you would expect after having listened to her music for so long. You can notice she doesnt tell the stories in detail and has her privacy in mind but this, for me, leaves the impression that what IS being said is genuine. I am not sure if she has a ghost writer, but I dont really think so. Love the frank, almost innocent, manner in which the book has been written thus far, I am almost 2/3rd into it. The seller! The book did not arive by the time it should have, but the shop sent another, then both of them arrived at the same time, and the seller gave me the option of a refund or a big discount for late delivery etc. A great shop, to be fair. Sent the extra book back and refused the discount, Patti would be might proud.

I thoroughly enjoyed this description of the relationship between Patti smith and Robert Mapplethorpe as well as the various cameos from famous characters. I have never listened to Patti Smith's music but loved this book and her writing.

Un libro stupendo, una scrittura super piacevole. Lo leggerei mille volte.

Tolles Buch, hab es mit Freude gelesen