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pikkumarja's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Violence, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Suicide, Transphobia, and War
figz's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Drug use and Mental illness
mattyvreads's review against another edition
4.75
The relational aspect of the book is much much more interesting to me than simply reading a book about Patti Smith’s rise to fame. This is such a unique and gorgeous read. The writing is superb.
Frankly, I am drawn to Patti Smith more as an author than as a poet or singer. Her prose is vulnerable and magnetizing.
The most successful element of this book for me is the way that she captures — in snapshots — her relationship with Robert. The least successful element of the book for me was the name droppy bits, where she would be like “and then Leonard Cohen used my napkin!”. Not that, but that.
Definitely want to read it again.
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicide, and Medical trauma
emabled's review against another edition
4.75
what a beautiful book. a love letter to art, and even more so a literal love letter from patti to robert. their story is rich and encompassing. you feel the need to pay attention while reading, you feel the eminence of robert and patti's significance.
i will say that the countless names, of famous musicians, poets, photographers, producers, etc. was what took me out of the story a bit. i am not well read in hollywood or adjacent culture, especially not that of the 60s-90s, so this had me very confused. there was, most of the time, apt description of these celebrities so i would have enough context to continue, but sometimes it was like i was expected to know these names and histories.
anyway, the prose was gorgeous. patti smith has poetry in her veins. her storytelling is captivating and gorgeous simultaneously, her love for others and theirs for hers so present in her recollections. i did just talk negatively about the constant name dropping, but i will say that it also creates a lovely metaphor: we are who we meet. we are mosaics of everyone we interact with. patti depicts that like a true artist.
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Body horror and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction
juliamakena's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual content
ariane's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death, Drug use, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Mental illness, Suicide, and Pregnancy