Scan barcode
A review by mattyvreads
Just Kids by Patti Smith
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
This was a really haunting and beautiful book. It took us through the life and death and eternal life of a friendship and relationship. Reading through the book didn’t make me cry, but thinking about it now is making me tear up.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicide, and Medical trauma