A review by evanlorant
Just Kids by Patti Smith

adventurous informative reflective medium-paced

3.25

This was so beautifully written, but as someone who doesn’t have a preexisting knowledge of the rock/art scene and the major figures of that time, I felt like I was missing a lot of meaning. This read to me as a memoir for fans of Patti and Robert, rather than something anyone can come in and read. But on the other hand, Patti’s writing was so beautiful. To take fiction and turn it into a poetic story or a poem based on experiences is one thing, but to take real life and turn it into narrative prose is an entirely different accomplishment. That was the real strength of this book to me. Infused with her audio narration it took an a whole new level of impact, especially toward the end as she describes Robert’s decline. I could feel the smirk in her voice at many points in the book. It’s a great memoir but I would definitely recommend familiarizing yourself with a lot of both artists work or finding an edition with photographs to give some context.