Just Kids

By: Patti Smith

Narrated by: Patti Smith

Bloomsbury presents Just Kids written and read by Patti Smith.

Winner of the 2010 Non-Fiction National Book Award
Patti Smith's definitive memoir is an evocative, honest and moving coming-of-age story of her extraordinary relationship with the artist Robert Mapplethorpe

‘Sharp, elegiac and finely crafted' Sunday Times
‘Terrifically evocative ... The most spellbinding and diverting portrait of funky-but-chic New York in the late '60s and '70s that any alumnus has committed to print' New York Times
‘Render, harrowing, often hilarious' Vogue

In 1967, a chance meeting between two young people led to a romance and a lifelong friendship that would carry each to international success never dreamed of. The backdrop is Brooklyn, Chelsea Hotel, Max's Kansas City, Scribner's Bookstore, Coney Island, Warhol's Factory and the whole city resplendent. Among their friends, literary lights, musicians and artists such as Harry Smith, Bobby Neuwirth, Allen Ginsberg, Sandy Daley, Sam Shepherd, William Burroughs, etc. It was a heightened time politically and culturally; the art and music worlds exploding and colliding. In the midst of all this two kids made a pact to always care for one another. Scrappy, romantic, committed to making art, they prodded and provided each other with faith and confidence during the hungry years—the days of cous-cous and lettuce soup.

Just Kids begins as a love story and ends as an elegy. Beautifully written, this is a profound portrait of two young artists, often hungry, sated only by art and experience. And an unforgettable portrait of New York, her rich and poor, hustlers and hellions, those who made it and those whose memory lingers near.

©2010 Patti Smith (P)2011 Patti Smith

She is a legend, so full of heart

Patti Smith is a legend.

This memoir is a delight. Absolutely crucial for anyone interested in New York, the 60s and 70s, punk, art, music, poetry, and life.

I had previously read the punk oral history tome of Please Kill Me, which had many interviews with Patti Smith about her seminal time at Max's Kansas City and CBGB's, and I thought I had a decent impression of her. I was aware of her music, and that she came from a poetry background. Little did I know how much heart and talent in writing she held.

While Please Kill Me often aimed to shock, her own memoir Just Kids is full of soul and beauty. It is unapologetically sentimental, nothing wrong with that at all. There is the gay sex and occasional drugs and that sort of thing, but it's all told in such beautiful prose as simple parts of life. It's not about extremes, just getting at the root of what truly happens in one's love-filled memories...

Costar of this memoir is photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. They were famously friends, starving artists together struggling (and by struggling it was really bad in those early years indeed) in New York until they made it big. Their first meet-cute as she was running away from an older man trying to take advantage, their shy courtship, adventures at the Chelsea Hotel, the path he took as he explored BDSM and became such a controversial artist which she wasn't even into. Though ultimately he wasn't her orientation, they truly seemed to be soulmates throughout their lives.

The story jumps around, filled with so many precious details about New York in the 60s. When the punk era 70s come around, and Patti finds success, the stories then rush on by. Aside from a few excellent vignettes about how her most memorable songs were written, this particular part of her life is not really the point. She relishes in what made her an artist in the first place, rather than reliving the whole rock star life. In fact, the story if anything then kind of skips far away to the late 80s when Robert sadly contracted HIV and eventually passed. It's not fun, but it is what happened and that's the story to focus upon. These deep truths are what it's all about.

This is the Patti Smith aesthetic, her writing craft, and it is a valid powerful work of art.

Note: I listened to the audiobook edition, read by the author, which leaves me with such an impression.

So anyway, throughout it all, from beginning to end, they were ultimately just that: Just Kids

And as so eloquently said, one hopes, Paths That Cross Will Cross Again...

Pure gold.

This audio book had me spellbound. I was transported - lost in the world of Patti and Robert, New York City, 1960's and was oblivious to everyone and everything around me. I hung off every word, and 'couldn't put it down'. If you admire the work of Robert Mapplethorpe and/or Patti Smith you will love this book like I did. But I think even if you have never heard of either of them, you will love it. It stands alone as a love story, a life story, beautifully crafted. That Patti Smith herself has narrated the book makes the audio book even better than reading it visually would be. Her voice adds to the magic. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

Incredible, beautiful book

I highly recommend this book! The fact that it is read by Patti Smith makes it even that much more powerful!

Already loved both Robert and Patti

and this made me love them more than before, with extra insight into how they were when they worked and into their dynamic as people

true and touching testimony of life, art and love

priceless testimony of the story of two wonderful artists, told with a poetic and enchanting

Patti Smith reading is pure gold

This is by far one of the most precious audio book experiences that I've ever had.

How To Become An Artist Through Hardships

After listening to the audio version read by Patti Smith herself, it's easy to understand why she is such a remarkable poet. The book is based mostly on Smith's own diary entries, which she has reinterpreted as a narrative.

Smith indeed gravitated to the right place at a right time when entering the artistic hub of early 70's Manhattan art scene and especially Chelsea Hotel.

You might call her lucky to have stumbled upon all the art and music greats mentioned also in this book. Still, the road was rocky indeed and the way she instinctively finds her place during this book is a lesson in itself and a great coming-of-age story.

Smith tells about even the most mundane incidents with an admirable knack at storytelling. Her poetic way of suffering the hardships with dignity and savouring the beauty in the small joys of life makes for a great listen.

brilliant

breathtakingly beautiful story. i cried.
thank you patti smith for sharing your life with the world.

Magical journey

This was one of those books you cannot put down, I was totally transported back in time to the Chelsea Hotel with the essence of being a struggling artist, poet and creative. And to have Patti read it, beautiful, raw and touching living memories… brilliant!

The Artist’s World

Amazing journey into the lives of two soul mates and how they evolved. Beautifully written and the narration at first felt slow but then apt.