More Just Kids

Tim hasn’t mentioned Just Kids by Patti Smith in about a week, so I’ll do it for him. There have been many reviews on this book and I’m throwing my hat in the ring as well. Fantastic! First, be sure and check out Tim’s original review that inspired me to read a book about people that I didn’t know much about and frankly didn’t think I cared anything about. Patti Smith’s account of her life with Robert Maplethorpe moved me to explore their work. I googled Patti’s music and Maplethorpe’s photography to familiarlize myself with these two amazing artists.

Maybe it was the era or maybe just youth, but both Patti and Robert were incredibly dedicated to their art. They truly believed that some day each of them would make it. Preferably together. They inspired each other and they completed each other.

“No one sees as we do Patti,” he [Robert] said again. Whenever he said things like that, for a magical space of time, it was if we were the only two people in the world.

No one can see the future so no one knew who would succeed and who would be dying soon. But to be in that moment, during that particular time period when everything was new – the drugs, the music and the art. Certainly it was amazing at the time, but right now it blows our minds because we know what happened.

Just imagine what Patti and Robert saw on a regular basis:

At the table to my left, Janis Joplin was holding court with her band. To my far right were Grace Slick and the Jefferson Airplane, along with members of Country Joe and the Fish. At the last table facing the door was Jimi Hendirix, his head lowered, eating with his hat on , acrosss from a blonde. There were musicians everywhere…

Just Kids is one of those books that you don’t want to skim through. You’ll want to read every single word. Since Patti Smith is a poet, all these magical words probably naturally flow from her. But I’m sure that if analyzed closer, every single word has a deeper meaning than what is first thought. I’m not that insightful, but it sounds like a good exercise for a high school English class.

Check out all of Tim’s links to Patti Smith’s interviews. Truly fascinating.

Great recommendation Tim!

Books, Non-Fiction, Review | Anne | May 3, 2010 7:44 am

4 Comments

By Dr J, May 3, 2010 @ 11:42 am

Just seen on my facebook feed:
http://vanishingnewyork.blogspot.com/2010/05/find-new-city.html
By Tim, May 3, 2010 @ 3:01 pm

Also, what Patti and Robert’s NYC looked like – http://bit.ly/dvoA18
By Anne, May 3, 2010 @ 3:43 pm

Great links, thanks! I love looking at the old photos.