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mattyvreads's review against another edition
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: Homophobia, Death, Suicide, Drug abuse, Chronic illness, Addiction, Medical trauma, and Mental illness
rzh's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
ohh this was just gorgeous. paints a beautiful, evocative picture of the new york scene in the chelsea in the 60s and 70s: i love reading books set/talking about this time period as it seems like such a far off country now. patti smith really transports you there. i love books with deep descriptions of physical detritus, of belongings and collections which make up a person's surroundings in different stages of their life, and this is one of those: patti and robert are both real magpies (as they were both visual artists this make sense) and the description of their art and belongings really builds a picture of their homes and studios over the years. i've seen a couple of reviews talking about how this book doesn't have much of a plot and whilst this is true, it is a memoir, not a novel, so it doesn't have a plot as much as life doesn't have a plot. a beautiful ode to robert mapplethorpe and a really touching insight to the beautiful relationship between him and patti smith. loved it and would definitely read again !!! 4.75 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Terminal illness
Moderate: Medical trauma, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Grief
Minor: Suicide
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