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baerbl's review against another edition
4.25
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Grief
angiegiannis's review against another edition
4.5
Minor: Death and Grief
mattyvreads's review against another edition
4.75
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.
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicide, and Medical trauma
mhsunni's review against another edition
4.75
Moderate: Death and Drug use
hcnorris's review against another edition
4.5
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Suicide, and Grief
Minor: Addiction and Sexual content
ilovebooks1967's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Abortion
Moderate: Drug use
elanuruysal's review against another edition
2.75
Graphic: Death, Drug use, and Terminal illness
dearbhlanoonan's review against another edition
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, and Suicide
theinkdrinkerhouse's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death, Drug use, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Addiction, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide
emabled's review against another edition
4.75
what a beautiful book. a love letter to art, and even more so a literal love letter from patti to robert. their story is rich and encompassing. you feel the need to pay attention while reading, you feel the eminence of robert and patti's significance.
i will say that the countless names, of famous musicians, poets, photographers, producers, etc. was what took me out of the story a bit. i am not well read in hollywood or adjacent culture, especially not that of the 60s-90s, so this had me very confused. there was, most of the time, apt description of these celebrities so i would have enough context to continue, but sometimes it was like i was expected to know these names and histories.
anyway, the prose was gorgeous. patti smith has poetry in her veins. her storytelling is captivating and gorgeous simultaneously, her love for others and theirs for hers so present in her recollections. i did just talk negatively about the constant name dropping, but i will say that it also creates a lovely metaphor: we are who we meet. we are mosaics of everyone we interact with. patti depicts that like a true artist.
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Body horror and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction