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kim_j_dare's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe I expected too much given the National Book Award.
Enjoyed parts of it immenselly. Smith is a talented storyteller. However, I never was able to get beyond the patronizing and sometimes pretentious overtones.
Enjoyed parts of it immenselly. Smith is a talented storyteller. However, I never was able to get beyond the patronizing and sometimes pretentious overtones.
joshuabeardsley's review against another edition
4.0
The cast of characters Smith introduces in her electrifying Just Kids is almost otherworldly; throughout the sprawling memoir, we're introduced to Lenny Kaye, Sam Shepard, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and, of course, the enigmatic Robert Mapplethorpe. Though she reflects on a relationship that had since ended, Smith writes deftly and with great control, without any trace of bitterness. Beyond merely a companion piece to Smith's legendary body of work, Just Kids is a literary triumph in its own right.
saml98's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
kjwalkerrr19's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
This book is really really special. I’m not an artist, and I’m not super familiar with the art world, let alone the art world of this book’s setting in the 60s and 70s. With that said, I didn’t know pretty much anyone name dropped in the book, and I didn’t even know Patti Smith or Robert Mapplethorpe before this book.
This book of recounting two life partners is so unique and beautiful. While they started out as romantic and sexual partners, and then progressed to nonromantic platonic partners, their constant love and support of each other was so beautiful. They struggled together, made ends meet together, created together, and challenged each other. I could only hope to have someone so dedicated to me and me to them as they were and for the lifetime they did. It was also beautiful getting to read about Robert’s growth into a queer man, and growing into his erotic art that he was passionate about.
The end of this book is sad man. I can’t imagine losing someone who was a staple in my life for that long, let alone in my most formative years and along with me through all of my successes and transformations. However, it’s great that they were both so accomplished in the end and were able to do most of what they really wanted to do.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who was interested in reading a heartfelt book about people who really appreciate and support each other, and grow into themselves long term together.
This book of recounting two life partners is so unique and beautiful. While they started out as romantic and sexual partners, and then progressed to nonromantic platonic partners, their constant love and support of each other was so beautiful. They struggled together, made ends meet together, created together, and challenged each other. I could only hope to have someone so dedicated to me and me to them as they were and for the lifetime they did. It was also beautiful getting to read about Robert’s growth into a queer man, and growing into his erotic art that he was passionate about.
The end of this book is sad man. I can’t imagine losing someone who was a staple in my life for that long, let alone in my most formative years and along with me through all of my successes and transformations. However, it’s great that they were both so accomplished in the end and were able to do most of what they really wanted to do.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who was interested in reading a heartfelt book about people who really appreciate and support each other, and grow into themselves long term together.
mel_das's review against another edition
4.0
Frankly I think her writing is above my intellect could comprehend, BUT a nice story with a lot of name drops which whom I don't know.
sydnee_calhoun's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25