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Just Kids
- Narrated by: Patti Smith
- Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
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Just Kids
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Summary
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.
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What listeners say about Just Kids
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- MISS A WHITE
- 19-05-21
What a beautiful book.
This is the best Audiobook I have listened to, and I have listened to about 50 so far. Beautifully written and could be a fiction because the story is so interesting and wonderful. The fact it’s true is even better. Thanks Patti.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Dee Bee
- 02-03-24
Ordinariness of Patti Smith's background
I guess I wasn't sure what to expect from this biography. I grew up listening to and enjoying Patti Smith's music and I guess I expected her life to reflect a more reckless and dissolute lifestyle. Sure, by the standards of her day, her life was unconventional but not anymore, really. She loved Robert and he was a bisexual struggling to deal with his sexual identity. Not much else is explored in this book. It's mostly a tribute to Robert. A bit boring for me. I have no interest in Robert.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- A Mof
- 06-03-24
Patti is kind yet sharply perceptive -that in itself is magical thing
Wonderful voice of Patti Smith speaking as though only to me -telling the story of her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe in late 60’s through 70’s & 80’s New York -that scene and so many infamous characters conjured to life in a beautifully gentle & celebratory way -
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- John-Paul M.
- 12-10-18
Wonderful & Affecting
A wonderfully affecting and beautiful account of Patti Smith’s journey. A unique insight into the life, times, and personalities of the arts scene in NYC and beyond from the 60s through to the 80s. Incredibly immersive with every line painting detailed scenes in the imagination. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. I have to say I had a few false starts when reading, but once I got through the first few chapters I couldn’t put it down.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kay
- 15-05-16
Beautiful
Beautiful and inspiring story of true love and passion for art told in the most descriptive narrative, I felt every moment in the story as if I was there.
I would recommend this book to anyone.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Serena
- 05-02-17
Amazing and heart wrenching
This is not the sort of book I would normally read, but I have always liked Patti Smith so thought I would give it a go , how glad I am I decided to do so.
The story was so eloquently read by Patti, she made it come alive, I could not put it down. You could feel the relationship seep though, how lucky they both were to have felt such love and friendship.
I would recommend this book to everyone, I can't wait for the sequel to come out on audible .
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Kris Als
- 11-09-21
Great read, didn't really have much reference
Great read, didn't really have much knowledge or relationship with patti smith or the other artists. Still thoroughly enjoyed it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-05-21
Loved it
A remarkable story about two remarkable people. It's poetic, romantic, beautifully told and preformed. Loved it.
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- Jayne JayJay
- 16-06-22
Sublime
Just didn’t want this to end. So wonderful to have Patti Smith read this to me
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- Gavin
- 16-12-14
Hypnotising
What made the experience of listening to Just Kids the most enjoyable?
I started reading this in paperback but having Patti read it directly made it so much more enjoyable. Felt like I was actually there at the time.
What does Patti Smith bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
Her voice alone can capture the sense of time and place and how it must've felt. She lived this life and hearing her recount it was wonderful.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
There were definitely times when I welled up. It's a really powerful and emotional read, I'd be surprised if most people weren't moved by it.
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2 people found this helpful