Name: Just Kids illustrated
ISBN: 9781526614995

Patti Smith

Patti's Smith's exquisite prose is generously illustrated in this full-color edition of her classic coming-of-age memoir, Just Kids. New York locations vividly come to life where, as young artists, Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe met and fell in love: a first apartment in Brooklyn, Times Square with John and Yoko's iconic billboard, Max's Kansas City, or the gritty fire escape of the Hotel Chelsea. The extraordinary people who passed through their lives are also pictured: Sam Shepard, Harry Smith, William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg. Along with never-before-published photographs, drawings, and ephemera, this edition captures a moment in New York when everything was possible. And when two kids seized their destinies as artists and soul mates in this inspired story of love and friendship.

Just Kids illustrated

Matthew Soeder

”Now I had everything, all her treasures, but I was far too ill to even look at them. It was then that I experienced the weight of sin, even a sin as small as a stolen skater pin. I reflected on the fact that no matter how good I aspired to be, I was never going to achieve perfection.”

”We used to laugh at our small selves, saying that I was a bad girl trying to be good and that he was a good boy trying to be bad. Through the years these roles would reverse, then reverse again, until we came to accept our dual natures.”

it seemed as though the world was slowly being stripped of innocence. or maybe i was seeing a little too clearly.

How I love to laugh when the crowd laughs 

She said, “That’s me, man. That’s my song.” As I was leaving, she looked in the mirror, adjusting her boas. “How do i look, man?”

“Like a pearl,” I answered. “ A pearl of a girl.”

as a non-american myself, i must admit getting into this book was hard work! took me a while to read this bc the amount of references of american culture and history that was stated here really boggled with my mind a bit

with that being said, the way patti smith writes has moved me entirely. if it weren’t for the way she writes, i wouldn’t have put such a high rating but my goodness the way she elaborated and alluded robert’s death at the end, the way she uses her words, the way she writes her poetry that speaks so much of her soul, i feel so connected to her feelings by reading this book i’m so in awe. 

just so remarkable storytelling. i know robert would be so proud to have a darling like her by his side. 

as a non-american myself, i must admit getting into this book was hard work! took me a while to read this bc the amount of references of american culture and history that was stated here really boggled with my mind a bit

with that being said, the way patti smith writes has moved me entirely. if it weren’t for the way she writes, i wouldn’t have put such a high rating but my goodness the way she elaborated and alluded robert’s death at the end, the way she uses her words, the way she writes her poetry that speaks so much of her soul, i feel so connected to her feelings by reading this book i’m so in awe. 

just so remarkable storytelling. i know robert would be so proud to have a darling like her by his side. 

easy to forget how powerful this is until you’re sobbing through the final pages.

katie h.

gingy :3

It’s super silly of me that it took me a while to understand that it’s actually a non-fiction book about Patti’s life and her relationship with Robert (and not only). 

Discovering this book is like a sign from the universe. As a person who’s deeply involved with arts, Patti is so good at articulating emotions that are mostly hidden from the crowd. I feel seen and understood. I feel driven to make my art matter or at least show my art, and not shy away, whether I change something or not

Kris

It’s super silly of me that it took me a while to understand that it’s actually a non-fiction book about Patti’s life and her relationship with Robert (and not only). 

Discovering this book is like a sign from the universe. As a person who’s deeply involved with arts, Patti is so good at articulating emotions that are mostly hidden from the crowd. I feel seen and understood. I feel driven to make my art matter or at least show my art, and not shy away, whether I change something or not

Beautiful. Made me miss NYC again. Dangit. 

Saffy

To be honest, this book put me into a massive reading slump. Maybe because I‘m not used to reading memoirs and it’s very real and without a real plot - like life (lol). 

But as a non-American it was so exhausting, because there were so so so many people! Probably important by the way she describes them, but when you don’t know any of them (except the super famous ones ofc) it’s getting so hard to keep track, as they are not well introduced, they just pop all of a sudden. 

Also the pace was really off-putting. It’s so slow but then again, I missed how they all suddenly became famous, idk. I liked the first and last quarter, but the middle was just confusing. Sorry, Patti Smith, I still love you. 

(I’m also glad I ordered the illustrated version, this really brought some magic into it)

Valentina

To be honest, this book put me into a massive reading slump. Maybe because I‘m not used to reading memoirs and it’s very real and without a real plot - like life (lol). 

But as a non-American it was so exhausting, because there were so so so many people! Probably important by the way she describes them, but when you don’t know any of them (except the super famous ones ofc) it’s getting so hard to keep track, as they are not well introduced, they just pop all of a sudden. 

Also the pace was really off-putting. It’s so slow but then again, I missed how they all suddenly became famous, idk. I liked the first and last quarter, but the middle was just confusing. Sorry, Patti Smith, I still love you. 

(I’m also glad I ordered the illustrated version, this really brought some magic into it)

Finished this 4 days ago and I can’t stop thinking about it. Truly the most beautifully written story, highly recommend. I knew it would be good but am still in awe of the story telling, the flow of words, and the love within this book. Truly iconic!! 

devoured this book in four days. Beautiful and inspiring in a way books rarely are 

Noor 

a beautiful love letter to a dear friend 

moon ramirez

Hands down, "Just Kids" is the most beautiful 'love' story I've ever read, and my copy has become my most treasured possession.. 

I annotated it a lot, quite surprised by how much I adored a book I initially doubted I'd like, but my curiosity led me to it nonetheless. Starting it brought a smile to my face as I envied Robert and Patti's deep understanding of each other.

Their love and dedication to their crafts, despite limitations, resonated deeply with me. Patti's descriptions of their possessions as sacred touched me, and many passages made me blush. Even though they weren't romantically meant for each other in the end, I admired the enduring dynamics they shared until Robert's passing.

The narrative was rich with characters and places, sometimes overwhelming me as they moved from one encounter to another, especially during their stay in Chelsea Hotel. I even paused reading it for a while, feeling lost in the midst of it all. However, I picked it up again at the beginning of the year and fell in love with it all over again.

Hands down, "Just Kids" is the most beautiful 'love' story I've ever read, and my copy has become my most treasured possession.. 

I annotated it a lot, quite surprised by how much I adored a book I initially doubted I'd like, but my curiosity led me to it nonetheless. Starting it brought a smile to my face as I envied Robert and Patti's deep understanding of each other.

Their love and dedication to their crafts, despite limitations, resonated deeply with me. Patti's descriptions of their possessions as sacred touched me, and many passages made me blush. Even though they weren't romantically meant for each other in the end, I admired the enduring dynamics they shared until Robert's passing.

The narrative was rich with characters and places, sometimes overwhelming me as they moved from one encounter to another, especially during their stay in Chelsea Hotel. I even paused reading it for a while, feeling lost in the midst of it all. However, I picked it up again at the beginning of the year and fell in love with it all over again.

the most beautiful love story ever written 

Lauri

Patti Smith is a genius with the talent to write the most beautiful story's. From the beginning I got absorbed into Patti's life her bright and happy days as well as the dark painful times. Her journey to self discovery as a person living in a city with so many possibilities as is New York, but also her self discovery as an artist. Her relationship with Robert is far more than just a plain couple of lovers no their bond goes far beyond love. I can't stress enough how much of a literary masterpiece this book is. It will always stay close in my heart.