45 pages • 1 hour read
Patti SmithJust Kids
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2010A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Just Kids by Patti Smith is a memoir chronicling her deep and enduring friendship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe from their serendipitous meeting in New York City through their artistic evolutions and personal struggles in the late 1960s and 1970s, ending with Mapplethorpe's death from AIDS in 1989. The narrative explores themes of artistic passion, personal discovery, and enduring loyalty. The book contains descriptions of sexual exploration and substance use.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Just Kids by Patti Smith is praised for its poetic prose and evocative portrayal of her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe. Readers appreciate the authentic depiction of 1960s and 70s New York art scene. Some find the pace slow, but the emotional depth and vivid storytelling largely resonate, making it a heartfelt memoir worth reading.
Who Should Read Just Kids?
A fan of gritty, poetic memoirs would enjoy Just Kids by Patti Smith. This emotionally candid work resonates with readers who appreciate artistic coming-of-age stories, similar to The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath or On the Road by Jack Kerouac. It's ideal for those fascinated by 1960s and 70s New York City counterculture.