Late to the game, I know, but finally read this stylized account of Smith and Maplethorpe’s lifelong relationship. Well told and a quick read, it glides through the years with a heady dose of name dropping and causal sex and drugs—pretty much what you expect from rock and roll. ( )

First, the last third of the book was incredible – it was everything I wanted all of the book to be. It was here that Patti Smith finally seemed to connect emotionally with things; it was honest, emotional, and gripping and made me cry and wish it would go on forever.

The rest of it….not so much. The earlier parts were more a series of lists of things she did and people she met. It was not quite her story, not quite Robert’s, and somehow managed to be both too detailed (she ate a lot of anchovy sandwiches) and too superficial (since she never stayed with any one story long enough to go deep).

Mind you, this may be just me. I have always loved Patti Smith’s poetry and I still play Horses regularly. I grew up in New York City, and I overlapped with her last two years (I even saw her play at CBGBs) so that was the part of the story I was most interested in to begin with and that was the part that most resonated with me…. down to the industrial lofts for artists in residence, the garbage can fires on the Bowery streets, and the empowered gay culture in the days before AIDS. Point being, I came to the book wanting certain things from it rather than being fully prepared to just let it unfold.... ( )

I finished reading this on my porch and the moment i closed the book, it started pouring rain. me too mother nature. me too. ( )

This book fell into my hands last week and I loved every minute of reading it! ( )

Beautifully written book written at the request of Patti Smith's soul mate and best friend Robert Mapplethorpe, accounting their collaboration in art, love and understanding of each other. B&W photographs throughout.
Some of the content describes her jobs at Argosy Book Store, and at Scribner's (Edward Gorey with his tennis shoes), describing the most popular books as being Adam Smith, and The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. Visits to Astroland, Coney island. Staying in the Chelsea Hotel, and the inspiring people she met there, her attitudes to fashion and art. "I didn't feel for Warhol...His work reflected a culture I wanted to avoid. I hated the soup and felt little for the can. I preferred an artist who transformed his time, not mirrored it." ( )