"Just Kids" Book Club Discussion

Join us next week for the live discussion on August 29th.

Greetings, friends! I hope you have all enjoyed reading Just Kids as much as I did.

I had heard many great things about Patti Smith’s legendary memoir of her early years as a struggling artist in New York in the late 60s / early 70s. But I didn’t expect it to speak so directly to my heart. It was the perfect summer read. I can’t wait to hear what you think as well.

If you want to join our live book club discussion next week, here is all the info you’ll need. And if you haven’t finished the book, don’t worry. Feel free to join the discussion if you’re willing to endure some spoilers. Check it out on Amazon or pick it up at your local bookshop.

Zoom Discussion Details

When: Monday, August 29, 6PM PST / 9PM EST

What: 1-hour discussion of Just Kids + sneak peek of next month’s book pick

Where: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84472426977

Discussion Questions

Here are some questions to ponder over the next week:

• Did you like the book or not? If so, why or why not? Share your favorite scenes or quotes from the book.

• How familiar were you with Patti Smith or Robert Mapplethorpe’s work prior to reading Just Kids? How did reading the book change your perception of them?

• Why did Patti title the book Just Kids? How does this title convey the theme?

• What does it mean to be an artist? What sacrifices does the artistic path require? Would you be willing to make the same sacrifices they did?

• What role does morality play in this story? How do Patti and Robert embody light and dark? And how does each character move between sin and holiness?

• Patti and Robert don’t pick up the instruments that brought them fame until nearly the end of the book. Why did Patti choose to frame the story like this?

• What do you think of Patti and Robert’s relationship? How have society’s views on sex, sexuality, and relationships changed since 1969?

• The characters cross paths with (and actively pursue) famous people. What does this book say about fame? And why did Patti and Robert become famous?

Go Deeper: Patti’s Substack + The Warhol Diaries

If you haven’t already you should totally subscribe to Patti Smith’s Substack. She has a great weekly newsletter that combines original writing, poetry readings, musical recordings and updates from her world tour.

For those of you who want to go deeper, I recommend checking out the new Netflix documentary The Andy Warhol Diaries, a six-part limited series based on the collection of the artist’s personal memoirs he dictated to writer Pat Hackett.

The series provides cultural context for the late 60s New York art scene that Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe were trying to break into in Just Kids. While there is no direct mention of Patti and Robert in the documentary, they are mentioned in the source material, as are many of the characters who were hanging around The Factory and Max’s Kansas City in Just Kids.

And if you’re wondering about Patti’s obsession with the 19th century French bohemian poet Arthur Rimbaud, you’re not alone. I learned more about his influence on Patti in this NPR segment about how he was her “imaginary boyfriend” in high school. And more recently, she secretly bought Rimbaud’s childhood home in France.

Finally, I found this Spotify playlist of all the songs Patti mentioned in the book.

Enjoy the rest of the book and see you next week!

Marko

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PS: My intention for the book club is to switch between fiction/non-fiction and male/female authors each month. We’ve just done two non-fiction books, so next we’ll read two novels, starting with a male author. I’ve got some titles in mind, but if you want to add in your two cents, please comment below!

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