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Jun 10, 2015Tyler__J rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Patti Smith's memoir about her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe is intensely personal and beautifully written. I came to this book knowing very little about either of these artists but come away feeling like I have a strong sense of them both as human beings. This is Smith's triumph - she shows the person behind the art, so that even if the art does not appeal to you (as I do not share Mapplethorpe's artistic obsessions, or can call myself a Patti Smith fan), you are made to understand the struggle and the commitment. There are some very funny vignettes in here as well (her meetings with Ginsberg and Dali are gold) to counterpoint the slow movement towards the last separation. This is the most moving book I have read in years and I recommend it highly.