Book Review - Just Kids

This salute to New York City starts with remnants of Beat Generation poets echoing into the late 60s and 70s Art Scene.

During the Summer of Love and the riots a chance encounter in Brooklyn led two young people on a path of art, devotion and initiation.
Two kids made a pact to take care of each other. Patti Smith earned success as a Poet and Performer and Robert Mapplethorpe doing highly provocative photography.

Coney Island, Forty-Second street, sitting at the Round Table at Max's Kansas City in 1969, living in Hotel Chelsea with a community of the famous and infamous, The influential artists of the day and the colorful fringe hanging on. The time of heightened awareness with the worlds of poetry, rock and roll, art, sexual politics colliding and exploding.

Reading this tale I was reminded of Picasso and Fernande living in poverty at the Bateau Lavoir, trying to find daily food and survival, living in the current Art Capital of the World. I felt the Perseverance necessary for True Artists to Create an individual Path to discover the World and Themselves. Some Artists have the drive for Success at the highest level and they network with the cutting edge. Luck helps, also being in the Right Place, and so does having Friends who are devoted to help you Succeed.