YaoGun QingNian: January 2012

Recently read Patti Smith's "Just Kids" over the holidays. FANTASTIC book. Patti writes the story of her relationship with the late artist Robert Mapplethorpe. It's a beautifully written memoir of the two young artists trying to make it in New York City. I had no idea that Patti was so much of a visual artist before she became a rockstar, nor that she had dated Mapplethorpe for several years before he eventually came out as a gay man. I loved reading about their adventures with different circles of people -- the art, rock n' roll, and literary scenes. One of the best books I've read in a long time. Definitely worth a read.