Noah’s Reviews > Just Kids > Status Update

Mentions of the Vietnam War, of the My Lai Massacre are signifiers of the end of Peace and Love aspects of the sixties. From here on out, disillusionment grips the American people.

Patti Smith’s thoughts on Sharon Tate are a small glimpse into what every woman thought of the Manson murders: immense grief and empathy for a life taken too short.

Patti Smith’s descriptions of the Morphine Angel and the doomed souls he watched over was nothing short of evocative.

Patti Smith’s thoughts about homosexuality, informed by artists like Genet and Mishima is crazy as fuck. But, I kinda love how oblivious she is.

Andy Warhol is shot, Robert Kennedy is shot dead. Is this the Years of Lead, but for politicians and artists?!

Foreboding in the most unsettling of ways. Kinda of reminds me of when I felt this immense feeling of dread about David Lynch’s death. I wrote an entire letter, but didn’t send it. He was dead a couple weeks later. It’s one of my biggest regrets that I didn’t send the letter.

At least, she recognizes how problematic she sounded. Also, people knew about Mishima in the 60s?

Lyrical in the way only an artist in love with life can be. Smith and Robert are a pair that transcends love.

Patti Smith has the writing chops! She crafts an evocative retelling of her days as a wanderer. Moving from place to place, living on the kindness of strangers. But, ultimately fueled by the sense that where she’s going will change her life. It could’ve been pretentious, but her sincerity resonated with me.