Sometimes a couple of new books are entirely necessary. There's something special about adding a book to my shelf with the knowledge that the story contained within its pages is there waiting to tell me all its secrets whenever I choose to delve inside.
With University starting again I have a feeling there's going to be a lot of set text re-reading happening, so I thought that some non-fiction would be good to read alongside the books I have to study. I try to keep my 'to be read' shelf as small but as varied as possible and seeing as though it was missing some non-fiction, I'm counting these as very necessary additions.
Just Kids by Patti Smith.
I was scrolling though instagram one day, saw a picture of this book and instantly made a note of it in my book wishlist notebook. In this memoir Patti Smith offers a glimpse of her intense relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe, who she considered to be one of the most important people in her life and refers to him as 'the artist of my life'. The backdrop is Brooklyn during a heightened time both politically and culturally with the art and music worlds exploding and colliding, and amongst it all two kids made a pact to always care for one another. Patti Smith has had an incredibly interesting life and I think this is going to be a wonderful read.
"Just Kids begins as a love story and ends as an elegy. It serves as a salute to New York City during the late sixties and seventies and to its rich and poor, its hustlers and hellions. A true fable, it is a portrait of two young artists' ascent, a prelude to fame."
Allen Ginsberg Beat Poet by Barry Miles.
At 575 pages this is a beast of a biography and there are no sufficient words to properly explain how much I'm looking forward to diving in. I almost want to take two days and hibernate with endless cups of tea, a thick blanket and this book, but really I think I'm going make my way through slowly. Allen Ginsberg helped do for poetry what nutella does for toast; make it better and so much more exciting.
"Allen Ginsberg occupies a significant and enduring position in American literature. Barry Miles has drawn on both his long friendship with the poet and on Ginsberg's journals and correspondence to produce an immensely readable account of one of the twentieth century's most extraordinary poets."
Have you added any new books to your shelf recently?
I'd love to hear about what you're currently reading!
- xo






These sound so interesting, and they are beautiful to admire on a bookshelf too. I think I'll have to look in to them for sure!
ReplyDeleteJemma | Jemma In Words
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DeleteBoth of these sound flipping brilliant. Great covers too, they actually look just right together.
ReplyDeletexxx
Chambray & Curls /
Super excited about them! x
DeleteJust Kids sounds brilliant, I've never heard of it before but now it will be added to my wishlist - can't wait to read your review.
ReplyDeleteKaty xx
whatkatydoes.weebly.com
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DeleteThe covers of these books are absolutely beautiful and would definitely look great on your bookshelf! I don't know about you, but I read less when I'm at Uni as I have so much other work to be doing. I tend to stick to easy, light reads that I can delve into just before going to bed :) xx
ReplyDeleteI'm exactly the same! I'm looking forward to the day when reading for pleasure all the time is a thing haha! xx
DeleteJust Kids is one of my favourite ever books, it's just brilliant...I read it twice on holiday! I'm currently reading And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini x
ReplyDeleteJosie’s Journal
Ohh I'm even more excited for it now! x
DeleteYou can't beat the feeling of new books <3 The Allen Ginsberg one sounds so interesting!!
ReplyDeleteJess xo
http://just-jesss.blogspot.co.uk
Really looking forward to delving in! x
DeleteSounds like two interesting reads. I'm the same, I like to vary what I read!! Lilly xx http://alittlelilly.blogspot.nl
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DeleteOh my gosh I want to read Patti Smith's book soo badly! I was looking at it in the bookstore today! I really hope it's good. xo
ReplyDeleteheartoffnowhere.blogspot.com
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DeleteI know exatcly what you mean.. I LOVE buying and adding new books to my shelf!
ReplyDeleteBooks are the best! xo
DeleteJust Kids sounds just like something I would read. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAnnabel ♥
Mascara & Maltesers
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DeleteOh yes, I remember asking you about these on Twitter :) I love the cover of the Ginsberg biography x
ReplyDeleteMegan / pixiecrop.com
Me too! <3
DeleteI am definitely adding the Ginsburg biography to my to-read list! Thanks for posting x
ReplyDeleteYay! Thank you for reading! xx
DeleteI definitely agree with the fact that you should treat yourself to new books for the hell of it now and again! They both look really good and I love how crisp your photography is!
ReplyDeletehttp://Thoughtsandthunder.blogspot.co.uk
Thank you <3
DeleteJennie, I absolutely adore Just Kids by Patti Smith. Its one of my all time favourite books. I loved reading about that period of time in NYC. It sounds like such a progressive, exciting & artistic time to live. I can't wait to hear what you think of it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.letstalkbeauty.co.uk/
I'm really looking forward to it! xx
DeleteI definitely seem to be adding to my book pile (shelves are overrun) quicker than I can read. I'm currently reading my first Jeeves and Wooster books!
ReplyDeleteThat's no bad thing! xx
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