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Year of the Monkey

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Year of the Monkey

By: Patti Smith
Narrated by: Patti Smith
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About this listen

 Bloomsbury presents Year of the Monkey written and read by Patti Smith.

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

From the National Book Award-winning author of Just Kids
Selected as Book of the Year by the Daily Telegraph, i paper, Metro and Harper's Bazaar

‘Magical’ GUARDIAN

'A gripping tale of the search for meaning in times of turbulence – expressed with Smith’s signature poetic flair' VOGUE

'Extraordinary ... A tense, teasing mix of reality and dream' Sunday Times

'A melancholy mood and poetic language distinguish Smith’s third memoir' BBC

‘Her willingness to look closely at life’s closing chapters makes for a magical book' WASHINGTON POST, 'The 10 books to read in September'

Following a run of New Year’s concerts at San Francisco’s legendary Fillmore, Patti Smith finds herself tramping the coast of Santa Cruz, about to embark on a year of solitary wandering. Unfettered by logic or time, she draws us into her private wonderland, with no design yet heeding signs, including a talking sign that looms above her, prodding and sparring like the Cheshire Cat. In February, a surreal lunar year begins, bringing with it unexpected turns, heightened mischief, and inescapable sorrow. In a stranger’s words, “Anything is possible: after all, it’s the year of the monkey.” For Patti Smith – inveterately curious, always exploring, tracking thoughts, writing the year evolves as one of reckoning with the changes in life’s gyre: with loss, aging, and a dramatic shift in the political landscape of America.

Smith melds the Western landscape with her own dreamscape. Taking us from Southern California to the Arizona desert; to a Kentucky farm as the amanuensis of a friend in crisis; to the hospital room of a valued mentor; and by turns to remembered and imagined places – this haunting memoir blends fact and fiction with poetic mastery. The unexpected happens; grief and disillusionment. But as Patti Smith heads toward a new decade in her own life, she offers this balm to the reader: her wisdom, wit, gimlet eye, and above all, a rugged hope of a better world.

Riveting, elegant, often humorous, Year of the Monkey is a moving and original work, a touchstone for our turbulent times.©2019 Patti Smith (P)2019 Penguin Random House Audio Entertainment & Celebrities Celebrity Witty
All stars
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Patti"s writing is inspirational and meditative. The details had me living her life. Simple and luscious.

Patti is a creative and performative Godess.

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I felt like I was listening to a dear friend talk. A genius friend. Her work is so honest and often sad, but makes me feel that despite all it’s pain the ride of life is worth it. And everything is going to be OK.

Poetry read by the poet

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raw black and white imagery, americana, monotone voice, a really useful listen. take a time journey with a travel worn Patti. highly recommended.

didn't know much about Patti Smith.

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Only positive was the narrator's droning monotone voice helped with getting me off to sleep. The stories within stories never seemed to peak to the point of interesting let alone thrilling in any way. I didn't enjoy this book at all.

Boring and disjointed

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Patti’s leaning into wanderlust so hard at stages she ends up coming across a bit vain, romanticising the visiting of ULURU - it’s one and only name, climbing it and taking its yield for oneself, even going so far as to recognise the climbing of it as ‘forbidden’. I just mean to say sometimes an author or artist gets so wrapped up in themselves and their art they forget they’re leaving footsteps in a story that is much bigger than their own.

Beautifully written but

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