I started this book and got sidetracked with work and other things, so I really only read 90% of it in one day, today.

Think “Through the Looking Glass” set in 2016 United States of America, forged with quintessential Patti Smith wordsmithing, and you have a glimpse at the lens through which Ms. Smith chose to reflect on January 2016 to January 2017, the Chinese Year of the Monkey. With several direct references to Lewis Carroll, 2016 unfolds in the exquisite prose of a writer who has lived a far more interesting life than I have, and is far more talented than the vast majority of us could ever hope to be. Her personal heartaches and losses are interspersed with observations about the 2016 presidential election and the inauguration of “the insufferable yellow-haired confidence man.” She reflects on the passage of her 70th birthday, the toxicity in politics in general (“No matter which way I stepped or whatever plane I was on, it was still the Year of the Monkey. I was still moving within an atmosphere of artificial brightness with corrosive edges, the hyperreality of a polarizing pre=election mudslide, an avalanche of toxicity infiltrating every outpost.” ), voter apathy (“I had bad feelings about an election in the Year of the Monkey. Don’t worry, everyone said, the majority rules. Not so, I retaliated,the silent rule and it will be decided by them, those who do not vote. And who can blame them, when it’s all a pack of lies, a tainted election lined in waste?” Or “Twenty-four percent of the population had elected the worst of ourselves to represent the other seventy-six percent. All hail our American apathy...”) This slim book — only 171 pages — is crisp cultural commentary and ever gorgeous prose. ( )

I loved this book! Smith weaves her poetry into her account of 2016. I will be re-reading this one seasonally. ( )

Another wonderful book by the always delightful Patti Smith, I just love her writings (and her music!). This book takes place in 2016, the year of the monkey (where we had our own King Louis), and kind of a memoir of the year in Patti's life, drifting into a dreamland at times. There is much sadness in this book (a close friend is dying, another fighting ALS), along with meeting quirky people, traveling, shopping for a Jerry Garcia t-shirt, finding treasures, conversing with a motel sign, and coping with the world situation. And that's just part of it! I always find books to read that she discusses and music to listen to (I had to re-listen to my "Hot Rats" LP and my "Grayfolded" CD after reading her book). Filled with her photos that always seem to add so much to her books. Updated with an epilogue from 2020 to close it out. And if you like her books subscribe to her e-mails, they are also wonderful... ( )

After really loving her book, Just Kids, I was really excited to dig more into Patti Smith's writings. This one is a memoir, detailing her life throughout the year of 2016.

It is a LOT less focused than Just Kids, often being completely rambling, and the narrative sometimes slips between reality and dreams. Honestly there were times I had no idea wtf she was saying, but I loved it. Her writing is poetic and beautiful.

This book really shows how weird she is, but also just how intelligent and insightful as well. Her insights into art, music, literature, and humanity are incredible.

I'm not sure I'd recommend it to someone, but I'll say I sure loved it. ( )

This collection of essays is Smith’s memoir of 2016 -- the Chinese year of the monkey, the year she turned 70, the year of the presidential election, the year several friends declined in health or died. All of her collections have confused me to some degree, and this one did too, like a fever dream. I loved it and will keep it. ( )