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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
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A beautiful book both mesmerising and thought provoking. Humour (dry) will bring a smile to your face. You won’t be disappointed

Mesmerising

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I could listen to Patti Smith and her magic words for ever. A traveller’s memoir or thoughts and encounters over the course of a year. I loved it.

That Voice. Those Words.

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Wonderful memoir of a year in the life of a great poet/performer- part diary, part poetic stream of consciousness, part elegy to those who’ve gone before

Wonderful memoir of a year in the life of a great poet

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This is brilliant. I can't describe it. I can only recommend it, wholeheartedly.
I hink this is even better that m train and just kids, which are great but this is something else! A coral sea comes close, equally individual.
Patti Smith is a one-off, unique talent. As soon as I finnish any of her books, I want to start it again. Looking forward to Bread of Angels.

There are not words

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Loved it & it was great to have the author read it. Will listen to her other books.

Meandering but loved it...

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