Bread of Angels

A moving and fascinating insight into the life of this inspirational author, poet and singer. Patti Smith has meant a lot to me over the years, initially through her powerful music which is incendiary, hopeful, angry, calming and melancholic, sometimes all at the same time. Her books are similar. Her art first showed as a poet, and this comes through in her lyrics, and indeed her writing. She is not always direct, even when talking about life - stuff like love, death and bringing up her children; she often diverts into vivid imagery and other tangents. She honours the many around her who die over the period her book covers, from her husband, fellow musician Fred Sonic Smith ( from rock band, MC5), artist Robert Mapplethorpe, to playwright Sam Shepard.

The overwhelming energy the book brings is hope and a sense of the need to fight for humanity. It is deeply personal and intimate but will resonate with many, and, I imagine, inspire many, to approach life with free-thinking and hope, despite its frequent setbacks. Perhaps particularly appealing for fans of Patti Smith, but I also think it also has a wider appeal......