Name: Saffy's review of M Train by Patti Smith
Item: M Train
Rating: 3.5
Author: Saffy

Patti Smith

From the National Book Award-winning author of Just Kids: an unforgettable odyssey into the mind of this legendary artist, told through the prism of cafés and haunts she has visited and worked in around the world. M Train is a journey through eighteen "stations." It begins in the tiny Greenwich Village café where Smith goes every morning for black coffee, ruminates on the world as it is and the world as it was, and writes in her notebook. We then travel, through prose that shifts fluidly between dreams and reality, past and present, across a landscape of creative aspirations and inspirations: from Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul in Mexico, to a meeting of an Arctic explorer's society in Berlin; from the ramshackle seaside bungalow in New York's Far Rockaway that Smith buys just before Hurricane Sandy hits, to the graves of Genet, Plath, Rimbaud, and Mishima. Woven throughout are reflections on the writer's craft and on artistic creation, alongside signature memories including her life in Michigan with her husband, guitarist Fred Sonic Smith, whose untimely death was an irremediable loss. For it is loss, as well as the consolation we might salvage from it, that lies at the heart of this exquisitely told memoir, one augmented by stunning black-and-white Polaroids taken by Smith herself. M Train is a meditation on endings and on beginnings: a poetic tour de force by one of the most brilliant multiplatform artists at work today.

M Train

Laura Walden

It wasn't as life changing as Just Kids but it was weirdly more relatable for me.. Miss Patti never misses 

Saffy

wow. all i can say is, this book feels like a friend from years ago that has returned to remind me of myself.

knowing patti’s music, i should have known her memoirs would move me to bits.

ruth opiela

wow. all i can say is, this book feels like a friend from years ago that has returned to remind me of myself.

knowing patti’s music, i should have known her memoirs would move me to bits.

As expected, Smith manages through a mosaic of observations to invoke a feeling of dreaming, longing, and experiencing. 

Matthew Soeder

what an eventful life this woman has lived. adventures i could only begin to fathom, even if i were given multiple lives. fascinating.

rain/anagha

jess

love it. made me itch to travel and romanticize every snippet of mundane life. made me want to believe on natural optimism. made me want to write as articulate as her. an eloquent and a deeply moving elegy for what the author has “lost and cannot find” but can remember in words.

Mia Caven

this book owns my literal heart. another memoir of patti smith. all her memoirs are beautiful. poetic. send me into outer space and fucking back. i love this woman. would die for this woman. this book is my second fave after just kids. stunning romantic poetic genuine raw real flowing easy so many beautiful words could make it up. read it now or perish

Patti Smith's writting always feels like a light sleep in a hot afternoon with a cool breeze under the Shadow of a big tree. I always feel better after it

Patrícia 

Alexis Palew

Pleasant, sometimes sad, musings. Lots of books within the book that I tried to note here: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Bridget Smith

this is probably my new favorite book of all time!! it’s so special and already very dear to me. the philosophy at the core of m train is that the memories and objects we collect are fragments of life’s meaning. it takes solitude, reflection, and writing in cafes while drinking coffee to put those fragmented pieces together. i loved it sooo much

'So honest and pure as to count as a true rapture' JOAN DIDION 'A poetic masterpiece' JOHNNY DEPP 'Our St John of the Cross, a mystic full of compassion' EDMUND WHITE 'A roadmap to my life', from the National Book Award-winning author of Just Kids: an unforgettable odyssey of a legendary artist, told through the prism of cafés and haunts she has worked in around the world REVISED EDITION WITH FIVE THOUSAND WORDS BONUS MATERIAL AND NEW PHOTOGRAPHS M Train begins in the tiny Greenwich Village café where Smith goes every morning for black coffee, ruminates on the world as it is and the world as it was, and writes in her notebook. Through prose that shifts fluidly between dreams and reality, past and present, and across a landscape of creative aspirations and inspirations, we travel to Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul in Mexico; to a meeting of an Arctic explorer's society in Berlin; to a ramshackle seaside bungalow in New York's Far Rockaway that Smith acquires just before Hurricane Sandy hits; and to the graves of Genet, Plath, Rimbaud and Mishima. Woven throughout are reflections on the writer's craft and on artistic creation. Here, too, are singular memories of Smith's life in Michigan and the irremediable loss of her husband, Fred Sonic Smith. Braiding despair with hope and consolation, illustrated with her signature Polaroids, M Train is a meditation on travel, detective shows, literature and coffee. It is a powerful, deeply moving book by one of the most remarkable artists at work today.

Jordan Maywald

A fascinating perspective into the memories and contemplation of an artist. Patti has a demeanour with words hard to describe. The pages fill with emotion and delicate introspection.

Melody Izard

I've always thought of her as such a gloom maker. Craig has loved her music. A lot of people love her music. I've tried and can't do it. Her writing is punctuated with isolation and loneliness. But there is purity and genuineness. So many things are lost. And I must have some bee socks. Does anyone know where to find them?

Jade Flynn

Just Kids was one of my favourite reads of last year. I found M Train to be pointless.

Ruby Huber

Patti smith has become such a beloved character to me, and reading this book and knowing she is an actual person not just a character on the page brings me great joy. What is this book about? Detectives and coffee primarily. Secondarily about the ways the mind wanders and the dozens of tiny thoughts we have that easily go unnoticed, but once you notice them and write them down they become sweet and precious 🥰 Patti Smith is the only person out here who is truly purely just vibing and her Instagram account is a gem.

Jennifer Diz

Patti Smith is one of the many persons I would like to have dinner with alive or dead. Smith references a buttload (the word myriad doesn't cover the plethora) of books, movies, tv-shows and music. I will probably try to read a bit of the books she referenced, since I already own them hahah. I guess like minds... Anyway, loved this book and I will definitely read all of her books. 

She's well traveled, bought a house no one would and named it her Alamo.

REVISED EDITION WITH FIVE THOUSAND WORDS BONUS MATERIAL AND NEW PHOTOGRAPHSM Train begins in the tiny Greenwich Village café where Smith goes every morning for black coffee, ruminates on the world as it is and the world as it was, and writes in her notebook. Through prose that shifts fluidly between dreams and reality, past and present, and across a landscape of creative aspirations and inspirations, we travel to Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul in Mexico; to a meeting of an Arctic explorer's society in Berlin; to a ramshackle seaside bungalow in New York's Far Rockaway that Smith acquires just before Hurricane Sandy hits; and to the graves of Genet, Plath, Rimbaud and Mishima.Woven throughout are reflections on the writer's craft and on artistic creation. Here, too, are singular memories of Smith's life in Michigan and the irremediable loss of her husband, Fred Sonic Smith. Braiding despair with hope and consolation, illustrated with her signature Polaroids, M Train is a meditation on travel, detective shows, literature and coffee. It is a powerful, deeply moving book by one of the most remarkable artists at work today.

louane

the first book i’ve ever read from Patti Smith. The beginning of my very admiration for her art. It made me wanna travel and it helped my mind to escape during the lockdown 

Joanne Penner

National Bestseller From the National Book Award winning author of"Just Kids" an unforgettable odyssey of a legendary artist, told through the cafes and haunts she has worked in around the world. It is a book Patti Smith has described as a roadmap to my life. "M Train"begins in the tiny Greenwich Village cafe where Smith goes every morning for black coffee, ruminates on the world as it is and the world as it was, and writes in her notebook. Through prose that shifts fluidly between dreams and reality, past and present, we travel to Frida Kahlo s Casa Azul in Mexico; to the fertile moon terrain of Iceland; to a ramshackle seaside bungalow in New York s Far Rockaway that Smith acquires just before Hurricane Sandy hits; to the West 4th Street subway station, filled with the sounds of the Velvet Underground after the death of Lou Reed; and to the graves of Genet, Plath, Rimbaud, and Mishima. Woven throughout are reflections on the writer s craft and on artistic creation. Here, too, are singular memories of Smith s life in Michigan and the irremediable loss of her husband, Fred Sonic Smith. Braiding despair with hope and consolation, illustrated with her signature Polaroids, "M Train"is a meditation on travel, detective shows, literature, and coffee. It is a powerful, deeply moving book by one of the most remarkable multiplatform artists at work today."

Laura Walden &
M Train by Patti Smith

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Laura Walden &M Train by Patti Smith

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Laura Walden &
M Train by Patti Smith