Patti Smith’s “Bread of Angels” Review: A Wild Ride with the Poet of Punk!

The wave of memoirs from artists in the wake of the pandemic continues unabated, yet Patti Smith occupies a unique position. Initially emerging as a poet who penned the foundations of punk, before transitioning to a pop icon and subsequently stepping back from the limelight to focus on family life, Smith has, in the recent decades, embraced both literature and music with such energy that it blurs the lines between her talents in each. At 78, she embodies both art forms effortlessly.

Her newest memoir, “Bread of Angels,” serves as both a prequel and sequel to her earlier, highly praised “Just Kids” from 2010, and her more contemplative “M Train” from 2015. This book navigates through her tough early years to contemporary times, culminating in a surprising twist that traces back to the very moment of her conception. It’s filled with unexpected insights into an artist whose life story might seem already thoroughly documented in the annals of rock history.

Despite the surprises, the real charm of the book lies in its narrative voice and the vivid descriptions of events. Smith’s prose—often formal and sometimes archaic—can be an acquired taste, occasionally veering towards the repetitive or indulgent. However, once acclimated, her writing captivates and enlightens, offering as much a portrait of the artist as the anecdotes themselves.

The narrative begins with a nod to Proust, oscillating between the present and distant past, where Smith reveals her childhood struggles with self-image, referring to it metaphorically as her “rebel hump”—a flaw she learns to embrace and utilize. She paints a romantic picture of her early years, lingering over her first decade, during which she adores her father—a scarred World War II veteran working factory jobs to support his family as they move from a Philadelphia rooming house to nearly condemned government housing in rural South Jersey.

Smith, plagued by health problems as a child, was diagnosed with TB and sent to Chattanooga to recover with family. Her spiritual explorations during this period led her relatives to enroll her in Presbyterian Sunday school. A creative soul, she longed to touch the ivories of her grandmother’s piano and kept detailed diaries. She often lost herself in daydreams; in one such instance, she spent a morning engrossed with a tortoise on her way to school. She and her siblings, Linda and Todd, found solace in their imaginations as their parents faced uncertain futures, with Smith noting, “the future was a concern for adults.”

Smith’s narrative captures her gradual awakening to her artistic calling, from refusing to salute the American flag due to her mother’s Jehovah’s Witness beliefs, to being inspired by her first encounters with the works of Picasso, Modigliani, and various influential films, music, and books. When her religious instruction conflicted with her artistic impulses, she decisively chose art, recounting a telling interaction with a church elder about the place of art in religious life.

A pivotal moment occurs when a 19-year-old Smith becomes pregnant. Around the same time, her brother opens up about his gender identity. Subsequently, Smith relocates to New York City, beginning the chapter of her life detailed in “Just Kids.” Her narrative here accelerates, covering her intense connection with Robert Mapplethorpe, her various romantic and artistic liaisons, including with Sam Shepard and her iconic performances at CBGB. Notable incidents include being sidelined from Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue and her uncompromising artistic decisions that sometimes hindered her commercial success.

The story then decelerates as Smith moves to Michigan with Fred Smith of MC5, where they lead a bohemian existence, refurbishing an old boat and traveling. Their life together is portrayed with warmth yet discretion, hinting at personal trials and tribulations without delving into explicit details. Fred’s death in 1994 marks a somber chapter, leading to a resurgence in Smith’s creative life fueled by new friendships and encouragements to return to the stage.

In the later sections, Smith recounts new musical tours, books, and a reinvigorated commitment to activism. A significant revelation about her and her sister Linda’s ancestry offers a dramatic twist that reshapes her life’s narrative, underscoring the theme of self-creation that permeates the memoir. Smith’s journey is one of continual self-discovery and articulation, a process she vividly captures in her uniquely poetic prose.