Summary

In "M Train," Patti Smith embarks on a mesmerizing journey through the landscapes of her life, interweaving personal memories, literary references, and artistic reflections. The narrative unfolds as a series of interconnected vignettes, each triggered by a specific place, object, or thought. Smith's travels take her from her usual corner at the Café 'Ino in Greenwich Village to the stark terrain of French Guiana, the windswept coasts of Iceland, and the sparse beauty of the American Southwest, each location serving as a backdrop for her contemplations on life, loss, and creativity.

The book is structured around Smith's daily rituals and wanderings, offering an intimate glimpse into her creative process. The cafés she frequents become her sanctuaries, spaces where she can write, reflect, and observe the world. These familiar settings prompt memories of her late husband, Fred Sonic Smith, and other significant figures in her life. Smith's encounters with fellow artists and writers, both living and dead, serve as points of connection across time and space.

"M Train" is also a meditation on loss and impermanence. Smith reflects on the passage of time, the disappearance of beloved places, and the deaths of those she has loved. The absence of her husband Fred is a constant presence throughout the book, his memory woven into the fabric of her everyday experiences. The book incorporates Smith's photographs, which are visual echoes of her internal landscape, capturing the beauty and melancholy of the world around her.

Smith's writing is characterized by its lyrical prose, vivid imagery, and deep engagement with art and literature. Throughout "M Train," she grapples with themes of memory, identity, and the search for meaning in a world of constant change. The book is a testament to the power of art to transcend loss and to the enduring human need for connection and creativity.