Cover of Woolgathering

Woolgathering

by Patti Smith · 1992

+ Want to read

A great book about becoming an artist, Woolgatheringtells of a youngster finding herself as she learns the noble vocation of woolgathering, a worthy calling that seemed a good job for me. She discovers often at night, often in nature the pleasures of rescuing a fleeting thought. Deeply moving, Woolgatheringcalls up our own memories, as the child glimpses and gleans, piecing together a crazy quilt of truths. Smith introduces us to her tribe, a race of cloud dwellers, and to the fierce, vital pleasures of cloud watching and stargazing and wandering.

Read more

A radiant new autobiographical piece, Two Worlds (which was not in the original 1992 Hanuman edition of Woolgathering), and the author's photographs and illustrations are also included.

Woolgatheringcelebrates the sacred nature of creation with Smith's beautiful style, acclaimed as glorious (NPR), spellbinding (Booklist), rare and ferocious (Salon), and shockingly beautiful (New York Magazine).

Subject
biographybiographyMore like thisLess of thismemoirmemoirMore like thisLess of this
Themes
musicmusicMore like thisLess of thisartartMore like thisLess of thiswomenwomenMore like thisLess of this
Setting
1990s1990sMore like thisLess of thisUSAUSAMore like thisLess of this
Audience
adult
Length
short · 80 pages
Form
poetrypoetryMore like thisLess of thisessaysessaysMore like thisLess of this

Click a tag to see books like this one that share it. Point at it (on a phone, tap it) for less of it instead.

Read it? Sign in to help tag it.

BuyAmazonGoogle Books

BorrowOpen LibraryA library near you

MoreCompare pricesHardcover

Liked Woolgathering? Here’s where I’d start.

These suit anyone who liked Woolgathering. Sign in and mark a few books for picks shaped around your own taste.

  1. The Book of Jon Eleni Sikelianos · 2004 Shares poetry, memoir, nonfiction
  2. Patti Smith 1969-1976 · 2011 Shares music, nonfiction, art
  3. Century of Clouds Bruce Boone · 2009 Shares poetry, memoir, nonfiction
  4. To Be the Poet Maxine Hong Kingston · 2002 Shares poetry, memoir, nonfiction
See more recommendations →

“People who read Woolgathering tend to reach for these next.”

  1. The Happy Birthday of Death Gregory Corso · 1960
  2. Joni Mitchell: The Complete Poems and Lyrics Joni Mitchell · 1997
  3. Heavy Metal Islam: Rock, Resistance, and the Struggle for the Soul of Islam Mark LeVine · 2008
  4. Patti Smith: An Unauthorized Biography Victor Bockris · 1998

“If you want more of the same (biography about music), start with these.”

  1. I Wanted to Write a Poem: The Autobiography of the Works of a Poet William Carlos Williams · 1958
  2. Poet Be Like God Lewis Ellingham, Kevin Killian · 1998
  3. His Day Is Done: A Nelson Mandela Tribute Maya Angelou · 2014
  4. Forever Words: The Unknown Poems Johnny Cash

“If it was the poetry that hooked you, try one of these.”

  1. I Remember Joe Brainard · 1975
  2. The Real West Marginal Way: A Poet's Autobiography Richard Hugo · 1986
  3. Working in the Dark: Reflections of a Poet of the Barrio Jimmy Santiago Baca · 1991
  4. End to Torment: A Memoir of Ezra Pound by H. D. H.D. · 1979

“These start from a similar idea, even if they go somewhere else with it.”

  1. The Cross-Country Quilters Jennifer Chiaverini · 2001
  2. City Quilts: 12 Dramatic Projects Inspired by Urban Views Cherri House · 2010
  3. Fresh Quilting: Fearless Color, Design, & Inspiration Malka Dubrawsky · 2010
  4. The Modern Quilt Workshop: Patterns, Techniques, and Designs from the FunQuilts Studio Bill Kerr, Weeks Ringle · 2005

Report a problem