"Year of the Monkey" by Patti Smith

If you're a fan of Patti Smith, you know that she speaks about death and loss frequently: she shares memories and mementos, and reminds us when someone's passing day has come just like she does with birthdays and living anniversaries. I began to wonder how she keeps doing that part of the work: bearing witness to the sadness, and sharing as she does. She answered that question in this book–and as it happens, that answer is also a reason why any artist should keep going, keep creating.