If Bread of Angels lacks the strong coming-to-New York plot line of Just Kids, it feels more intimate than either of its predecessors, which are both graced and obscured by Smith’s enigmatic writing style ... [A] greater degree of openness ... Isn’t perfect. There’s a structural awkwardness about the way Smith has to leapfrog over those early New York years...lest she repeat herself. But those of us who love Smith — and we are legion — don’t love her because she or her art is perfect. We love her because of her aura of rough authenticity, her earnestness, her seer’s way with words and her occasional snarl.
Read Full Review >>