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Travelling

On the Path of Joni Mitchell

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Travelling

By: Ann Powers
Narrated by: Hillary Huber
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About this listen

Time Must-Read Books of 2024 Independent Best Non-Fiction Books 2024 Mojo Books of the Year 2024

"A vibrant, multifaceted portrait of a music enigma" Guardian

"A powerful portrait" Irish Independent

"Displays a bracing rigour and an exhilarating curiosity about its subject, coming closer than most to catching up with Mitchell on her lonely road" Times

Celebrated music critic Ann Powers explores the life and career of the legendary Joni Mitchell.

What you are about to read is not a standard account of the life and work of Joni Mitchell. Instead, it’s a tale of long journeying through a life that changed popular music: of a homesick wanderer forging ahead on routes of her invention, and of me on her trail, heading toward the ringing of her voice.

One of the most celebrated artists of her generation, Joni Mitchell has inspired countless musicians and writers, while never stopping still herself.

In Travelling, celebrated music critic Ann Powers seeks to understand the paradox of Mitchell – at once both elusive and inviting – through her myriad journeys. Drawing on extensive inter­views with Mitchell’s peers and deep archival research, Powers takes readers to rural Canada, charts the course of Mitchell’s musical evolution, follows the winding road of Mitchell’s collaborations with other greats and explores the loves that fed her songwriting.

Kaleidoscopic in scope and intimate in detail, Travelling is a fresh and fascinating addition to the Joni Mitchell corpus – and one that questions whether an artist can ever truly be known to their fans.

(P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers
Entertainment & Celebrities History & Criticism Music Women

Critic reviews

“The Joni Mitchell book we’ve all been waiting for. Ann Powers gives us a brilliant guided tour through the history, myth, and music of an icon.” CLAIRE DEDERER, bestselling author of Monsters

“A daring, intimate book about a daring, intimate artist, Travelling is a thrilling provocation from Ann Powers, one of the greatest cultural critics of our time.” EMILY NUSSBAUM, The New Yorker

“A brilliant and layered book, which is a full and generous examination of a life that feels rich, caring” HANIF ABDURRAQIB, author of A Little Devil in America

“An exhilarating ride down the lonely roads where Joni Mitchell has led the way. For anyone who’s ever been transfixed by a Mitchell song, Travelling is full of fresh revelations and insights.” ROB SHEFFIELD, author of Dreaming the Beatles

“This is Ann Powers’s intimate, fortifying, and sometimes soul-crushing story of how life becomes songs, how songs chart lives, and how Joni Mitchell became Joni Mitchell.” DANYEL SMITH, author of Shine Bright

All stars
Most relevant
However, whenever you came to Joni Mitchell's music and whatever your route has been through her works, you will enjoy this illuminating biography and travelogue.

A must for all Joni lovers

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It is always nice to learn a little more about Joni Mitchell and how she traversed through life

Its all about Joni Mitchell!

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This is an interesting approach with the writer focused on impact & a wider social & anthropological view of Joni Mitchell & her place in the music world - she makes this clear at the start. Still plenty of biographical detail for a newcomer to Joni & the approach has plenty of interest even if it’s a little meandering.
I really didn’t enjoy the narration though - The voice & delivery are all wrong to my English ears & I don’t usually have a problem with American voices at all & listen to & love many American authored & narrated books - It sounded almost AI generated, so stilted was the delivery. A different narrator would have inclined me to a better star rating.

Fascinating but circuitous

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