Portrait Of Joni

David Yaffe's biography Reckless Daughter: A Portrait of Joni Mitchell is a compulsively readable tribute to arguably the most important female singer-songwriter in the history of rock. Yaffe first listened to Mitchell's seminal album Blue when he was 15 and lying in bed with his girlfriend, and has nursed a passion for her music since.

It's not hard to do so, of course, when Mitchell's songs are some of the wisest, most original and melodious ever written. Besides his detailed retelling of her life and career, what Yaffe does particularly well is dissecting the genius of iconic songs such as Both Sides Now, A Case Of You and River.

Reckless Daughter: A Portrait of Joni Mitchell by David Yaffe is available at Kinokuniya for S$43.50 (hardcover).