No Walls and the Recurring Dream

A Memoir

By: Ani DiFranco

Narrated by: Ani DiFranco

Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

A NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER

"A memoir as fierce, freewheeling, and passionate as her music." (O, The Oprah Magazine)

A memoir by the celebrated singer-songwriter and social activist Ani DiFranco

In her new memoir, No Walls and the Recurring Dream, Ani DiFranco recounts her early life from a place of hard-won wisdom, combining personal expression, the power of music, feminism, political activism, storytelling, philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and much more into an inspiring whole. In these frank, honest, passionate, and often funny stories is the tale of one woman's eventful and radical journey to the age of 30. Ani's coming of age story is defined by her ethos of fierce independence - from being an emancipated minor sleeping in a Buffalo bus station, to unwaveringly building a career through appearances at small clubs and festivals, to releasing her first album at the age of 18, to consciously rejecting the mainstream recording industry and creating her own label, Righteous Babe Records. In this audiobook, as in life, she never hesitates to question established rules and expectations, maintaining a level of artistic integrity that has inspired and challenged more than a few. Ani continues to be a major touring and recording artist as well as a celebrated activist and feminist, standing as living proof that you can overcome all personal and societal obstacles to be who you are and to follow your dreams.

©2019 Ani DiFranco (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

One of Amazon's Best Books of the Year So Far

“Ani DiFranco has written a memoir as fierce, freewheeling, and passionate as her music. Like Patti Smith’s Just Kids and Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run, No Walls and the Recurring Dream charts the evolution of an artist whose voice couldn’t be suppressed by poverty, by misogyny, by record executives - and we hear it, loud and true.” (O, the Oprah Magazine)

"The Grammy-winning [Ani DiFranco] recounts the eventful story of her life as a musician and feminist political activist.... Interspersed throughout with feminist/political musings and anecdotes about such music legends as Pete Seeger, Prince, and Bob Dylan, DiFranco's tale celebrates both independent music and an unconventional life daringly lived. A refreshingly frank and free-spirited memoir from a feminist icon." (Kirkus Reviews)

"[DiFranco] makes her literary debut in this powerful reflection on her life and career.... Throughout, DiFranco writes of her self-doubts and romantic hardships.... Honest and passionate, DiFranco's memoir will resonate with her many fans." (Publishers Weekly)

the folksinger in her own voice

18-23 year old me loved every bit of recollection and lyric recognition. thank you, Ani, for sharing these parts of yourself with us!

I don't know. . .

Ani DeFranco or her music, but I knew her name and saw her at the R&R HOF in 1995, so I picked up her book and I'm glad I did. She's a gift.

LWP

I absolutely loved it. An intimate self portrait that simultaneously captivates, and inspires in a way that only an artist can do and in words only an artist can manifest. as an artist, myself, I feel grateful and honored to have shared in this journey. ❤🤘

It's much more than a memoir

intelligent insight on the state of this country pours from this book. A must read for all, you do not need to know who Ani Difranco is to enjoy this book.

It was nice to have it read to me by Ani.

I binge listened for the most part and got through it in about a week. It was the first time I'd gotten a audible book. It was a deep, reflective, intimate and humorous look at a music icon from her own humble perspective. I loved the chapter about Prince but my favorite character/story was The Cat Lady (akaHeidiHo). Rich with relationships and love and appreciated for all the big and small in between. I loved feeling like I got to know who Ani really was, even though in my heart I already feel her and know her through her music.

Thank Goddess for Ani

This book (and Ani's reading of it) serves to confirm that she is perhaps the most relatable and eloquent feminist genius of our time.
I am truly grateful to be inspired by her conviction, her vulnerability, her grace and her poeticism.

Goddess bless!

Ani's Dream

I have read quite a few memoirs and I honestly don't remember having as interesting an experience listening to a person relate the story of her life. I've been a fan of Annie's music for many years and I don't think that it really matter to the experience of listening to this. In the end of the book she honestly admits that this is only a snapshot of herself in her own memory right now and if she started it today it would be a different snapshot. But this was a moving experience and I am grateful to have heard Ani read in her own words that snapshot.

Legit Artist and Heartfelt Autobiography

Thoroughly enjoyed Ani’s origin story. She is an excellent writer and narrator. Does she get a bit preachy here and there? Yes, but she is an artist and activist through and through.

I find it interesting that some of the overly woke reviewers are so wildly leftist that even Ani was not left enough. Ani agreed with a women’s music festival decision to only allow women-born women. Why? Because if you have not had a period every month, felt the patriarchy every day, felt the power discrepancy every day, and yes even know the power of creating babies—you don’t know what it is to be a woman. If there are no real women, can there be real feminism?

My only gripe is that I wanted more and that is a great gripe.

Super excited to Listen to this I’m a huge fan!!

Being released at Pacific time was kind of a bummer, otherwise cannot wait to enjoy this though!!

Lovely truth

Ani seduces you in like her music and story telling. This time of who she really is. I love to get real accounts and learn alongside her recap of what she has become, and where she is going. Lovely. Thank you for sharing! Buy it.