This is an absolutely beautiful book, in terms of words, images, and presentation. It probably helps to be a fan of Florence + The Machine, but you won't need to be to appreciate this lovely tome. ( )

‘’Songs can be incredibly prophetic, like subconscious warnings or messages to myself, but I often don’t know what I’m trying to say till years later. Or a prediction comes true and I couldn’t do anything to stop it, so it seems like a kind of useless magic.’’
Florence Welch

Important information: My mother has been successfully initiated to Florence coven. Mission accomplished.

Who wouldn’t fall in love with this outstanding book? A sublime piece of Art by a unique artist. Florence Welch is like an elf, a witch, a fairy, an Ophelia straight out of the paintings of Pre-Raphaelite artists. A song-writer and poet, inspired by mythology, Art, Literature. By life itself. So, let us leave the word to her…

There’s a ghost in my mouth
And it talks in my sleep
Wraps itself around my tongue
As it softly speaks
Then it walks, then it walks
Then it walks with my legs
(“I’m Not Calling You a Liar’’)

Now there’s no holding back, I’m ready to attack
My blood is singing with your voice, I want to pour it out.
The saints can’t help me now, the ropes have been unbound
I hunt for you with bloodied feet across the hallowed ground
(“Howl”)

And oh, poor Atlas
The world’s a beast of a burden
You’ve been holding up a long time
And all this longing
And the ships are left to rust
That’s what the water gave us
‘’What the Water Gave Me’’)

And now all your love will be exorcized
And we will find new saints to be canonized
It’s an evensong
It’s a litany
It’s a battle cry
It’s a symphony
(“Seven Devils”)

Oh the queen of peace
Always does her best to please
It isn’t any use
Somebody’s got to lose
Like a long scream
Out there always echoing
Oh what is it worth
When all that’s left is hurt
(“Queen of Peace”)

I’m worried we are entering an age of rage
Where only anger will be considered an asset
And the gentle will be mocked, then eaten.
Those with soft voices will have their tongues cut out,
As punishment for not using them the right way.
Don’t you know your words are weapons,
Kindness is obsolete,
As obsolete as handwriting,
As obsolete as silence and darkness in a city.
(“Rage”)

Now, if this poem isn’t the truest mirror reflecting our screaming society and the mob of the Twitter rebels, hiding behind a screen and dreaming revolutions while sitting comfortably in their sofas, eating pizza, I don’t know what is…

‘’I don’t know what makes a song a song and a poem a poem: they have started to bleed into each other at this stage,
You can have everything.’’

See photos of this glorious book on my blog: https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/ ( )

What a gorgeous book. I've always been a huge Florence and the Machine fan and I was delighted to read this book. It has lyrics, poetry, sketches, doodles, and photographs. It' very ethereal and beautiful. Reading her lyrics really made me appreciate how poetry-esque they really all are. Florence writes exquisitely and from her heart. Useless Magic is divided into fiver parts, one part for each album, and the final section for poetry. It's a wonderful addition to any collection, not just those entranced by her music! ( )