Love, Janis

This is a remarkable biography of an often misunderstood rock legend. I for one, at the age of 76, have changed my feelings about Janis Joplin. I always knew she was a unique talent, but I assumed from her public persona and [unfair] media treatment that she was pretty much a cook. What impressed me most about this book is the amount of information it contains. More and more memoirs and biographies have come out in the last decade that seem to contain an unrealistic amount of detail. Laura Joplin, on the other hand, in addition to having been a family member, has obviously spent countless hours researching, interviewing, and organizing this information. And the most impressive of all of the information are the letters to and from Janis show more to family members, usually from Janis to Janis and Laura’s mother. These letters alone should change most people’s feelings about Janis Joplin. They show a family person who, in spite of her fame and fortune, never forgot where she came from and who was responsible for making her an insightful, sensitive genius. Laura Joplin is to be commended for giving the world this account of her sister’s life complete with generations of family photos. You don’t have to have been a Janis Joplin super fan to enjoy and appreciate “Love, Janis.” Simply read it for what it is: an incredible story about an incredible woman. show less

Like many people, when I hear the name Janis Joplin I think of the Summer of Love in Haight-Ashbury, “Me and Bobby McGee,” hippies, “Piece of my Heart,” and heroin overdose. I’ve always liked Janis Joplin’s music, but I never knew much about who Janis was until I read her sister’s biography of her. Janis was so much more than the things listed above. She was heart and soul, a small-town girl always searching for love and approval, a big voice, and a woman ahead of her time.

Biographies, even of some of my favorite celebrities, often bore me because of the style they are written in. Love, Janis, however, like Janis herself, is never boring. Surprising, touching, real, and sometimes shocking, it is an honest and loving show more testament to a soul whose flame went out way before its time. Laura Joplin writes with the perfect balance of honesty and affection, sharing with the world her memories and her understanding of her sister Janis in an intimate and unforgettable tribute. show less

Love Janis is biography of Janis Joplin by her sister, Laura. As Janis (who died of an accidental heroin overdose in 1970) is my favorite female vocalist, I was eager to read this book. Laura has written a very intimate and interesting book of her sister which is interspersed with unpublished letters Janis wrote to her family (signed "Love Janis", hence the title). She doesn't hold back on the alcohol or drug problems Janis had, but she doesn't dwell on them like a scandal bio either. There was a lot more to Janis than that, which this book makes clear. She was a unique person, and she loved the Blues, with a voice perfect for singing them. Her family clearly loved her, and it shows in Laura's writing. The book starts a little slow but show more quickly picks up and will hold your attention. If you are interested in Janis or the music scene of the era, I recommend Love Janis. If you want to read about a special and unique individual, I recommend it too! show less

This book is authored by Joplin's sister, so it's a bit biased. However, Laura Joplin doesn't gloss over and romanticize her sister's life. She is honest about her sister's rise and fall. She exposes both the good side and the not so good side of Janis while preserving the integrity of Janis and all those within her social orbit. From this book I learned that Janis Joplin was an aspiring artist. She loved drawing and painting. I also learned that she fell victim to fame as she tried to live out her rock star persona in every facet of her life.

This was part of a 12 recs from 12 friends. I said I'd try it, but this is not the book for me. I don't listen to music, I don't care about Janis Joplin - the writing was stiff.

Story of Janis Joplin's life - written by her sister - very well done but DNF

A really great biography. Janis' letters home really add to the book and allow a first hand look at the artist.