Love, Janis

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Summary: THE best biography of Janis Joplin
Review: There is a tendency among us younger fans (i.e., those of us who weren't even born when Janis Joplin was alive) to think of her as a larger-than-life figure, with only recordings and photos to go by. This book lets us see the woman behind the icon, in a touching, entertaining, well-written biography that neither glamourizes nor detracts. Laura Joplin has done a fine job; far from having written a tell-all, what she has given us is a tell-best.

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Summary: Short (too short) and very sweet
Review: These letters from Janis to her family are warm, poignant and heartbreaking. They chronicle how quickly she moved, from folk-singing "beatnik" to counter-culture icon, and how even this lightening pace wasn't fast enough for her. And they reveal a longing for acceptance that we all sensed from her stage persona and her music. Hearing the dates on the letters as we move with her from Texas to SF to the world, I shuddered, thinking "So little time left, dear, and you don't even know it." Of course, none of us knows what life has in store for us, and that makes Janis' story in her own words all the more moving. That Laura loved her sister and wished she knew her better comes through in these pages. The story is unique to the Joplins, yet universal to all, and I recommend it. I subtracted one star for the reading by Debra Winger. At times I thought she was an inspired choice. Her smoky voice is so reminiscent of Janis'. But at other times I was exasperated, when Ms. Winger stumbled and gave me the impression she was reading these words for the first time.

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Summary: Great Bio
Review: This an excellent biography about the ENTIRE life of Janis Joplin. It is probably the first Janis Joplin book you should read if you want to learn more about her. It is told from a family member's point of view...in other words, the truth is told. I would think that this book would be the most reliable out of the 4 or 5 janis books that are out. Enjoy this book! it is well worth it.

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Summary: a very interesting read
Review: This book allowed the reader to see Janis as a family member. It showed her innocence and dedication through the eyes of her younger sister. I finally began to understand how her family saw her and how Janis portrayed herself to them. This insite opened my eyes, and as a die hard fan, I see Janis as more of a person now not just an icon.

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Summary: Janis Joplin's life was full of color!
Review: This book by Laura Joplin explained Janis' true life, not just her attitude on the stage. This book is definitely wroth reading!

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Summary: More Than A Tribute
Review: When Janis' lips opened the world fell at her feet due mainly to the fact that the emotion and power which her voice conveyed spoke numerous volumes to many of her listeners. I was three years old the night Janis' life ended and the power of her music speaks as much to me now as I did to so many people so many years ago. This book shows the best and worst of this music legend. It reveals her misgivings, her heartbreaks, her worries, her sorrows and her emense joys. It shows you Janis from the inside, and in her very own words. You can feel her world rumble and rattle from her early beginnings as a blues singer in Texas and feel the earth give way underneath her only to create the mountain which pushed her up to the pedestal where many now see her. This is a heartfelt and moving biography by someone who knew more than Janis the icon; she knew Janis the loving sister. These insights into her thoughts allows for a deeper understanding of the woman behind THE VOICE

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Summary: A must for all Janis Joplin fans.
Review: With this biography of Janis sister Laura Joplin has three advantages over other biographers - she can provide details that only family could know, she has the letters Janis wrote home (reproduced here in full and revealing a lot about Janis), and she has been able to include a great selection of photos. Even apart from these advantages Laura provides a good account of Janis' life, giving background detail on the various scenes and excellent insights into Janis.