Scars of Sweet Paradise : The Life and Times of Janis Joplin

Rating:
Summary: Scarred but spectacular!
Review: With the expansion of opportunities for women today, it is difficult to comprehend how scripted young women's futures still were in the central US in the mid-60's. It was more of a struggle to break out of the mold then than teenagers today are aware of. That Joplin accomplished as much as she did is testimony to her raw determination to do something with the talent that she possessed; that she was unable to avoid the twin pitfalls of alcoholism and addiction only makes her seem more human. Despite its sometimes dry style, Scars of Sweet Paradise provides an important perspective and gives unique insights through interview sources unavailable to previous biographers. Consequently, I found Echols's book more compelling and insightful than either Buried Alive or Pearl.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing but scorched earth
Review: Wow, how this woman lived! She devoured life with such ferocity and hunger that eventually circumstances devoured her. And Echols tells her story with literacy and passion, always carefully putting it into context. Janis shared chart dominance with Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross. Imagine how she must have sounded coming out of your radio in those days! What a radical departure, what a unique talent. And Echols explains how much her unconventionality cost her. In addition to portraying Janis as an artist, moved by the music, she also unapologetically shows Janis as a career-oriented woman. I appreciated this, for the dominant male stars of the 60s (like Jagger and McCartney) are allowed and even applauded for making artistic decisions with an eye on the long-term impact they would have on their careers. The only thing I didn't like about THIS book was the author's ongoing critques of OTHER books. I don't care what Echols thought about Peggy Casserta's or Myra Friedman's books. Biography shouldn't be a competitive sport.