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3460 ratings | 89 reviews | avg rating:3.44

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Janis Ian’s Followers (126)

Janis’s Bookshelves

to-read (8)
currently-reading (0)
read (3815)
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biography (21)
cookbooks (9)
fantasy-science-fiction (214)
fiction (108)
historical-fiction (46)
illustrated (15)
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Janis’s Friends (72)

Lisa Vegan

22,279 books | 201 friends

Kalin

2,605 books | 2,862 friends

Zena

2,477 books | 16 friends

Carol

1,021 books | 112 friends

M. Newman

1,462 books | 410 friends

Phil

2,304 books | 204 friends

Ariel ✨

2,878 books | 128 friends

Philip Athans

1,502 books | 472 friends

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Janis Ian

Goodreads Author

Born

in Bronx, The United States

Website

http://www.janisian.com

Twitter

therealjanisian

Genre

Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction

Influences

Madeleine L'Engle, Zenna Henderson, Flannery O'Connor, Pat Conroy, Ray ...more

Member Since

October 2010

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/janisian

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I was was born April 7, 1951, a month and day shared with Billie Holiday. Wrote my first song at 12, was published at 13, made a record at 14, had a hit at 15, and was a has-been at 16. I took a break for 3 years shortly thereafter, and moved to Philadelphia to write and find out if I really could be a great songwriter. "Came back" in 1973 with an album called Stars, and was fortunate enough to have a second career.
I've been lucky enough to have ten Grammy nominations in eight different categories, and two Grammys - most recently for the spoken word edition of my autobiography, "Society's Child".

I love writing - articles, speeches, stories, songs, books. I love reading. For years, my fans brought me used books on tour in lieu of flowers or ...more

Combine Editions
Janis Ian’s books

Average rating: 3.9 · 7,359 ratings · 790 reviews · 56 distinct works • Similar authors

	Society's Child: My Autobiography 4.02 avg rating — 1,247 ratings — published 2008 — 27 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Stars: Original Stories Based on the Songs of Janis Ian (Daw Book Collectors, 1265) by Janis Ian (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Mercedes Lackey (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), Kage Baker (Contributor) 3.72 avg rating — 118 ratings — published 2003 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Tiny Mouse by Janis Ian (Goodreads Author), Ingrid & Dieter Schubert (Illustrator) 3.49 avg rating — 83 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Who Really Cares: Poems from Childhood and Early Youth 3.57 avg rating — 21 ratings — published 2002 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Water-Skiing Down The Styx 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2003	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Janis Ian Guitar Songbook: Guitar TAB 4.25 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 1997 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Janis Ian Songbook: Guitar Songbook Edition by Janis Ian (Goodreads Author), Aaron Stang (Editor) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 1999 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Younger Generation Blues/Society's Child 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Janis Ian. Miracle Row. 1971. Paper. 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Between the Lines 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Janis’s Recent Updates

Janis Ian rated a book it was amazing Throne of Dragons (Age of the Sorcerers Book 2) by Morgan Rice (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 09, 2026 02:14PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Throne of Dragons by Morgan Rice. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Throne of Dragons by Morgan Rice <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janis Ian rated a book really liked it From a Distant Star by Karen McQuestion (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 05, 2026 07:24PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of From a Distant Star by Karen McQuestion. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — From a Distant Star by Karen McQuestion <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janis Ian rated a book it was ok Story Island by Juliette Sobanet (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 05, 2026 07:24PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Story Island by Juliette Sobanet. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Story Island by Juliette Sobanet <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janis Ian rated a book did not like it That Damn Dragon! (Adventurers Series #1) by Trevor Jones (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 05, 2026 07:24PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of That Damn Dragon! by Trevor Jones. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — That Damn Dragon! by Trevor Jones <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janis Ian has read That Damn Dragon! (Adventurers Series #1) by Trevor Jones (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 05, 2026 07:24PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of That Damn Dragon! by Trevor Jones. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — That Damn Dragon! by Trevor Jones <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janis Ian has read Story Island by Juliette Sobanet (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 05, 2026 07:24PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Story Island by Juliette Sobanet. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Story Island by Juliette Sobanet <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janis Ian rated a book liked it The Friend of the Family by Dean Koontz (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 25, 2026 03:23PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Friend of the Family by Dean Koontz. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Friend of the Family by Dean Koontz <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janis Ian rated a book really liked it Book Club Confidential by Julie Hatcher (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 05, 2026 08:15PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Book Club Confidential by Julie Hatcher. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Book Club Confidential by Julie Hatcher <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janis Ian rated a book it was ok The Song Maiden (Uniworld Online, #1) by Jonathan Brooks (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 21, 2026 08:55AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Song Maiden by Jonathan Brooks. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Song Maiden by Jonathan Brooks <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Janis Ian rated a book it was ok The Feather Chase (Crime-Solving Cousins Mysteries, #1) by Shannon L. Brown (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 21, 2026 08:55AM · like

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Quotes by Janis Ian (?)

“So remember those who win the game
Lose the love they sought to gain
In debitures of quality and dubious integrity
Their small-town eyes will gape at you
In dull surprise when payment due
Exceeds accounts received at seventeen”
― Janis Ian

tags: integrity, life, loneliness, maturity, popularity, youth

11 likes

“The heart of a city
Is the soul of a man
It winds like a river
Through the heart of the land
They can tear down a building
They can tear down a park
They can strike at a symbol
But they can't strike the heart”
― janis ian

10 likes

“A friend of mine once told me 'For people like us, the meaning is the search for the meaning.”
― Janis Ian, Society's Child: My Autobiography

tags: inspirational, meaningful

1 likes

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
The Seasonal Read...: Spring Challenge 2016: Completed Tasks:PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANY POSTS IN THIS THREAD	2923	532	May 31, 2016 09:02PM
Fiction Fanatics: January POINTS Challenge 2017	23	80	Feb 04, 2017 11:25AM
Ultimate Popsugar...: Week 13: 3/21 - 3/28	135	244	Apr 06, 2019 10:15AM
The Next Best Boo...: The Title Game - Part Deux	8189	2713	Nov 11, 2021 05:18AM
Audiobooks: Latest from AudioFile	1376	1581	Jan 21, 2025 06:13AM

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Janis’s Friend Comments

Comments (showing 1-1) post a comment »

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message 1: by Janis

Nov 29, 2013 12:06PM

Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm holding a great charity auction on eBay - 20 authors, including George R R Martin, Mercedes Lackey, Wally Lamb, Pat Conroy, Neil Gaiman, Jane Yolen - are donating fabulous items to raise money for the Pearl Foundation, and give returning students a chance. 100% of our take after eBay/Paypal fees goes to the Foundation. It ends December 1 at 6 pm CST. Please pass this on...
http://stores.ebay.com/thepearlfounda...
You can see the story behind it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqJjZ...
Thanks!

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Janis’s Year In Books

Janis Ian’s Followers (126)

Janis’s Bookshelves

Janis’s Friends (72)

Janis Ian

Goodreads Author

Combine EditionsJanis Ian’s books

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Preview — That Damn Dragon! by Trevor Jones

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