Love, Janis

by Laura Joplin

Janis Joplin's sister uses newly discovered letters to chronicle the singer's life, discussing her restless teen years, involvement in the hippie scene at Haight-Ashbury, sexual experimentation, drug use, and career

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography Memoir, History, Pop Culture

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 18, 1992

Reviews

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️]

I really wanted to love this, but it just bored me to tears.

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What good can drinking do?
What good can drinking do?
I drink all night,
But the next day I still feel blue

-JANIS JOPLIN, "What Good Can Drinking Do?"

[Ashley Daviau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge Janis Joplin fan so it was a real treat to get such an insider's perspective on her life and career! And the personal letters written by Janis herself were just the cherry on the sundae!

Janis' music has always spellbound me and this book absolutely did the same. I was completely enraptured from start to finish and just couldn't put this book down! She was such a stunning and vibrant woman and that really came through in this book.

I also really enjoyed the photos that were added in, there were some really great ones in there! The photos along with the letters from Janis really made this book into something more personal and I really couldn't have loved it more!

[Christy B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't really write reviews anymore, but I definitely need to say something here.

First, about the book. I thought that maybe being written by her sister, that this might be a biography with a lot of facts and incidents glossed over to maybe not tarnish Janis' reputation. However, that wasn't the case. It was made clear in the very last chapter that Laura wanted people to know the real person that Janis was, not just the legend. In Love, Janis we saw all of Janis: scars, flaws and all. I appreciated it. While I may not have agreed with everything Janis ever did or said, it didn't diminish the effect she has on me, and how much I love her music. In fact, knowing she was such a flawed person even made me love her more.

I've always had such strong emotions about Janis, even before reading this book. I said to my dad a few days ago, "Whenever I listen to Janis, I am both happy and sad. Happy because she was so amazing, but sad because of 'what else she could have accomplished.'" And I got emotional reading the book, especially the end. Her life didn't have to end like that, she had so much left to give. She didn't want to die, and certainly didn't expect to die that night. She was so excited for the future, and that just makes me sad. Looking at the impact she had on people during such a short career, imagine how much bigger that impact would be if she had gone on making music for decades.

Anyway, this is such a great tribute to an amazing force of nature. If you want to read one book about Janis, let this be the one. There are no rumors and crazy fictionalized stories here, just Janis.

[Jolis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ja kāds man jautātu, uz kurieni es dotos, ja eksistētu laika mašīna, es atbildētu, ka nevaru izvēlēties starp divām vietām:
1) 1985 - Queen uzstāšanās Wembley stadionā;
2) 1969- Vudstokas festivāls ar Janis Joplin uzstāšanos.

Tā varbūt nav viena no vislabāk uzrakstītajām biogrāfijām, ko esmu lasījusi, bet viena no man visinteresantākajām noteikti.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't believe in reincarnation, but if I did...I'd be Janis Joplin. Many say this, but I always thought I truly was. I've got this book from the library and never got around to it, so I finally settled on buying the book many years ago. This summer I was determined to finish it to get it off the stack next to my nightstand that comes up to my waist. It deserved more than getting picked up, the book underneath removed, and getting placed back on top for "next time, maybe." And now that I've finished it, I can't believe it took me this long to read it. (Shame.)

I fully believe in destiny and I have often wondered if people are born knowing they're meant to be "something" but don't know how to achieve it. Maybe they were brought up/conditioned by the parent whose personality they don't take after (opposites attract), hindering their success? All the way throughout this book, I found Janis to be very much a visual thinker (like myself) and highly observant to every small detail. That's what makes great artists - they capture one or many small details and run with them in a direction that sets them apart from all the others. She knew she was meant to be something since she was a small child, she was just too overwhelmed with the gift of sensory to keep her head on straight. I have found that people with this level of sensitivity to life have the greatest challenge in holding on to the reins.

Her life was as wild as I imagined. She was as bold/direct as her music shows her to be. As with many wild celebrities (i.e. Jim Carrey), I always feel bad for their parents. Children are pretty overwhelming, but Janis was impossible. Reading her story, I watched carefully if the reason for Janis's "screwed-uppedness" came from lack of parenting ("a child is the product of their environment" as they say) - I must say I cringed with her parents and had no idea how I would have handled the situations they found themselves in thanks to Janis's wild charades. They did manage to punch through her world and leave her with a conscience and a solid foundation as to how she was to treat others. She was a wonderful friend, co-worker, roommate (the story of her sharing a house with all the members of Big Brother & the Holding Company, their wives, their children, and all their animals was a testament of her heart and personality. No way could I have done that with the finesse she was able to. What a weird situation!)

Overall I was impressed with how reasonable she was as a 20-something. In her photos, she looks like she's in her 40's, I chalk that up to the stress she encountered by not being able to figure herself out at a young age (which would be the only solution to accepting bullies as messed up people themselves, and therefore keeping her away from the need to do drugs as a coping mechanism when life got hairy as an adult). Deep down past all the showiness and narcissism while trying to reach the top, she was also a very old soul.

The book, overall, was a fantastic glimpse into American history. (Many whine that the book lacks a decent form of writing - they're correct, it's written like a conversation, not an art form. It's dull in parts, hard to keep the people straight in the book, but it's still worth the read.) Laura does a decent job of capturing history and Janis's personality through stories of Janis's friends, co-workers, roommates, lovers, fellow musicians, and many others she encountered. All of them had a soft spot for her (many of which painstakingly left her side when she would use dope...the sign of a true friend that was not going to enable it anymore.) There were some holes missing in the story that either Laura could not fill or maybe was so in the middle of it all that she might not know the reader would be interested in this or that tidbit. How she handled the life Janis experienced when it came to her fans was not only overwhelming but sad to see how ridiculous humans can get (it was thought that someone stole her dog out of her car because it was "Janis Joplin's dog." I would have been devastated. Janis was brokenhearted since George was always her constant companion, but she handled the hurt by getting multiple dogs from the pound and dog shows....see, she was a crazy dog lady just like me!)

The book leaves me wondering about so many other things I hadn't thought about. And of course I wonder what Janis would be doing if she was alive today. Probably still living in Northern California, maybe helping other musicians reach their dreams of hitting it big in the music industry. I feel she would have frequented Nashville as she reached mid-life. But the story of how her unfortunate (and accidental) death touched so many and inspired people to do great things is what is the most electrifying thing about her...the story that lives on in her memory is proof of what a fantastic person she was. Some may think it's not important, but to those people I say, "what kind of inspiration are YOU putting out there? Would you still be able to change society for the better after you've gone?" That's quite a feat! (I started a dog rescue in her honor, it's called Piece Of My Heart Rescue. I contacted Laura in 2010 and told her about it and she was thrilled!) Neat stuff. Not a book for the "meh...Janis is okay" person (you will get quite bored.) But if you're a fanatic like me - if upon hearing her name you say, "...that's what I'm talkin' about" - then maybe you should put this book on the stack next to your nightstand. :)

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this three stars mostly because Janis Joplin is an interesting person, and this book, since it was written by her sister, has previously unpublished letters sent by Janis. If I had to rate it specifically on the writing, it would get zero stars. Poor Laura Joplin. Her characterizations always go like this:

So and So was with and .

I have two sisters. When are they going to do something awesome so I can get my crappy book published?

Anyway, despite the cliched, crappy writing, it's still worth reading.

[Gracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can you say about Janis Joplin? Apparently, if you are her sister, a lot. This book is honest and loving, not denying facts about Janis' problems in life, but also handling her story with the tenderness only a family member could muster. There is a lot that has been said about Janis through the years, a lot of rumors perpetuated, but this story seems to be the authentic telling of her short days, with plenty of tidbits I, a huge fan, had never been aware of before reading the book. A must read for fans of Janis Joplin, for those interested in the hay day of hippies and rock and roll and the summer of love, and for music buffs in general. It's a great look into a life that should have been longer, a talent that couldn't be contained, a candle that burned out way before it was done giving light.

[Bex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. There's alot I'd like to say, about this book and about Janis, but it's all jumbled and I don't know where to start. I came into this book knowing absolutely nothing about Miss Joplin, only that she is one of the "Forever 27" legends.

I loved the book, first of all. It was made all the more intimate and believable because it was written by Janis' sister, Laura. I think it's a beautiful and truthful way to remember Janis. She was a true artist; emotional and searching, always questioning, clamouring for acceptance. There were certain aspects about Janis that I could relate to, that I found myself thinking, "Yes, I feel the same," And I think that is why her fans love her so much because they relate to her. And not only that, but she could relate right back. She was talented blues singer and completely gorgeous. She only wanted to be accepted. Who can't relate to that?

I am 27 as I write this. Janis was my age when she died. It's a strange parallel that I chose to read this book and I chose this time to get into her music. I'm glad I did though. I feel like some part of me has been irrevocably changed by the book and by her.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Laura Joplin is an academic, according to her book jacket summary, and she reads like one - often taking you out of the story to make uninteresting connections to popular historical events.

That said, the real gem of the book are Janis' letters, which show a very different woman from the brassy stage persona. I loved reading about the other things in her life - her sewing and her dogs, her art and her interest in fashion. Definitely a star that burned too bright and too briefly.

[Cody Codebo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book, I'm a massive Janis Joplin fan, have been ever since I was really small, and this book is in my top favorites of all time. I've read it multiple times, easily, about a bakers dozen or so in the least.

[Avid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although i rated this 4 stars, i don’t necessarily recommend it. The writing and editing are weak, particularly in the first half or so. I guess that’s the price you pay for first-hand accounts from a family member. There’s a lot of rambling and meandering and jumping suddenly from one thought to another. This is not a well-written book. On the other hand, i really enjoyed being immersed in the world of janis joplin while i was reading this. And i was never even much of a fan prior to this. Reading this biography has inspired me to bust out all of her music on spotify, and to check out performances and appearances on talk shows via YouTube. I’m glad i read it.

[Gladna knjiga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vise od biografije.
Prica jednog razdoblja glazbe i zivotnog stila kojeg se i dan danas ne spominje dovoljno.

[Ceri · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an incredible read. And what an incredible woman. Why have I only now discovered her?

Like many before me, I feel inspired and really connected to Janis' story. She didn't conform to society's rules, didn't connect easily with most people, and, as a result, became an outcast at her school, her town, her state. She finally did find a group of friends that were accepting - those who opposed the rules that dictated black and whites must live apart, and that it was important that one should only love the opposite sex, and one should settle down into family life as soon as possible without questioning authority. Janis was a teenage beatnik, and a twenty-something hippy. And all that time she was never truly happy. Like most of us, she had a destructive soul that she found hard to control. She was happy doing what she loved but she quickly got caught in a whirlwind she couldn't get out of. Her life ran passed her and she found it impossible to catch up. It probably didn't help that she desperately needed people to like her - she always craved that love and acceptance from her fans, and, consequently, overworked herself to her grave.

Laura's written a beautiful account of her sister's life. Funny, poignant, and full of truth - never leaving out the gruesome bits for sentimental value. Laura isn't afraid to mention when Janis' head began to get too big for her. Janis knew she was famous and, if she wasn't cooed over frequently, would quickly lose her temper and begin to doubt herself again.

It's the truth in the biography that makes it a wonderful thing to read. And I recognised some of my own flaws through discovering Janis' own. This book's definitely a keeper.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was obviously an extreme labor of love for the now-deceased singer's little sister. But she refrained from sugar coating the past with a lot of excuses and justifcations for the mistakes Janis made. One one hand, I found myself thinking how much more the diva had accomplished by the time she was the age I currently am, how much more excitement and opportunity she had in her short life and career... but at the other end of the spectrum, she let the fame get to her head and the drugs cut it all short. It's a bit depressing to think there will never be millions of fans mourning when I "shuffle off this mortal coil", and no one to painstakingly detail the events of my life and ideas when I'm gone, mundane as they may be. But, it seemed that in keeping up with her reputation and lifestyle, Janis Joplin lost a lot of herself and who she wanted to ultimately be. This book felt like a bit of an intensive history lesson about the late sixties in addition to being a biography about an artist who has endured throughout the decades since the end of her career due to a dangerous mixture of heroin and alcohol.

[Carla JFCL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe it's because of my age (old enough to remember Janis Joplin) or the fact that I lived in San Francisco for about five years in the mid- to late-1960s, but I found this book totally absorbing. Written by Janis's younger sister, I found it to be a refreshingly honest portrayal of her talented-but-troubled sibling.

There are, of course, other books out there about Janis and I've read some of them. I found this one much more interesting, for three reasons: the fact that it was written by her sister and therefore includes detailed--and presumably accurate--information about their childhoods; the many excellent photos included in the book; and the inclusion of several letters Janis wrote to her family over the years. These are fascinating and really provide a window into Janis that nothing else could. How wonderful it is that her family saved them!

There really isn't much for me to criticize about this book. I suppose I could have done with a bit less of the history of the family's ancestors, but other readers might find that more interesting than I did.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.0) Well done, Laura

This is a well-researched (understandable, as Janis' sister wrote it and thus had access to lots of family resources) chronological biography of Janis Joplin. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, in particular the letters Janis had sent her parents. It shows another side to her, one might hope the true Janis.

I also noted the odd introduction of each male character in the book: Laura describes their height, body type, hair color etc. Pretty sure that she did this for almost every male character but no female. I see another reviewer took this quirk and decided that Laura's writing was horrid. I totally disagree on the whole, but do agree that this was a very odd stylistic choice out of sync with the rest of her book.

[Kellie Bush · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed hearing about Janis's early life, several chapters in, the background information was still dragging along.

The book was strangely written, incongruous facts seemed to be thrown in simply because they had been found and needed a space.

I love Janis's music and her message and was so sad to understand shortly before her death she has cleaned up and gotten on the right path before spiraling back down.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since this biography was written by Janis' sister, you definitely get some inside information that would otherwise not be known. Probably also somewhat biased, but nothing is really objective anyways.

there are a ton of never-before published letters, which really give insight into Janis' personality and thoughts.

[Dogsandbooksanddogsandbooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish they had a shelf for books not finished that way it wouldn't count for a read book. This book reads like a text book and though I'm interested in subject matter, I can't get past the writing. Quite frankly, I'm not interested in the family history dating back to George Washington and Great-great grandparents.

[Irais Duran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book from start to finish in three days. I would literally wake up, and read until my eyes started to hurt. Because I am a huge fan of Janis Joplin, I clearly enjoyed this book. And because her younger sister wrote this about Janis, well, that's just another plus. This book was beyond amazing and very intimate. I loved, loved it.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Janis Joplin. This book is the story of her life using the letters that she wrote home to her family. I absolutely loved it!

[Bryndís · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 stars.
loved every bit of it. very touching at the end. Amazing last page!

[Fiona · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love, Janis
A book about one of the most famous female musicians of the 20th century. Janis Joplin influenced a whole generation and is up till today an idol for many women.
But who was this free spirit? Actually the book didn't tell me much about the who and the why. The printed letters who should give an insight on her personality are just fixed on one topic "look folks, how famous I'm becoming"... but was she really that superficial and blended by fame? Why did she need this fame and why did she became an alcoholic who couldn't be alone but also could never stay close to people for too long?
Probably she kept this to herself. Too bad.

[Claire Hollowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Janis Lyn Joplin, was one of the worlds most iconic musicians of all time. She was born on January, 19th 1943 in Port Aurthur, Texas. Janis grew up in a normal family with her father Seth, mother Dorothy, and two small siblings Laura and Michael. Laura Joplin was the author of this book. When reading it, I see deeper into the life of Janis then the media’s view of her rock star image. Laura explains that Janis was a rebel, which can be perceived just by looking at her wild style. From birth, Joplin was always an artist of some sort, staying away from societies conformities, often defined as an outcast. She once herself as a misfit, and to a certain degree her sister Laura looked up to her for this. Throughout the book I saw many of Janis’ dreams unfold and become reality. Although Laura’s writing is somewhat scattered, she does a nice job at capturing her sister Janis’ life and memory. Sadly, Laura describes Janis’ downfall at the height of her career due to the many drugs Janis consumed. Janis was a rebellious, young star who’s life was cut too short. Laura voices that Janis’ “head grew” along with her fame, and partly blames Janis’ “friends” at the time for subjecting her, or urging her toward drugs. In many ways, I see the story of Janis Joplin connect with Macbeth. The two rise from normality destroying others on the way to the top. (In Janis’ case, herself) Although Janis is deceased, her legacy and music lives on. I see qualities in her, that I hope one day to attain myself.

Janis Joplin's story has become all too familiar throughout the years since our death. We see people with a very high amount of potential practically killing themselves with the negative life style choices they so often make. In what ways have we and the media enabled this behavior, and how could the cycle be stoped?

[Richard Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a book I'd ever recommend for everyone - you had to have been alive during the 1960s and have a fascination with the SF music scene and the Summer of Love to read this. If you fall into that category this book was lovely and touching.

The contrast between Janis Joplin's tiny home town of Port Arthur, TX and San Francisco was stark - and her early death prevented her from coming full circle on the subject and appreciating Port Arthur. That job was left somewhat to her surviving family members to do. I felt for the residents of Port Arthur, totally unknown by the rest of the U.S. except for being Janis' hometown. She ripped it in the press for its problems and racial issues but in reality they weren't any different from just about any other small town in the U.S. back then. Her sudden death left the town in a quandary of wanting to be proud of her, but stinging from the mean things she had said in the press about it and the stigma of yet another "hippy" dying from heroin. It was decades before Port Arthur residents were able to forgive her and the normal passing of a certain percentage of them probably was part of why the town can appreciate her now - its been forty one years.

One small take-away I got from this was just how hard it was to communicate and stay in touch with people back then. Janis' letters were long and hand written in a world that did not even have answering machines on phones. There weren't even ZIP Codes yet for the letters.

[Jennie Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I think she began to realize that she had strayed. Far from challenging the world and changing it, she had become one of it's pawns. The revolution set to usher in a world of love had imploded. It was then bottled, packaged, and co-opted by the establishment. Janis thought her role as a rocker was really to guide her audience into feeling their innermost emotions. Stripped of her righteousness, she sometimes felt like a prostitute, selling her heart, rather than her body, to people who couldn't touch their own feelings and so sucked off hers."

Really in depth details about her life and her transition from outcast, to beatnik, hippie and finally rock and roll star. She talks about her drug struggle since her adolescence, her quest for love, understanding and validation. Since this book includes a few of Janis' letters it sometimes feels like she is telling the story herself instead if having someone else gather facts and throwing them around. I think her sister Laura is the perfect person to tell the story. She was neutral and didn't sugar coat or eliminated anything from Janis' life. She even included a chapter about their ancestors that I didn't care for but, if you are into genealogy you might enjoy it. Whenever I hear her music it really gets to me and I never really understood why, until I read this book and found out that her main purpose with music was to connect. She did it and continues to do so 45 years after her death.

[Adina LeBleu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since the book was written by her younger sister, the reader gets to learn about Janis' life through the eyes of someone who genuinely loved her and could provide a balanced interpretation of her life. (Rather than a superfan who might glorify every aspect of her existence.) Laura shows that although drugs and alcohol entered her life in the 60s and ultimately ended it, that dimension shouldn't overshadow her talent, ambition, and thirst for life. In fact, despite her run in with heroin and alcohol, Janis was a happy person who lived for performing and communicating emotion with her audiences. Laura avoids the pandering to morbid interest that other biographies might do.

The reader meets various characters who influenced her throughout her development. Sometimes getting them straight is difficult. There are many entertaining stories about her time in Austin hanging out with the local beatniks. But San Francisco is where she polishes her image and singing talent, capturing the spirit of the love generation.

Even though you want the book to end happily, you know that it doesn't. Kind of depressing.

The style of writing is pretty straightforward with some poignant images and phrasing. Don't expect Fitzgerald!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast, thorough read of Janis' life with good commentary on the 60's, written in the early 1990's. I especially liked the detailing of what Janis was like growing up in Port Arthur, Texas.

Written from the perspective of Janis' younger sister, Laura, we get a soulful rather than an academic/journalistic or disoography account of Janis' life, loves, passions and outlook.

I especially like how Laura details a more intellectual Janis many probably didn't know: a beatnik, book reading artist growing up.

Well worth the read. I even ordered some of Janis' CD's.

Fair accounting, too, of her transition from Big Brother to Full Tilt Boogie. Laura's writing is very strong, academic, without being dull.

The book makes you go to Youtube and look many things up that you haven't seen before or missed, like the footage of Janis at Monteray singing an old Big Momma Thorton song, and that gal watching with her mouth agape in the audience is no other than Momma Cass with sunglasses on. I wouldn't have caught that, so thanks Laura for writing a great biography!

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dirljiva i zanimljiva biografija meni najzanimljivije pjevačice. Prikazala je Janis na drugačiji način i dala nam uvid u njezinu prekrasnu osobnost..

Zanimljivi citati:
"Jednostavnim razmisljanem zakljucila je da ako dobri ljudi nisu svi dobri, vjerojatno ni lsi ljudi nisu svi losi."

"Kako je moguće otkriti sto je ispravno ako nije moguce raspravljati o svemu."

"Janis, naravno, nije prihvacala ogranicenja koja su joj nametali, a nije znala samoodrediti svoja vlastita."

"Spontanost je bila vise od osobine. Bila je sama po sebi religija."

Knjiga me također zazanimala za razdoblje 60-ih i imam cili popis natuknicana kojima se nalaze neke grupe, pjevaci, knjige pa i jedan film koje bi tila proucit malo bolje i poslusat, pogledat :D

EDIT:
Nakon pročitane Autobiografije Malcolma X-a, moram ovoj knjizi ipak dati ocjenu 4. Ocjene 5 ću davat knjigama koje su stvarno jako utjecale na mene. :)