Notes for a Memoir: On Isaac Asimov, Life, And Writing

by Janet Asimov

This charming book is a series of entertaining and thought-provoking musings, mainly about the imagination, the sense of identity, the compulsion to write, and Isaac Asimov―who, as Janet Asimov says, was good at all of them. Dr. Janet J. Asimov, a psychiatrist and celebrated fiction writer, has penned this delightful memoir with insight, poignancy, and wit on topics that she and her husband, Isaac Asimov, found especially meaningful over the years. From profound issues such as religion, philosophy, sex, personal identity, and mortality, to lighter subjects such as traveling together, camping, the golden thirties, and the problems and joys of writing, Asimov reveals many new and fascinating details about two engaging and creative people whose greatest creation―in addition to their writings―was the life they made together. Replete with new information about Isaac Asimov and never-before-published excerpts from his witty letters to her, in addition to family photos, this collection of personal reminiscences complements Isaac Asimov's highly acclaimed one-volume autobiography, It's Been a Good Life, which Janet Asimov edited. The Times Literary Supplement praised it as "an excellent introduction to his vision and his personality." Janet Asimov concludes this singular memoir with her own short stories, many published in magazines, but never before collected together in one book. Notes for a Memoir is guaranteed to delight, entertain, and inspire.

Genres: Biography

210 pages, Hardcover

First published May 2, 2006

About the author

Also known as: Janet Jeppson Asimov, Janet O. Jeppson, J.O. Jeppson

Janet Asimov was an American science fiction writer, psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst. She originally wrote as J.O. Jeppson. She was an accomplished novelist and short-story writer who sometimes worked in collaboration with her husband, the late Isaac Asimov. Among the Asimovs' joint ventures as writers is the series of juvenile novels involving an endearing robot, Norby, and his young owner, Jeff Wells.

Reviews

[Alvaro Zinos-Amaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was published in 2006, when Janet had been a widow for 14 years, but her grief at the death of her beloved husband, the iconic writer Isaac Asimov, remains palpable. This book doesn't dwell on that sense of loss, though--it merely allows it to shine through during opportune moments. In fact Janet's book is full of warmth, humor, and good spirits, sprinkled with anecdotes and ruminations about the nature of life, the study and practice of medicine, and being a writer. It took me a dozen or so pages to grow into the rhythms of her prose, but once I did I found myself really enjoying this. I'm grateful that despite her advancing years and widowhood she pushed through with this project and shared her thoughts with us. From what I can see she's 91 and still going strong. I was really touched by some of her stories and comforted by the incredibly positive effect she had on Isaac, as he had on her. Wonderful stuff. Just wish it had been a little longer!

[Jamie Collins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Isaac Asimov wrote thousands of pages of autobiography. If an interesting anecdote about him exists, he already published it. So while Janet understandably uses his name to promote her book, and while she obligingly mentions him in every chapter, there is nothing new about Isaac to read here. It’s Janet’s memoir - or rather, a scattered collection of writing which could be used in a memoir. It’s not substantial, and it’s not particularly focused on her life with Isaac. Except for listing him first in the subtitle (as if he were the largest ingredient) she’s pretty honest in the title.

The book is fine. She writes well, and she seems like a warm, funny, intriguing person. I was pleased when I read Isaac’s account of the happiness they found together, and it was nice to be reminded of that here.

In the appendix she includes a few of her own short stories, which I didn’t read simply because I’m not a fan of short fiction.

[Sergey Selyutin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poignant. Janet loved Isaac Asimov deeply and strongly, and he died, and she was left all alone in this world. I was really sorry for her - and for Isaac.