Out of the Texas-Louisiana swamps she wailed the blues like no one, black or white, has ever dared. She was Janis Joplin--the first rock star of th...
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reviews
Jun 16, 2009
Meredith
rated it: 
Oh, Janis Joplin, I wish I knew how to quit you. Your voice was amazing, but my god. The sex. The drugs. The ego. You're absolutely no good for me, and reading about your lesbian conquests, your insatiable drug lust, and how you squandered your voice with second-rate musicians and on hackneyed song arrangements is really depressing... but thoroughly engrossing!
Oct 04, 2009
Rebecca
rated it: 
What I learned from this book was that Joplin was as disgusting as I thought she was. The author was not objective, he adored her. I thought perhaps if I understood her better I'd...well, I guess that I'd understand her better but Amburn really shed no light on why she did what she did. Ultimately, it bored me.
Mar 31, 2009
Very intelligent read. The author draws a lot on what was going on in the world, the music industry and the nation in explaining the influence on Janis, as well as her influence on music.
May 18, 2009
Della
rated it: 
Oh my goodness, Oh my goodness! Loved it! I also learned some things about Janis and her life. Some happy, some sad, but I just couldn't put it down!
Jun 10, 2008
Amy
rated it:
Obviously, it helps to like Janis Joplin to appreciate this book. I have always liked her music and her *#@! you attitude...not to mention her incredible style! It's no secret- considering the way Janis died- that she wasn't an entirely happy person and this book explores a childhood that contributed to that along with failed relationships and some really bad choices. It spans from grade school to her time with Big Brother and the Holding Company to her sad and untimely death. It's an unauthor
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Dec 23, 2010
William
rated it:
Loved the singer, had a bit of trouble warming to the author of this Biography. It was okay.
Sep 20, 2008
Kate
rated it:
I love Janis and it is hard to read about how depressed she was throughout her life. The highlight of the book is the football picture of my high school history teacher, who also happened to be one of Janis' high school buddies, Grant Lyons! This book also gave me the strong impression that Kris Kristofferson is a jerk, but I don't remember the specifics.
Jun 16, 2008
Josie
rated it: 
Speaking of beach reads (last review), this is a book I devoured on the beach.
I used to be absolutely nuts over Janis Joplin and this is a great, in-depth biography. It's colorful, as any Joplin bio would have to be, and the author's descriptions made me feel like I was right there watching everything unfold.
Me gusta!
I used to be absolutely nuts over Janis Joplin and this is a great, in-depth biography. It's colorful, as any Joplin bio would have to be, and the author's descriptions made me feel like I was right there watching everything unfold.
Me gusta!
Jul 31, 2008
Kat
rated it:
Friends bought this book for me back in high school, when I was going through a serious Joplin obsession. It was a really good breakdown of her tragic life and the things that happened to her. There were good pictures, good stories, and detailed information, but it was a bit journalistically cold in tone.
Aug 30, 2007
Amy
rated it:
I was obsessed with Janis in college, I think more at first to shock my excessively straightlaced boyfriend and mother, and then I read this book and just felt so sorry for this misunderstood, lost woman.
Apr 26, 2010
Sara
rated it: 
Janis Joplin's life was a sad, downward spiral. This book lists all of the messed up things that happened along that ride. It wasn't a bad book, but it was really depressing.
Jan 08, 2008
Marie
rated it:
I love Janis, the woman wails... I knew a little of her story, but this captures not only the tragedy of the woman, but the imfamy of the rock star!
Dec 31, 2007
Sarah
rated it:
gosh, i read this book in high school? it's a fascinating look at one of the more bright personalities from the '60s who died too soon.
Oct 23, 2008
Desiree
rated it:
not the most beautifully-written bio, but fascinating for anyone who loves janis.
Feb 08, 2012
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