Rule-breaker, genre-bender, rock-and-roll blues singer, rebel, and an unapologetic woman who lived life on her own terms. That was Janis Joplin. The author had in-depth access to Joplin's family, friends, archives and long-lost interviews and this book is extensive and intensive. And sometimes a bit intense, kind of like Janis. However, Janis wasn't all about suffering --- she also lived life at full tilt, passionate about music and determined to work hard and earn her place in a world dominated by male musicians.
I'm not going to go into more detail than that. Janis Joplin is a rock icon, and I think one of the more misunderstood people in the music world. By the time you finish this book, though, you definitely know a lot more about her and as a result, understand her a little more. Admittedly, she was one messed-up person and it seemed at times that she was determined to be her own worst enemy. However, her dedication to her music and how hard she worked is pretty impressive. It's disappointing that her life ended when she was still young, but at the rate she was going, it's hard to imagine that she would have lasted any longer. Definitely an interesting book, and one that will make you take out your Janis Joplin CDs for a listen.
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