Society's Child - My Autobiography

[NinasSpaceChild]

I finally got around to reading the book this week.

It has been a very enjoyable read even if heartbreaking in parts.

Didn't want it to end when I got to the last page last night with tears in my eyes.

I felt like I was saying farewell to a friend as I closed the book.

[David from London]

I tend not to read books all the way through nowadays, but this is one I couldn't put down. After a month or so it's time to go back through it. It's an easy but not always a comfortable read.

[aabram]

Time to go back and read it again I think. I felt exactly the same, not wanting it to end. Also look out for a number of misprints. :p This could make our first edition copies on the valuable side!!! :p Of course the autobiography doesn't end here. It only ends when Janis does, and I hope that's never.

Annabel

[Beth]

My partner doesn't read too much these days, but I think she is on her second time around reading Janis' autobiography. I noticed it was still in her van when I picked up the kids from school this evening...

[SFBill]

I felt like I was saying farewell to a friend as I closed the book.

Hi Nina,
I really get that. Janis's book is wonderful. and I was also sad to have it end...I really appreciate Janis telling her story and talking about her music, life, inspirations, family, etc. I know of no other artist who is in touch with her fans like JI.

I just finished Kathryn Walker's novel--she is James Taylor 2nd wife.
I was ready for a juicy read since some press releases talked about how JT and Carly Simon are the inspiration for two of the characters....

Well--he is and the character is pretty marginal and as you expect--unavailable and on tour all the time....and the first ex, Carly, is mentioned twice----'she's crazy'

HOWEVER!
KW has written a terrific story of healing--wrapped around a historical account of the 1500's in Venice..The convent life--arts community..and depressed state for women of the time. It's fascinating!
STOP OVER IN VENICE is the title......I had that same feeling finishing that book.

Have you read the TALES OF THE CITY series by Armistead Maupin?
WOW -- what a bunch of great, fun reads set in SF in the 70s--I've read them 5 times (at least) and still feel sad every time when I finish!
:)

[Bat]

Have you read the TALES OF THE CITY series by Armistead Maupin?
WOW -- what a bunch of great, fun reads set in SF in the 70s--I've read them 5 times (at least) and still feel sad every time when I finish!


I absolutely love his writing! Those tales were all about people I may have met, in a town I lived near and visited often (San Fran)...The movie of the first one was fabulous, and I have always hoped they'd make another one in the series, but haven't heard if they did. I think it was a PBS production, shown with great trepidation, given the subject matter, but they needn't have worried: it was received with great warmth by the viewers, which gave hope for a sequel. Anyone know if there was one? One of the best descriptions of crazy living in 60s-70s SF ever written, and whimsical at the same time.

[Mary6906]

You can buy the 3-DVD set on Amazon....

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006BT1A/km-20/ref=nosim

Don't know if you have it.

[Elliott]

I, too, found Janis' book hard to read, or rather painful and it hit so close to my heart. I thought I would tear through it and read the book in one sitting; it probably took at least two weeks to read. The thought of anyone being unkind to Janis makes me want to spit up. Bittersweet comes to mind. Is that one word or two? :confused:

[Bat]

Thanks, Mary! I didn't know they had made 3 segments of 'TotC', and, no, I don't have any of them...just caught the first one on the original PBS airing.
Maybe someday...meanwhile, I'll just dredge out the books and re-read them, which is usually better than the movie, although the characterizations in the first DVD are wonderful. Mrs. Madrigal, indeed!

[hoops]

I found Janis' book to bee very much the same, thought provoking, emotionally provoking, spiritiually provoking and at the end, like a friend you don't want to say goodbye too, though you know you will see them again and soon, it just breaks your heart to say goodbye.
peace
hoops

[angelgirl]

Time to go back and read it again I think. I felt exactly the same, not wanting it to end. Also look out for a number of misprints. :p This could make our first edition copies on the valuable side!!! :p Of course the autobiography doesn't end here. It only ends when Janis does, and I hope that's never.

Annabel

I got the book back in July..... and just kept reading it at every opportunity. Finished it in 2 days. What a fabulous book. I feel so privileged that Janis chose to write it and share it with the world! It is so deeply moving and I stand in admiration of her resilience, humility and love.

I am looking forward to reading the book again.... and will look out for misprints! I did'nt notice any the first time......... what does that say about me?:rolleyes:

Annabel.......thanks for the suggestion:cool:

angelgirl

[Sara]

Have you read the TALES OF THE CITY series by Armistead Maupin?
WOW -- what a bunch of great, fun reads set in SF in the 70s--I've read them 5 times (at least) and still feel sad every time when I finish!
:)
I LOVE the entire Tales of the City series! I also rented the entire DVD set, including More Tales of the City, awhile back, and found it rather true to the book. This is saying a lot. I particularly enjoyed Olympia Dukakis in her landlady role. Very recently, I purchased a signed first edition of Armistead Maupin's 2007 release, Michael Tolliver Lives, a stand-alone novel, continuing the San Francisco saga. Here, Michael is 55 years old. (I haven't read it yet.)

Like probably everyone here, I was completely entranced by Janis's autobiography. I swallowed it whole, in one 2-day gulp, because I couldn't bear to put it down. I rarely re-read books, but this one, I will, this time slowing down to savor every nuance. I imagine I'm not the only one who identified with Janis in her life, here and there. But hey - isn't our shared love for Janis what brought us all together in the first place?!

[coffeegyrl]

What's the word on sales for the autobiography? Does anybody have information?

[aabram]

I got the book back in July..... and just kept reading it at every opportunity. Finished it in 2 days. What a fabulous book. I feel so privileged that Janis chose to write it and share it with the world! It is so deeply moving and I stand in admiration of her resilience, humility and love.

I am looking forward to reading the book again.... and will look out for misprints! I did'nt notice any the first time......... what does that say about me?:rolleyes:

Annabel.......thanks for the suggestion:cool:

angelgirl

Fear not! My own interpretation of misprints may not be the American one! That cuts down the number of misprints I found to be precisely one, and that may not even be a misprint!!!! :o Let me know what you find.

Annabel

[Bat]

Yes, American spelling does eliminate the'u' from words like 'Humour' (Humor), so it could simply be a bit of legitimate American idiom (idiocy).

[SFBill]

I LOVE the entire Tales of the City series! I also rented the entire DVD set, including More Tales of the City, awhile back, and found it rather true to the book. This is saying a lot. I particularly enjoyed Olympia Dukakis in her landlady role. Very recently, I purchased a signed first edition of Armistead Maupin's 2007 release, Michael Tolliver Lives, a stand-alone novel, continuing the San Francisco saga. Here, Michael is 55 years old. (I haven't read it yet.)

Like probably everyone here, I was completely entranced by Janis's autobiography. I swallowed it whole, in one 2-day gulp, because I couldn't bear to put it down. I rarely re-read books, but this one, I will, this time slowing down to savor every nuance. I imagine I'm not the only one who identified with Janis in her life, here and there. But hey - isn't our shared love for Janis what brought us all together in the first place?!

So cool to find other Tales of the City fans here.
I didn't like the TV versions. By the time they were filmed I'd been 'mesmerized' by the books several times over...

Can you imagine living in SF at the time and this being a serial in the morning newspaper??
What fun!

I havent read AM's latest book...
I talked with a friend recently and he said Armistead Maupin is an acronym for .......................

LOL!

[angelgirl]

Just had a ......light bulb moment!

So thats where the name "Rude Girl"came from. See page 63;Society's Child.

Great example of reframing a negative experience into something positive:cool:

.......as I said before "I'm a bit slow but I eventually get there"!


Angelgirl

[RedjackRyan]

I still haven't finished reading the book, never enough time in the day.. but i will say that I now have an additional reason to loathe Dentists.

[hoops]

redjack ^5
peace
hoops