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Society's Child
- My Autobiography
- Narrated by: Janis Ian
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
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Society's Child
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Summary
Audie Award, Narration by the Author or Authors, 2013
Grammy Award Winner, Best Spoken Word Album, 2013
Booklist Top 10 Biography Audiobooks
Janis Ian was catapulted into the spotlight in 1966 at the age of 15, when her soul-wrenching song "Society's Child" became a hit. An intimate portrait of an interracial relationship, "Society's Child" climbed the charts despite the fact that many radio stations across the country refused to play it because of its controversial subject matter. But this was only the beginning of a long and illustrious career.
In this fascinating memoir of her more than 40 years in the music business, Ian chronicles how she did drugs with Jimi Hendrix, went shopping for Grammy clothes with Janis Joplin, and sang with Mel Tormé, all the while never ceasing to create unforgettable music.
In 1975, Ian's legendary "At Seventeen" earned two Grammy awards and five nominations. Her next two albums brought her worldwide platinum hits. But after seven albums in as many years, she made a conscious decision to walk away from the often grueling music business. During this period, she struggled through a difficult marriage, which ended with her then husband's attempt to destroy her, and a sudden illness that very nearly cost her her life. The hiatus from music lasted for close to a decade until, in 1993, Ian returned with the release of the Grammy-nominated Breaking Silence. Now, as she moves gracefully into her fifth decade as a recording artist and writer, Ian continues to draw large audiences around the globe.
In Society's Child, Janis Ian provides a relentlessly honest account of the successes and failures - and the hopes and dreams - of an extraordinary life.
Critic reviews
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Judy Jones
- 03-04-22
Honest, fascinating and very moving…
I listened to this over a weekend and didn’t want it to end. Thank you Janis, I never thought I could appreciate you any more than I already did. Guess what… 😉♥️
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mervyn
- 07-06-13
the most amasing experiance
Wow to me Janice Ian was the singer of the hit song 17, in this book of her life she is so much more. What a life, I am very glad she told her story.
Thank you Janice for sharing your life story.
Take the chance and listen you will not want to stop this story is infectious you will not regret the time spent listening,
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Steve
- 18-10-15
Simply brilliant!
Searingly honest, beautiful, at times heartbreaking account of a true star. What incredible songs Janis has written, so pleased to have discovered this gem. Thank you Janis
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- david ian hale
- 05-05-16
Great story
loved it great story fascinated by all the ups and downs of her life til now
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- JF
- 28-10-22
Space Invaders Champ and Sci Fi writer?
I’m too young to remember Society’s Child but I will never forget staring star-struck at the searing close-ups of Janis Ian singing Stars on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1974. It was such a beautiful performance. I was overawed by the way she picked out such a complex and perfectly phrased accompaniment on her guitar without ever once looking at the strings. Instead she seemed to look inward, drawing inspiration and strength from some unimaginable sadness in her life. It was magical to reconnect with Janis through this autobiography and discover the depth of experience that lay behind that extraordinary gaze.
I think she must have kept quite a few cherished memories from the later part of her life private. I think she was right to do that and I would expect no less from such a sensitive, thoughtful and charitable person. But the earlier parts of her life from her childhood to her mid-thirties are presented here with almost painful honesty. It is very moving.
There were very many stand-out moments but I particularly enjoyed the way she talked about her craft of songwriting and especially, of course, how she came to write Stars.
This has been a really compelling experience for me. Janis reads the book flawlessly and I was very touched by the brief moments of song.
Thanks, Janis, for sharing your life with us. It was mesmerising and unforgettable.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Wras
- 13-12-13
The life and times of some of my favourite songs
When I was 17 years old a girl friend gave me the album At Seventeen the song is a girls point of view of the world it changed my male perspective of the world and has been with me from LP to tape, CD and MP3 accompanying me through my life like so much music; but of the girl that wrote those songs I knew nothing, so when I heard that she had written her biography I decided I had to listen to it.
Well it was great, sad, interesting, and entertaining. (I invited my wife to hear the story with me and she loved it though she is not as interested in her music as I am).
One of the things I love is that she introduces some of the chapters by singing the song or song she was working on in that period. It is a very personal and candid story that meanders like all our lives through highs and lows and the particular idiosyncrasies of her times.
I loved the young girl that sang to me. I respect the woman she became.
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9 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- justjennie
- 16-07-18
Absolutely amazing!
What a talent! What a survivor and what a nice person Janice is! I was entranced throughout.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Roy Fox
- 24-07-22
Great read!
A pleasure on all counts…an intimitet view presented by the artist with insight and passion.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Chris
- 07-11-12
What a life
Janis has quite an amazing story. I rarely read or listen to biography but I'm glad that I listened to this. As well as her life she spoke about much of her music with snippets from a fair selection of her songs. I have to give this 5 stars.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Mr Kim Clarke
- 07-05-21
A must listen book
I absolutely loved this. The reading by Janis is truly heartbreaking and also inspiring.
Such a strong story
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