4.0 out of 5 stars
Passionately Inspired!, August 30, 2009
This review is from: Janet Jackson (Black Americans of Achievement) (Paperback)
While many library binding and hard-bound books present a shortened look into the life of famous celebrities rather glossed up, the author, Cindy Dyson presents a excellent biography with dates, intimate details, and rise to stardom in true style marked by careful research, personal touches, and class throughout. Her love for her roots is also quite noticeable as she has a beginning with great quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. Also apparent, is her true appeal for Janet as it reflects in her writing all the way throughout from beginning to end. This was a much better book than anticipated and quite extraordinary for sure!
Janet has had many struggles throughout her life, that's no surprise. But Cindy Dyson from chapter to chapter gives a nice presentation on how Janet deals with her pitfalls. From her hard times as a child with family quarrels to the break-ups with James DeBarge and Rene Elizondo, Janet pulls through. The dieting, peer pressure, fame, and internal problems were grueling but in the end she always bounces back to prove that with determination, ambition, and strength it's possible. Aside, these personal insights, the author also goes into the rise of her music career and movie roles. It mentions her first and second albums as well as her top selling Control, Rhythm Nation 1814, janet. and The Velvet Rope. The deals with Jimmy "Jam" Harris and Terry Lewis, the deal with Virgin Records, and the chart positions of her sales were all touched. There is also a discography and filmography as well as chronology in the end. Her movie and television roles were also very much talked about as well as her first 2 concerts, including The Velvet Rope Tour.
On the downward side, the book for some reason seems rushed in the end with much more information packed and intriguingly shortened. If there would have been more chapters, and a bit more information on certain details this could have been the perfect 5 stars biography. For instance, Jimmy "Jam" Harris and Terry Lewis met Janet through who? The book states, "Janet made a crucial move that would change .... She hooked up with Jimmy "Jam" Harris and Terry Lewis." I've read in other books how this came about. Also, left out was Janet's turbulent relationship with LaToya that was very much apparent and detailed in the book Out of the Madness: The Strictly Unauthorized Biography of Janet Jackson. Michael Jackson fans will get a short chapter about him with little insight into his close tightly knit relationship with Janet. Aside those shortcomings, it was also missing colored photos. Although, black and white photos are nice, the author could have put at least 1 colored photo. The book is an easy 30 minute read for kids, fast readers, or critics.
From all the tons of biographies I've read this author is remarkable in putting the essentials in a very classy fashion--never compromising Janet's standards, values, or demeaning her in any way. Janet is kept to the spotlight as pure, beautiful, and talented. But what the author stresses from start to finish in the utmost of fashions is Janet's true strength as a person, and her down-to-earth quality! While the world of music continues to change, the true innovators, shakers and movers are never forgotten. And the Jackson Family definitely made one of the biggest marks in being the first to explode on the television screens, movies, and music industry. The author states, "The premiere of the Jacksons in 1976 marked the first time a black family had ever starred in a television series." This book will give you a beautiful insight into the rise, explosion, and heartfelt moments of the adored "Janet Jackson"!!!
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