Joni Mitchell, in Her Own Words: Interviews with Malka Marom

The creative process is a central theme in this new book of conversations with singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell. The interviews between Mitchell and Canadian broadcaster, singer and musician Marom span from 1973 to 2012 covering a wide-range of topics, from Mitchell’s childhood and early career to her views on poverty and on relationships, but they always circle back to Mitchell’s music. Reproduced as transcripts, the conversations are interspersed with excerpts from interviews with Mitchell’s contemporaries. After Mitchell recounts how Elliot Roberts became her manager, Roberts’s account of the first time he saw her perform follows. Helpfully, whenever they refer to a specific song, its lyrics are reproduced in full. In some cases, they are included simply because they form a complementary juxtaposition to the subjects being discussed. The interviews are presented in full without any breaks that might interrupt the flow of an organic conversation, which does make it difficult for the reader to find a convenient place to pause or to go back and reread certain sections. The book, which includes photographs and reproductions of Mitchell’s paintings, makes for a compelling narrative of the creative life and is recommended for both Mitchell fans and for music lovers. (Sept.)