PARENTAL UNIT

“Rock’s most volatile woman.” “A cultural archetype.” “Tragic.” “Flamboyant.” Shall we add “Mother of the Year” to the resume of Courtney Love? How considerate of Love to drop off her child with relatives or nannies so that her 3-year-old daughter will not see her doing drugs.

Based on Robert Hilburn’s embarrassingly fawning article (“The Love Machine,” Aug. 13), Love spends about two hours a day with her daughter. She awakes at 3 p.m., leaves the hotel at 6 to perform music of “anger and disillusionment,” throws a guitar at the audience, then goes online with her fans before beginning a night of drinking, followed by hours of watching television and movies.

Has it occurred to either Love or Hilburn that as Frances Cobain grows up, her anger and disillusionment will far surpass that of her self-obsessed mother? The sooner Hilburn and his ilk stop admiring and glorifying her behavior, the greater the chances Love might actually seek the help she desperately needs.

BRUCE BABCOCK

Burbank

*

Are we supposed to be impressed because Love spends a little quality time with her daughter (in front of a journalist, no less) once a day before shipping her off with the nanny to the hotel while mom goes out to a bar? In real life, this woman would have lost custody a long time ago. However, she is famous and talented (yeah I like her music, it’s her mothering style that sucks).

Someone needs to tell her that tequila and beer are DRUGS. So are Bailey’s Irish Cream and cigarettes, so yes she is doing the same thing her husband did, only slower. Committing suicide.

TERI O’CONNOR

Burbank

*

I give props for that great story on Courtney Love. She’s a strong survivor with a good head on her shoulders and your story proved that. Thanks!

COLLEEN BARRETT

Los Alamitos

*

The same week that The Times publishes a Calendar cover photo of Courtney Love posed provocatively with her ubiquitous “I’m a rebel” cigarette prop, you also publish an editorial in strong support of President Clinton’s plan to reduce tobacco advertising aimed at youths. Ironically, your photo will do more to boost cigarette sales to youths than all the Joe Camel and Virginia Slims ads combined.

Ms. Love may be an unwitting patsy for the tobacco companies, but I thought your editorial staff had brains. Perhaps they’ve seen one too many tobacco ads. How apropos your skull and pencil guy in the corner.

CATHY GOLDBERG

San Pedro

*

Ms. Love could be well served by taking a moment out of her self-obsessed existence to read Julia Sweeney’s story (“Survival of the Wittiest,” by Chuck Crisafulli, Aug. 13). Gee, other people suffer too? Losses as great as Courtney’s? And they don’t act like obnoxious brats just because they can? Even other artists (although surely not way-cool rock stars)? Even in L.A.!?

GAIL WICHERT

Los Angeles

*

Yes, she’s self-possessed, manipulative and melodramatic, but Courtney Love is also extremely talented (“Live Through This” is one of the great rock albums of all time), fascinating and, dare I say it, beautiful. Don’t ever change, Courtney, or, to use one of your pet expressions, I’ll kick your butt.

MICHAEL D. HARRIS

Tarzana

*

Love says that she fits “a cultural archetype: the tragic female, the bitch goddess.” In my estimation, she is neither tragic nor feminine--and certainly not a goddess.

NIKOS A. LEVERENZ

Los Angeles