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amc_123's review against another edition
Too much author self-insertion for my liking.
erinb_'s review
4.0
This book told me a lot about John Lennon which I did not know previously and that is that he was a bad person and all round not a good or nice person.
alexrobinsonsupergenius's review
4.0
Sort of a lighter version of Albert Goldman’s notorious Lives of John Lennon. It’s odd that the author apparently had a friendly relationship with Lennon since he (the author) doesn’t seem to like him or his work much (he singles out “Ticket to Ride” as a “miserable piece?!”).
birdmanseven's review
5.0
I was very impressed with this. If you are looking for an in-depth, scholarly biography of John Lennon, I probably wouldn't start here. But, if like me, you know the story well and are looking for a nuanced, intimate look, then this is just right. I was never bored and actually found some new information. This left me feeling sad over missed opportunities and was impactful in a way that some of the other bios were not. I appreciate the authors honesty about conflicting accounts and his fair treatment of all involved. It seems most tellings of this story either villianize Paul or Yoko and I thought he navigated that well. The facts speak for themselves. This was very well done.
If I were to have one criticism it would be the afterword giving background on Lennon's assassin. I found unnecessary and in poor taste, considering fame was the motivation behind the attack.
I discuss this book more here: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-205-interview-with-lauren-james
If I were to have one criticism it would be the afterword giving background on Lennon's assassin. I found unnecessary and in poor taste, considering fame was the motivation behind the attack.
I discuss this book more here: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-205-interview-with-lauren-james
athos's review against another edition
4.0
4/5. John Lennon's life story, as shown here by Ray Connolly, is certainly a restless one. The first half of the book - from 1940 to 1965 - was great fun to read. His character, both good and bad, was analysed and speculated alongside the story-like narrative of his life, showing how rich and complex John's character was. Some of the stories, such as when George Harrison lost his virginity in Hamburg, were hilarious. Seeing him rise to fame and show his creativity was fun to read about.
The second half maintained the informative and analytical nature of the first half, but John's life seemed very sad to read about. From 1965 to 1980, his life was full of hard drugs, squandered creativity, broken friendships and manipulation by Yoko.
[Sidenote: Connolly remained unbiased about Yoko. It is easy to hate her, but this tried to remain impassive. However, while before I wasn't sure of Yoko's character before, I have now decided that, despite loving her, John's life was unfairly controlled and dictated by this domineering artist. John's potential was wasted, in my opinion.]
It is a shame that John died before he could make amends and triumph over his chaotic life in the 70s. But this biography teaches us that a life is not a fictitious story, where good survives and bad dies, and not all amends can be made before death takes you. It is nice to know, however, that John Lennon did live his life, no matter how chaotic or restless, and he brought amazing music, wit and creativity to the world. We love you, John!
The second half maintained the informative and analytical nature of the first half, but John's life seemed very sad to read about. From 1965 to 1980, his life was full of hard drugs, squandered creativity, broken friendships and manipulation by Yoko.
[Sidenote: Connolly remained unbiased about Yoko. It is easy to hate her, but this tried to remain impassive. However, while before I wasn't sure of Yoko's character before, I have now decided that, despite loving her, John's life was unfairly controlled and dictated by this domineering artist. John's potential was wasted, in my opinion.]
It is a shame that John died before he could make amends and triumph over his chaotic life in the 70s. But this biography teaches us that a life is not a fictitious story, where good survives and bad dies, and not all amends can be made before death takes you. It is nice to know, however, that John Lennon did live his life, no matter how chaotic or restless, and he brought amazing music, wit and creativity to the world. We love you, John!
eyegee's review
5.0
A fascinating look at the man behind the legend, and some inside info on the Beatles.
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