Tag Archives: biography

June 12, 2015 · 7:00 am

Book Review: “The Private John Lennon” by Julia Baird

Excuse me while a catch up on reading all the Beatles related books that have been collecting dust on my bookshelf these past several years.

The Private John Lennon: The Untold Story from His Sister by Julia Baird was published in early 2008. In the UK, the title of this same book is “Imagine This: Growing Up with My Brother, John Lennon”. This book was the basis for the film “Nowhere Boy,” which I reviewed when it first come out in theaters. You can read that review here.

It’s always refreshing when you can read a first-hand account of someone’s life from someone who was actually there to witness it. Much like Cynthia Lennon or May Pang‘s books, Julia Baird brings the reader into her and her families’ private lives to give you a glimpse of what it was like being John Lennon’s sister. Those facts or times that she is unable to recall or know as fact, she’s gone about finding those family members and friends who can fill in the blanks for her and her readers. It’s during her research that Julia uncovered several family secrets that help Lennon and Beatles fans better understand the world that John grew up.

This is a story of unbelievable tragedy. Even if she wasn’t related to one of the Fab Four, one has to agree that they would not wish Julia’s losses throughout her life on anyone. She tells of Cynthia’s kindness towards her and her sister Jackie after the loss of their mother and she tells of the embarrassment she felt at her brother John’s strange behavior after taking up residency with Yoko.

After reading this book, it becomes obvious what John saw in Yoko. He was returning to the strange, controlled world that he had always known growing up. Thank you Julia for telling your story.

If you’d like to read this book on Kindle, it’s available as an ebook in it’s UK title –Imagine This.

I rate this book: 4 out of 4 Beetles!

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Filed under Beatles books, John Lennon

Tagged as beatles, beatles books., beatles reviews, biography, books, John Lennon, Julia Baird, lennon biography, The Private John Lennon, yoko ono

September 29, 2014 · 12:49 pm

Book Review: The Beatles and Me on Tour by Ivor Davis

Ivor Davis book I met Ivor Davis for the first time at the Chicago Fest for Beatles Fans in August. The word most commonly used to describe Ivor was ‘charming’. And that he was! He won everyone over who had the privilege to meet him and take home a copy of his book. I’ve finally gotten around to reading this book and here’s my honest review.

What an absolute delight this books is! Refreshing and so well written, anyone can just breeze through it’s pages. The only downside…it ends. Ivor has spent his life as a reporter and it shows in his writing style…very easy and smooth, it’s an absolute joy to follow him along on his journey with the Beatles during their 1964 tour of America. Ivor doesn’t bore you with HIS story…he tells the story of what was going on behind the scenes. Readers get the inside story of the Beatles backstage, in the air, holed up in their hotel rooms like caged animals and the secret meetings and parties that went on with other stars of the time.

Without a doubt, this book is a must read and must have for any true Beatles fan. And if you’d like to know more about Ivor and his book, you can go to his website at: www.IvorDavisBeatles.com. There are also links to let you know where you can purchase your own copy.

And if you’re in the L.A. area, don’t miss the opportunity to meet Ivor Davis at the Fest for Beatles Fans in L.A. on October 10-12, 2014.

I rate this book: 4 out of 4 Beetles!

Book Review: ‘John Lennon: All I Want is the Truth’ by Elizabeth Partridge

Here’s another late review since this book was published in 2005, but I just heard about ‘John Lennon: All I want is the Truth’ from a new friend who is friends with the author…so I bought a copy to check it out! This book was described to me as ‘a book about John Lennon for teenagers’.

The first thing that will surprise you about ‘John Lennon: All I want is the Truth’ is it’s large size: 10.5′ x 10″. This book looks more like a coffee table book than a book for children. Also the reader will be suprised at the wonderful photographs throughout the book…adding to it’s ‘not so much for children’ style. Don’t get me wrong…this book is absolutely beautiful to look at and page through and would be a standout book for anyone’s Beatles book collection. But (and you knew it was coming)…most Beatles Freaks don’t buy books for their looks. Beatles Freaks want facts…real facts and they want the truth.

The author does a pretty good job of telling John’s story. Some of the facts that seem to be wrong are the usual ones, such as Aunt Mimi ducking and hiding from an air raid while on her way to see John in the hospital on the day he was born. Other than those, which are few and far between, the book is a very easy read with great detail mixed with the gorgeous pictures on every page.

Now, herein lies the problem…sometimes the details are a little much for the younger generation that this book is aimed at. Ms. Partridge brings up such topics as Paul losing his virginity, ‘knee tremblers’, prellies, etc. I don’t know that I would have wanted my tweener or young teenager reading these details even if it is about the Fab Four. My opinion (and it is just that…mine) is that this book would be great for anyone over the age of 15.

This book is available on Amazon and there are some great deals for it on Half.com.

So there you have it…big, beautiful, well-written, though sometimes erroneously, book about the life of John Lennon that would look great in your collection and everyone will enjoy the great pictures!

This brings me to a very difficult decision on what to rate this book, but since this book did win a BCCB BLUE RIBBON NONFICTION BOOK AWARD and a 2006 Michael L. Printz Award, I’m going to bump my rating up to:

I rate this book: 3 out of 4 Beetles