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John Ono Lennon: The Music And The Life (2010)

by Tim Riley(Favorite Author)

3.87 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0393059782 (ISBN13: 9780393059786)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

W. W. Norton & Company

review 1: I was disappointed and frankly surprised that so many rate this book highly. There are numerous errors that are repeated several times (identifying Badfinger as a Scottish group indicates poor editing or lazy scholarship.) In addition, there is some bizarre analysis and tenuous subjective commentary; Reilly must be the only Beatle fan in the world to rate Paul's 'That Means A Lot' as a lost Beatles classic. If you're after a Lennon biography the Philip Norman book is much better; it is better written and offers more in the way of revelation. The Norman biography was a pleasant surprise as I loathed 'Shout'! This isn't a terrible book, but too many weaknesses that preclude it from being viewed as essential or more than moderately successful.
review 2: This book ... morehas a lot of information. It also carries a little too much of the author’s personal critique and dissection about Lennon’s music and what was going on in his head while writing the songs the songs. I had a difficult time dealing with that since I doubt even Yoko Ono knew everything that was going on in his head.I really debated giving this book four or five stars. It deserves both, so I’ll actually give it four and a half. The research the author did in putting together this massive narrative on John Lennon is mind-blowing and even makes reading the bibliography entertaining. The first part of the book about Lennon’s youth is detailed, fascinating and very well written. It digs deep into his relationship between his two mothers – his real mother Julia (Judy) and Aunt Mimi who pretty much raised him. According to the author, these relationships and an absent father who abandoned him, shaped the mental state that controlled him musically, personally, mentally, and eventually into his relationship with Yoko Ono.Between these detailed descriptions, the author falls too deep into his own mental process about Lennon’s music. In doing this he seems to skim over important career marks. For instance, if he can interpret Lennon’s song lyrics (always a reaction ‘against’ or crying ‘for’ his mother), then why couldn’t he do the same about his mental state during the Shea Stadium concert, Budokan or Manila? Those are part of any Beatles highlight film and they were hardly mentioned.As a fan, I can say I learned a few new things about Lennon. But to reinforce my above rating, five stars means you can’t put it down. You need to read it. This book took two library check-out sessions (three weeks each) to dig through all the author’s music theory. In other words, it didn’t turn me into a hyper-active page turner desperate to find out what would happen next. In fact, I read two other books at the same time and finished both while still reading this one.For dedicated all-consuming Beatles fans, I’ll recommend it. For the average or beginner fan, as George Harrison once sang: “It’s all too much!” less

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