Although this pandemic can seem stifling at times, I have found it has given me the opportunity to sit back and enjoy a good book.
I Love A Biography
I’ve always enjoyed a good biography, more than a novel. Why? I don’t know, perhaps it’s the insight into people’s lives that would otherwise be impossible to know. Add to that my love of The Beatles music and particularly John Lennon then it’s not hard to see why I was first in the queue to get my hands on a copy of ‘Who Killed John Lennon?’ by Lesley-Ann Jones. Pre-ordered through Amazon, it arrived on the day of publication here in the U.K. on September 17th.
A Brand New Book
There can’t be many people in the world who have not heard of The Beatles or John Lennon. Even my 5-year-old Grandson can hum ‘Yellow Submarine!’ I do love a brand new hard-backed book, it’s very tactile and full of someone’s hard-earned research, creativity and many many hours spent burning the midnight oil. The first thing I do when I open a brand new book is sniff the pages. I know, it sounds weird, but there’s something beautiful about the experience. I know I’m not alone.
He would have been 80 this year!
John Lennon 80!
John Lennon would have been 80 this year if his life hadn’t been cut short by those few moments of madness back in December 1980 outside his home, The Dakota, in New York City. It was one of those, etched in your memory forever moments. He will have been dead longer than he lived after December 8th. Forty years of music that might have been, a father and husband, taken in a few seconds!
Who Killed John Lennon? The Lives, Loves and Deaths of the Greatest Rock Star
I thought I had read everything there was possible to know about John Lennon, but I was wrong. From the opening page, I was captivated. I do love it when a book is so well written it makes it a pleasure to read. To me, the sign of a great author is the way a book holds your interest and keeps you wanting more. So much so it’s hard to put it down and this author does just that. There are quite a few people in this book who either worked with The Beatles or John Lennon in his decade as a solo artist. Those of us old enough to remember Johnnie Hamp who gave The Beatles their first break on T.V. together with his daughter tell a fascinating story. Former Radio 1 DJ Andy Peebles, the last British broadcaster to interview John Lennon adds some interesting dialogue that as far as I know has never been told before. Photographs and additional interviews from Klaus Voormann, the late Cynthia Lennon, Julian Lennon, Earl Slick, Sir Paul McCartney, May Pang all from the authors’ archives help provide an insight into who was the real John Lennon, his life, his loves and death.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this insight into one of my musical heroes and I know if you’re a fan of The Beatles or John Lennon, you’ll enjoy this book.
Please note, I have no affiliation with Amazon.
A mí también me encantan las biografías y también me gustaba y me gusta John Lennon. Intentaré conseguirla. Gracias por la información. Buen día.
Thank you, Azurea. I know you will enjoy the book. ????
this is an excellent read
I thoroughly enjoyed this post-Trev, you have written a superb Critique of the book, so much so that I want to get my hands on a copy.
How lovely to see Johnnie Hamp’s name mentioned, Johnnie was my daughter Louisa’s Godfather, and also gave my late husband a leg up the show business ladder.
Thank you, Sue. Yes, Johnnie Hamp and his daughter are in the book. He certainly knew talent when he saw it.
I like to sniff a new book too. Don’t tell anyone, but I also like to sniff library books. I wouldn’t these days, I’d be too worried I’d be inhaling corona.
Sounds like this is an excellent read. I think my dad would find this interesting too so I’ll have to get us a copy to check out. Thanks for the great write-up, Trev! x
(My inner grammar OCD meanie ????wants to say you’ve missed an apostrophe on link for the “author’s website”. But I won’t say it ????)
Thank you, Caz. I hope your Dad enjoys the book. I will add the apostrophe now, thanks for the tip. ????
I love biographies too, better than novels! And of course the Beatles n John Lennon! Tgere was also a film about him: Nowhere boy that i enjoyed a lot!
Thank you, Caahli, I saw that film too and enjoyed it. ????
I can still recall how sad my sister and I were when we found out about this senseless murder. It makes me mad.
Yes, it was devastating! Thank you, John.
I also love getting a new book and there are so many that you want to go on reading…when you reach the end it’s an “oh no!” moment!
That’s exactly how this book was when I had finished it. Thank you, Yeti. ????
Your review intrigued me and makes me want to read it. Also, I LOVE the smell of a brand new, unopened before book as well.
Thank you, Herb. It is a great book. ????
Your review is really nice: it must be an interesting book!!
I enjoyed it, thank you, Luisa. ????
I love the smell of books in the morning…
Thank you, me too. 🙂
Interesting I’m not really a reader of biographies but this one sounds interesting. I’ll have to check it out
Thanks and keep laughing
Thank you, Mr Ohh. It is an interesting read and well written too. 🙂
I remember the day he was shot. Seems like such a long time ago.
Yes, 40 years ago!! Thank you.
Sounds like a must-read, Trev. Thanks for the review 🙂
Thank you, Rosaliene. ????
Good for you and thanks for passing it on!!! ❤️ Cindy
Thank you, Cindy, my pleasure. ????
Wow 80 years old. RIP ????
Thank you, Kindness. Yes, he would have been 80. ????
Trev, thanks for the review. I <3 love many Beatles songs, but I think "Imagine" is my favorite. It is a vision of an ideal world that helps us to see beyond our troubled times and have hope for the future. All the best! Cheryl
Thank you, Cheryl. It’s hard to choose a favourite Beatles song, but I do like, ‘If I Fell.’ I like ‘Imagine’ and you describe it perfectly. Thank you again.
Trev! Oops, I got it wrong, Johnnie was indeed a friend of my husband and gave him a helping hand, but he wasn’t Louisa’s Godfather! Daughter Louisa asked how I could get that one wrong. Well, I have got five kids and five sets of Godparents and we had more than the usual three each! I think I can be forgiven!
Her Godfather was not a producer, he was the impresario Peter Webster – he Lorded over show business in the north of England, particularly during Blackpool’s show business heyday in the seventies!
It’s easily done, Sue. I only have two Grandchildren and I keep calling the granddaughter her mother’s name and when I realise what I’ve done and got an unusual scolding look from my grandaughter I go on to call her by my other daughter’s name before finally arriving at Lily. 🙂
I prefer Queen (group) and Elvis solo.
I like those and the Rolling Stones, but The Beatles and particularly John, will always be my favourites.
Interesting, thank you. Will add to my list
Thank you very much. 🙂
Well said, smashing post, it has everything that I love, i.e. a book (good book), music reference, John Lennon (always a Beatles fan) and a conspiracy theory (I would hope) to explain what has become a mystery. Thank you!
Francesc
Thank you, Fancisco. 🙂
Amazing article with awesome content.
Thank you, very much 🙂
Very interesting.
Thank you. Laleh. 🙂
your articles are very good, thanks
Ah! Another book sniffer. You are not alone. When I was a teacher i remember handing out some brand new novels to a class and at least half of them started sniffing. And I don’t think it was the glue on the binding.
Haha, thank you, Josie, I’m glad I’m not alone. ????
❤️ have a nice day!
Thank you, you too ????
Thank you for this review Trev. This is a definite must read, on my book list now.
Thank you, Victoria, I hope you enjoy it. ????
I love biographies as well!
Hugs from Italy
Vicky ????
Thank you, Vicky, hugs back. ????
Not to be confused with Fenton Bresler’s 1989 book with the same title, which makes a convincing case that Chapman was a “Manchurian candidate”, used to eliminate a perceived threat to the incoming Reagan administration.