Customer Reviews

Instamatic Karma: Photographs of John Lennon

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Four stars for a small collection of mostly good, previously unseen photographs. But I was a little disappointed in the sparse information accompanying the pics. Overall, a quick read and a nice collection of snapshots. Speaking as a huge Lennon fan, a must-have.

Although I hoped "Instamatic Karma" gave us more details about the romance of John Lennon and May Pang, I was not disappointed in buying May's new book. This hard cover book was tastefully created and contains 157 photographs in color and black and white that I had never seen before. These are not glamour shots or publicity photos. These are real, candid photos worthy of any John Lennon fans' collection. The photos come with a well-written narration by May.

"Instamatic Karma" has plenty of photos of John and May showing there was a real relationship between the two. There are many nice photos of Julian during visits with his father, swimming, going to Disneyland, and general clowning around. Cynthia and Julian Lennon added an endnote to the book expressing thanks to May for her kindness and friendship to them, which was touching.

Since there is controversy about the common misconception that the years 1973 and 1974 were nothing more than a "Lost Weekend" for John, it was very satisfying to see photographic proof not only of the relationship, but that Lennon was happy, social and artistic during those years. There are photos of John with friends like Paul and Linda McCartney, Ringo Starr, David Bowie, Keith Moon, Harry Nilsson, Jesse Ed Davis, Klaus Voormann and Mal Evans who spent time with John during this productive and commercially successful period. And there are some great photos from the recording sessions of "Walls and Bridges."

I highly recommend this book for Lennon fans. It's a beautiful book at a reasonable price. And you can still get a copy of the First Edition!

Side note: If you want the blow by blow description of John and May's life during this period, with all the details included, check out "Loving John" Loving John or "The Lost Weekend" John Lennon: The Lost Weekend both written by May Pang.

It is hard to pick up a book about John Lennon these days without coming across the words "icon" or "iconic." So for die-hard Lennon fans, this book does not disappoint. The book consists of 138 pages of text and photos, chronicling was has become known as his "lost weekend" with May Pang--the employee designated by Yoko Ono to "date" John when they were on the outs. But this weekend was not a weekend at all, but an 18-month relationship that quickly became a love affair from 1973 to 1975. May was the yin to Yoko's yang (forgive the alliteration), and she created a safe harbor for him to escape his high-profile and sometimes destructive lifestyle and to reconnect with his son Julian and old friends. John and May took informal snaps of each other and of those in their world during this period, both in color & black and white, most taken with either a Polaroid or Instamatic camera. Unfortunately some of the shots, quite frankly, are a bit substandard to publish. They are the kind that we all take of our significant others without much regard to setting or composition or even focus, and then we throw them in a shoebox just as May did and forget about them. These only got into print because John was who he was. But there are others in this collection, many never seen before, that help to burnish or enlarge his image. He could be youthfully handsome or playful or cynical or contemplative, and those shots act as a Rorschach for those of us still wanting to understand who the "real" John Lennon was. He was comfortable enough with May to let his unguarded side show, and for that we should all be grateful for this visual history. A very touching element was the tribute from Cynthia and Julian Lennon on the book's back cover, lauding May for her openness and compassion towards them for which they say they will always be "her greatest champions." There was both a public Lennon and a private one, and this book is an interesting insider's peek at the latter.

John Lennon's "Lost Weekend" gets the 'once over lightly' treatment in this reminiscence by May Pang, his companion/girlfriend during that period. Pang was an employee of John & Yoko when 'Mother' lined Pang up with her husband. Pang and Lennon were an item from mid-1973 to 1975 and INSTAMATIC KARMA is the account of those months.

Pang's account of her time with Lennon is a collection of reminiscences; certain moments, events or people being described as well as illustrated with photographs she took at the time. Short chapters talk about first visits with son Julian, John signing the papers dissolving the Beatles, sailing/swimming trips, hanging out with Harry Nilsson and so on.

Pang's book is valuable in correcting misconceptions regarding the Lost Weekend. As revealed in the book, Lennon didn't spend the entire time acting like an idiot and getting wasted with Nilsson but, as shown in the book, had many wonderful moments with family and friends.

Having said that, I was somewhat disappointed by the slightness of Pang's effort. I was hoping for more insights into the man. Likewise the photos are a mixed bag; most are fair to good, a few are filler. In any case, it's a quick read.

Depending on how you view John Lennon, INSTAMATIC KARMA may be an essential purchase or a missed opportunity. I enjoyed the book but I'm not wild about it. Recommended with some reservations.

This amazing photo essay includes never-before-seen images of John from his time with May Pang. John has never looked more relaxed and at ease than in this candid and intimate photos -- and they certainly portray him as being much happier than the media has painted him during this time. It is a comfort to any fan of John's to know he was this happy and at peace in the last years of his life. Ms. Pang's commentary that accompanies the photos adds personal touches that make this book truly magical.

The book would be better with more text. May Pang has written other books on her time with John, but it wouldn't have hurt to repeat some of her stories to make this book better. Diehard fans will find this book worth the cost merely for the photo of John and Paul together. Nothing dramatic, but it's the only one I've seen of them post-breakup, and it's reassuring to know they were getting along most of the time.

This photo book is exremly cool!! Every John Lennon fan must own it. There are rarely photos of John, just being John. These photos show a more relaxed, family oriented John. I have it on my coffee table and I love that my daughters friends ask who is he? "Us fans" get to introduce a whole new generation to a musical genius.
RIP John, You are missed!!!!

Finally the photo evidence to back up what true insiders knew for years--that John's time with May, rather than being the drunken debaucle alleged in the "company line," was actually one of the happiest and most productive of his life. The intimate, casual pictures show a smiling, relaxed and very different side of Lennon than when he was with Yoko, both before and after. He clearly was glad to escape from his former hermit life and be out and about, enjoying his son for the first time in 4 years and playing music with many friends.

The book contains the last known photo taken of John and Paul and the never, ever before seen shot of John's hand as he signs the final document to dissolve the Beatles. It brought tears to my eyes.

Every Beatle fan in the world has been waiting for this book and these pictures--to finally set the record straight about the true nature of the "lost weekend".

You'll wish the book was a little bit thicker and with more photos and text, but I guess there will be a volume two. Either way it's great to be able to see any unreleased photos of John Lennon.

I absolutely love this book. I've been a collector of books on John, especially photo books for most of my life. What I love about this book is that the pictures are so natural and beautiful. There are hardly any "posed" pictures at all and the ones that are posed are more like family photos than something done for a publicity package. It's John looking healthy and happy and I adore it. Thanks, May!