Customer Reviews

John Lennon: In My Life

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Pete Shotton was John Lennon's best friend throughout his life, and this book gives a positive upbeat and revealing look at that friendship.

Starting from their rebellious childhood antics in Woolton and Quarrybank we are taken on a "Magical Mystery Tour" through the Quarrymen formation and onto Beatles superfame. Throughout it all Pete was the sane down-to-Earth component of John's life. Here's a glimpse of the Real John Lennon from getting every bird around (and the rest) to going off the deep end with Acid. It's sure to entertain you and keep you laughing with uncanny Lennon humor. The book is no whitewash, but neither is it the blackwash of Goldman's book. It's basically as close to the truth as a good friend can get. I also recommend The Man who Gave the Beatles Away and the new book, Lennon in America. I await the release of John's Diaries.

I borrowed this book recently from my local library. I enjoyed it thoroughly. It was very readible and entertaining, and included many previously unreleased "tidbits." Pete Shotton, one of Lennon's closest friends, presents a credible account and reveals Lennon the person: fun loving, rebelious and a general comedian. While John certainly did have flaws (i.e. he was the world's worst dancer and was not loyal to his first wife Cynthia), inclusion of these bits of information make Shotton's book all the more credible. Thus unlike the malicious Goldman book and unlike other books which appear too fawning, this book is objective and written by someone who really knew John before the madness of Beatlemania set in.

This book is a revealing look at John Lennon's personal life. It shows his fans that they don't know as much about the "real" Lennon as they think they do. It shows the man behind the legend. It seems as though the book contains many ideas that one might not want to accept as reality, so it is easy to dissmiss some of the book as false. All in all this is a terrific book about Lennon.

There are only three decent books on John Lennon: Albert Goldman's, Ray Connelly's and Pete Shotton's "In My LIfe". This book is almost completely free of the schmalz that ruins other biographies. It's truthful and frank and is quite fascinating. A good thing about the book, is that it focuses on the man rather than the music. From reading it, you do get an idea of what he was really like. Regrettably, I lent my copy to a friend who promptly left it on a table in a cafe or hostel in Paris (early '96). So if you found it - I want it back!

I very highly recommend this book to any Lennon/Beatles fan with a good sense of humour and an open mind. I Loved Every Page Of It. You wont be able to keep a straight face while you read it. What A Clown!

A GREAT BOOK. IT DESCRIBES IN GREAT DETAIL, A FRIENDSHIP THAT LASTED FOR OVER 30 YEARS.. IT GIVES A DECENT ACCOUNT OF JOHN LENNON FROM A FRIEND'S POINT OF VIEW NOT FROM A TRASHY AUTHOR.