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The Guitar's All Right As A Hobby, John Kindle Edition

by Kathy Burns (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

44

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This book pulls back the curtain on one of the more private members of The Beatles inner circle. Mimi Smith raised John Lennon to be the man he became. This is her story as seen thru the eyes of a fan who became a friend covering the years from 1966 until her death in 1991. This is John's Aunt Mimi. This is the woman he loved his entire life.

Print length

186 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publication date

March 29, 2014
File size

1147 KB
Page Flip

Enabled
Word Wise

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Enhanced typesetting

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kathy Burns is a life-long Beatles fan who had the good fortune of becoming friends with John Lennon's Aunt Mimi. The Guitar's All Right as a Hobby, John is her first book and is based on their 25 year friendship.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00KN9PEDG
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 29, 2014
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1147 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 186 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,153,637 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #3,286 in Biographies of Actors & Entertainers
- #5,488 in Biographies & Memoirs of Women
- #13,398 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies

Customer Reviews:
44

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

44 global ratings

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Karen L.

Loved Reading This Book

Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2014

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Admittedly, I was not a "true" Beattles fan, but I do remember when they first arrived in the States and how their popularity soared. I also remember when my husband brought home their first album and how we both loved listening to their music. Sadly, John Lennon's life was taken way too soon. Kathy wrote a book that is so interesting and informative and I sincerely enjoyed reading it. As others have said, I was drawn in to this story about Kathy's long time friendship with Mimi and hearing about how kind and loving Mimi truly was. I felt as though I was right there with Kathy while reading her story and it is a book I could not stop reading and finished it in a matter of hours. I love her way of writing, especially the lighthearted things she wrote about Mimi and other parts of the book. Because I didn't closely follow the life of John Lennon I was not familiar with his Aunt, although she sounds like the type of person anyone would blessed with to be raised by and it's obvious John carried his love for her throughout his life. While this book is not about the Beatles per se, it is so refreshing to learn about John's life and his relationship with his Aunt. Kathy's lifelong dedication to the Beattles and Mimi is something she should always be proud of and to be able to carry such wonderful memories of her association with Mimi. When Kathy told me about her life and her writing this book, after many years of not being in touch, I was so anxious to read it and I'm happy that I did. I strongly recommend this book to all who were fans or took an interest in John and/or the Beatles. Even if you are not a fan, I believe you would enjoy this book. Way to go cousin, I wish you all the very best!

3 people found this helpful

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Jeffrey L. Smalldon

A Formidable Woman

Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2014

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This book's been on my nightstand for the past week. Finished it last evening. A wonderful, warm, witting, and endearing look at a central figure in the Beatles saga, one who's often been unfairly maligned (or so it seems to me). if you're looking to trace to their earliest roots some of the qualities about John Lennon that made for his unique brand of edgy, I'm yours/you're mine kind of genius, look no further. Mimi comes across in this book as kind, generous, smart as a whip, utterly uninterested in bulls***, outspoken, funny, generous, charming, intermittently cranky, and wedded to her ways. Kathy Burns' portrait made me wish I'd known her -- and her nephew (but I've been wishing that for years).

Thanks for a unique window on one up-to-this point pretty unilluminated corner of the immense space that the Beatles occupy in our cultural history during the past half-century-plus.

Kathy: If you read this, I wonder whether you'd be kind enough to contact me at JLSmalldon@sbcglobal.net. I have some questions I'd like to discuss with you about laws governing use of personal correspondence in published works. I'm about to retire from my career as a forensic psychologist -- and I have in mind trying my hand at some writing. I have a cache of very interesting correspondence that I'm trying to figure out how to handle. Thanks in advance if you're willing to entertain a few of my questions -- and thanks for your wonderful book. A great read!

2 people found this helpful

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Tatertottymommy

Hello, John

Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2014

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This was an EXCELLENT Beatle book that shed much-needed light on the beautiful, hilarious, indomitable, witty woman Mimi Smith who loved and raised John Lennon....a lady who nurtured, adored, and scolded him until his untimely death. Her last words on her deathbed were "Hello, John".....beautiful and fitting. If you want a well-rounded portrait of this unique lady, read this book, watch "Nowhere Boy", and of course the ONLY televised interview she gave in 1981.....after her boy's murder...find it on YouTube :)

8 people found this helpful

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KC762

Beatlemaniacs: Don't pass this one by!

Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2014

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A unique book written from a unique perspective about a unique individual who loomed large in Beatle legend and lore from day one. It's been my experience that in that regard, John's Aunt Mimi has long been characterized as a stern disciplinarian, a demanding and persnickety - dare I say - potentially "snooty" martinet who seemed to look down her nose at all the fuss made about the boys. Any time I'm presented with a story painted in such a black and white fashion, it immediately sets off my personal radar and I find myself thinking "there's more to this than meets the eye - got to be." The author's stories and obvious fondness for Aunt Mimi confirm that in no uncertain terms.

Like another reviewer, I am a 2nd generation fan. With that in mind, as I read this book I found myself blown away by the freedom, accessibility and openness of the time. It's fascinating and unimaginable to me, and the author does a great job of capturing both the fun and the occasionally surrealistic nature of it all. I mean...sleeping in John's bed. Really?! (See? Now you DO have to buy it and read for yourself!)

I'm on the fence between a 'like' and a 'love' for this book; I hope all of the above comments indicate that I like it a lot. I would have loved to see some personal photos included in the book - the lack thereof was a disappointment. (However, as with the potential concern voiced by the author about including entire letters, I understand that could be problematic.) The other element about which I find myself torn is some of the telling of the story seems to be overly cautious or careful to me. The author is clearly still protective of Aunt Mimi, her memory and the relationship they shared. Hence my fence-sitting position: as much as one might like more detail, after all this time...maybe that protection and caring is not such a bad thing.

4 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

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Luis Azanza Moreno

De fan a confidente de Mimi Smith

Reviewed in Spain on September 12, 2020

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Excelente aproximación de una fan de The Beatles, a la tía de John Lennon. Relata su relación epistolar y sus encuentros personales.

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Bob Hutchings

Not as good as I thought it would be - it tells ...

Reviewed in Canada on January 19, 2015

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Not as good as I thought it would be - it tells a lot about the author. And ther are NO photos in this book (which reads like fiction) besides the one on the front cover....

Polythene Pam

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 8, 2015

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Really enjoyed this book gave me a few things I didn't know

Eileen Wade

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 13, 2015

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brilliant book