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langeletta's review
2.0
I can't quite tell you whether or not the book was good, as I haven't finished it yet. But I would love to get around to it sometime in between college work and actual work. We'll see.
I will say this, it's a nice peek into the private life of john lennon, and you will sympathize with him, and despize him, at timess.Mind you, I love this man. The book is a wonderful reminder that he, too, was only human.
I will say this, it's a nice peek into the private life of john lennon, and you will sympathize with him, and despize him, at timess.Mind you, I love this man. The book is a wonderful reminder that he, too, was only human.
jme985's review against another edition
3.0
For all the seeming naïveté and contradicting information, Cynthia’s account of her relationship with John is incredibly interesting. I would say it’s the most interesting account of that period of John’s life just by virtue of uniqueness. Being as big of a figure as he was, his younger days have been picked to shreds and read ad nausuem, but Cynthia’s account takes it into the perspective of someone pushed to the sidelines. It’s laden with her own interpretations and beliefs, (her refusal to believe John would experiment sexually with men, despite significant evidence and accounts otherwise, among many others) but ultimately I feel like that adds to truly understanding her perspective. It gives her real account of what happened as opposed to a curated rehash of information we already know. I found her perspective on John’s relationship with Julien to be particularly interesting, as no biography is going to dedicate as much time to understanding that dynamic. I’m glad to have read it.
mollybonovskyanderson's review
4.0
Did reading the sordid details of John's first marriage and subsequent neglect of his first family upset me? Yes. Did it make me love him any less? Probably not, and that's why I read this book to begin with: that such a polarizing figure, revered and idolized for his wit, opinions, convictions and artistry, even when exposed as somewhat of a hypocrite and downright awful husband and father, could still captivate people enough that they are reading about him forty years after his death, really says something about the hold he has on me and countless others. I have no reason to doubt any of the nearly unbelievable details of the shift in his personality and lifestyle after transitioning out of one troubled marriage into what was obviously another, despite all the peace-and-love rhetoric, but still acknowledge that this is one, (two, including Julian) person's take on the man. Still, one need only to watch video of John and Yoko (the new documentary "Get Back" is a perfect example of this) to see that he was completely dominated by his new life and family, and it's frustrating to read how easily he turned cold on his first wife and child. Still, there was nothing like Beatlemania before it, and has been nothing quite like it since, so it's not a stretch to imagine how heavy that kind of fame and pandemonium can weigh on an individual's psyche, especially if it's damaged from the start.
deanna_rigney's review
3.0
Interesting behind the scenes look at one of my beloved and messed up creative heroes. I like when my heroes have flaws, so her stories and characterization of John did not bother me at all, but instead it made him seem more like a real person and not the icon he's become since his death. She tells the good and the bad aspects of their time together. I had not realized how long she was a part of his life because most books written about him usually gloss over their relationshiip. She seems an interesting person.
angryeditor's review against another edition
4.0
Wish I had this book in English, for the translation is atrocious.
mmarquis1158's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This was a beautifully written story about Cynthia and John Lennon. Cynthia’s story was raw and honest. She shared the many wonderful moments between her and John as well as the heartbreaking pieces to their story. I like how she was never disrespectful even when sharing about the hurtful things she endured. I highly recommend this to any fan of the Beatles who wants to know more about what took place behind the scenes of the Lennon household.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Cursing, Death, Miscarriage, and Abortion
willahetu's review
4.0
such an interesting read. learning about the small beginnings and psychology of such a renowned legend is bittersweet. i have a lot of respect for cynthia and i believe everything she had to say. i don’t think she wrote this to make a few bucks, definitely to share her life and experiences, good and bad, to people who truly loved john as much as she did until her death. thought she went through absolute hell as a beatle wife and woman, she comes out resilient, honest, and a fan like the rest of us.