John by Lennon, Cynthia New edition

by Cynthia Lennon

Genres: Music, Memoir

Paperback

Published April 10, 2006

About the author

Cynthia Lennon (née Powell) was the first wife of musician John Lennon. She grew up in the middle-class section of Hoylake, on the Wirral UK, and gained a place at the Liverpool College of Art.

Reviews

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just amazing. I grew up a "Beatlemaniac" and this book just added more love to my original thoughts. Cynthia wrote a fabulous memoir that told the truth (in her eyes) about her relationship with John, and then John as a Father, John as a World Wide Star, John as Yoko's husband. It was insightful, sad, embracing, wonderful. It showed me a lot of truth about John and it didn't change my mind about anything. He was human, and made some questionable decisions. But who among us doesn't. It's the kind of book that is impossible to put down. Enjoy.

[Zig · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was interesting, although it held no surprises regarding John's character. It was glossed over and excused.
What did surprise me is how someone could delude themself into thinking they were the love of someone's life when they weren't.
John Lennon was not a nice person. Yet Cynthia never seems to acknowledge this. He basically treated her like dirt, and she still thought he was wonderful, and seemed to make excuses for him.
I also don't believe it was all Yoko's fault. Cynthia seemed to leave an awful lot out of the book, and there were things I found hard to believe. Like when she had a meeting with John, regarding their divorce, and Yoko was with him. She seemingly has a conversation with John, while Yoko was conveniently getting a glass of water, so no way to corroborate.
The take I got on this is a woman who was married to someone famous, had to get married as she was pregnant, that's what most people did back then, got dumped and I don't believe all the early songs he wrote were for her. She quite frankly seemed delusional where John was concerned. She also made herself sound like a doormat.
She accepted £750,000 she said regarding divorce. Why? She could have taken him to the cleaners. Also, that was a lot of money back then. What did she do with it? Well, instead of using it wisely, she got mixed up with some Italian gigolo named Roberto, who liked the high life and apparently was spending all her money. She was married 4x. Says more about her than the losers she picked.
An ok read, but rather sickening on the martyr attitude. The "poor me" got tired fast, as I thought well, you held the ace card. His child. She should have taken him for a bundle. Instead she wrote a whiney book.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The early portions of the book, where Cynthia meets John at art school and they dash about around Liverpool, are close and romantic. There are specific memories of Cynthia's humble rooms and the pair's odd families from which their world-famous story eventually grows. Then: What was it like to be married to the most famous man in the world, who is popular in a way no one has ever been before? Turns out it was rife with the same insecurities, day-to-day bumbles, and strange moods of many marriages. You had to play house, still. Eventually John finds his new savior and the book turns to analysis of Yoko and sparse narratives of Cynthia and Julian's wanderings. Very interesting but pick up a proper biography of the man or the band first.

[James Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feels like a very honest book which gets behind the adulation and ignores the need to impress upon us the image of Saint John who seems quite Jekyll & Hyde in equal measure & never made the best decisions.

Refreshingly lacking in bitterness, Cynthia went through her life trying to be a good mother to Julian by providing a solid base and to tries to deal with the loss of love from her first marriage. She comes across as a very stoic and sensible lady who had an awful lot of misfortune thrown her way after the divorce with John. It's sad that she's no longer with us.

[Natalie Hartman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a well written book. It did make me sad to read this book and just see how Cynthia still almost justifies, John, and his actions, especially towards her. No woman should be treated the way that she was treated by her husband. It was insightful to read such an intimate book.

[Michelle Juaire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me super sad! What a great talent wasted.

[Jordyn h · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an insightful read, I like Cynthia and her narrative. Great truthful storytelling. The ending had me laughing!

[Matt Cleary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important read for any Beatles or John Lennon fan.

[Geff Ratcheson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never liked Yoko nor felt she had any talent. I did not realize just how evil she is until reading this.

[Crystal M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. Not much I hadn't already known. A few surprises/new info though. I would definitely recommend reading it.

[Judi Shatlah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always, no sometimes, think it's me ,but you know, I know when it's a dream! I think I know, I mean a yes
But it's all wrong .That is, I think I disagree!

[GurkanGurkansson · Rating 5 out of 5]

God bless you Cynthia