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Liverpool Fantasy
It's 1987, and the Beatles are gathering in Liverpool for a reunion. It has been twenty-five years since John Lennon walked out of the Parlophone studios, taking George and Ringo with him. Paul, American-speaking and -acting, has become the world-famous Las Vegas entertainer Paul Montana, and he's visiting Liverpool for the first time since 1962, hoping to reunite with his boyhood chums, the once "hottest little quartet—in Liverpool." Father George, now a Jesuit priest, is recovering from a nervous breakdown; John is embittered, alcoholic, unemployed, and on the dole. His wife has left him, and young Julian has joined the fascist National Front. Ringo lives on the earnings of his entrepreneurial hairdressing wife while he and John sit in weekends with old rivals, Gerry and the Pacemakers. It is Lennon's curse that he can imagine what might have been. Liverpool Fantasy is a blackly comic meditation on the enduring hazards of friendship, the alchemy of collaboration, and what a world without the Beatles—that is, without idealism—looks like.
256 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2003
5 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Larry Kirwan
13 books14 followersLarry Kirwan (born 1948 in Wexford, Ireland) is an expatriate Irish writer and musician, most noted as the lead singer for the New York based Irish rock band, Black 47.
Prior to Black 47, Kirwan and fellow Wexfordian Pierce Turner led the new wave band Major Thinkers, based in New York City.
Kirwan has also written and produced several plays which have been performed in the United States and Europe, most of which deal with Irish history and politics, particularly Northern Ireland. He has made statements in support of the Irish Republican Army.
Since April 2005, he has hosted "Celtic Crush," a radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio that features Celtic artists from a wide variety of genres.
He is a naturalized U.S. citizen, having emigrated in 1970. He is married to June, and they have two children.
Prior to Black 47, Kirwan and fellow Wexfordian Pierce Turner led the new wave band Major Thinkers, based in New York City.
Kirwan has also written and produced several plays which have been performed in the United States and Europe, most of which deal with Irish history and politics, particularly Northern Ireland. He has made statements in support of the Irish Republican Army.
Since April 2005, he has hosted "Celtic Crush," a radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio that features Celtic artists from a wide variety of genres.
He is a naturalized U.S. citizen, having emigrated in 1970. He is married to June, and they have two children.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 7, 2016
Excellent book but probably not what you think. The book is a reflection on middle-age, regrets, and what-might-have-beens as seen through an alternate history where the Beatles split up after recording "Love Me Do" (because Brian Epstein wanted to release "Till There Was You" as the Beatles' second single and John walked out). The author nails the difficult, loving relationship between John and Paul who never could have completely succeeded without each other. The ending, though sad as hell (as it must be), is great.
August 20, 2012
So, you would think if anyone would enjoy an alternate history of the Beatles, it would be me, right? Too bad this was rather horribly written. The year is 1987 and in 1962, John, George and Ringo walked out on the Beatles, leaving Paul to pursue stardom on his own. Apparently, Britain is fascist, and it's hinted upon that the reason for the UK's downfall was BECAUSE the Beatles never were. Huh.
John is a drunk who's never made anything of himself, Paul is an egotisitic American star, George apparently went crazy and then joined the priesthood and Ringo is, well...Ringo. And Julian is the leader of a group of skinhead fascists....ok.
The narrative style is awful. Although written in third person, Kirwan attempts inner monoglogue "voice overs" for all of the characters so we can see inside their heads. I think it would have been more successful had he made each individual chapter in the first person but told by different characters.
Even though the Beatles broke up in 1962, apparently everyone in Liverpool is still obsessed with them and they are still minor (if sometimes despised) celebrities. How is this logical? If they broke up that long ago, they would only be a passing memory now. A "Hey, that was fun in the old days" kind of thing. No, in this world, Mersey Beat guys still play on the weekends.
Kirwan's one success is the voices of the Beatles themselves. He pretty much nails their individual attitdues and speech patterns. (Indication of a true Beatles freak...it takes one to know one.)
Overall, not even entertaining enough to overlook its many flaws.
John is a drunk who's never made anything of himself, Paul is an egotisitic American star, George apparently went crazy and then joined the priesthood and Ringo is, well...Ringo. And Julian is the leader of a group of skinhead fascists....ok.
The narrative style is awful. Although written in third person, Kirwan attempts inner monoglogue "voice overs" for all of the characters so we can see inside their heads. I think it would have been more successful had he made each individual chapter in the first person but told by different characters.
Even though the Beatles broke up in 1962, apparently everyone in Liverpool is still obsessed with them and they are still minor (if sometimes despised) celebrities. How is this logical? If they broke up that long ago, they would only be a passing memory now. A "Hey, that was fun in the old days" kind of thing. No, in this world, Mersey Beat guys still play on the weekends.
Kirwan's one success is the voices of the Beatles themselves. He pretty much nails their individual attitdues and speech patterns. (Indication of a true Beatles freak...it takes one to know one.)
Overall, not even entertaining enough to overlook its many flaws.
July 8, 2019
A fascinating piece of alternative fiction. What if the Beatles had broken up in 1962 because John Lennon wanted to release "Please, Please Me" as a single instead of "'Til There Was You"? The boys go their own ways: John becomes an unemployable laborer. Ringo lives off the proceeds of wife Maureen's beauty shop. Both he and John play pick-up gigs with Gerry Marsden. All the Liverpool musicians are still pissed at John because he effectively killed the Liverpool sound by being an asshole. George became a Jesuit priest. And Paul, under the tutelage of Brian Epstein moved to Las Vegas and became Paul Montana. Kirwan's experience as a band leader suits him well as he has a real understanding for the music "business" as well as the music itself. And he has a real gift for creating dialogue and differentiating the different personalities of the Beatles. Funny and sardonic. It's a great read!
June 6, 2007
This is a well-crafted book for serious fans of the Beatles. It chronicles what may have happened to the members of the band- and by extension, the world... had they not stuck to their guns during their first fateful sessions for Capitol Records.
Each of the band members and how they are portrayed is very realistic to each person's own tendencies- but most of this would be very lost on someone who just nods their head along to "Love Me Do" once in a while.
Each of the band members and how they are portrayed is very realistic to each person's own tendencies- but most of this would be very lost on someone who just nods their head along to "Love Me Do" once in a while.
May 17, 2017
A dark, twisted and humorous alternate history for Beatlephiles. Loved the Scouser patois!
September 15, 2018
The Beatles breaking up - sad. John Lennon dead - sad . A world without their music , influence ,their passion and tremendous change of the world if music - f#&@$ing depressing!!!! The book wasn't one of the best but still was ok. I read a world of no Beatles and I hate it. It was sad and made feel sadder as I was reaching at the end. Thank God they did what they did and gave the world their love and music. Ringo Star by the way Rules!!!!!!
March 7, 2020
A great look at what would have happened if the Beatles had never made it.
May 27, 2011
Where I come from, not back in the USSR but Liverpool, 'The Beatles' are part of the culture. It's very rare to find a Scouser (the nickname for someone from Liverpool) who doesn't love them as they're all viewed as "one of us" so to speak. So when I seen this offering by Larry Kirwan, who I knew as the lead singer of Irish rock band 'Black 47' and not as a paperback writer, I was quite surprised. It's the tale of what might have happened if 'The Beatles' had split up in 1962 only to come together and be reunited in 1987. Sounded good to me but did it have me screaming "Help!" or did it make me want to twist and shout in my living room? Well here's my review from me to you.
The novel starts off very strong with John Lennon's character standing out above the other members of the band. Even though the story centers around the Fab Four it's fair to say that Lennon is the main character in the novel. So the band has a disagreement with their management - I guess no-one had told them that all you need is love - and John, George and Ringo leave the studio never to come back. Paul McCartney stays and pursues a solo career becoming a mainstay in Las Vegas as showman Paul Montana. Meanwhile Lennon becomes a bitter recluse who's somewhat of a nowhere man and who can't find work, George Harrison becomes a priest, probably worshiping Lady Madonna although we're never told such, while Ringo lives off his wife who doesn't seem to care about that...must have been real love.
While the characters of The Beatles are essential to the novel it's the backdrop of the society they live in that drags this novel down. The National Front (white supremacists) are a major force in this version of England and while some stand aside and let it be others, like Lennon, want to oppose the fascism but are too afraid. When he does speak out he gets his ass kicked and so no-one in this very bleak society is portrayed as being as free as a bird. Bleak. That one word sums up this book and even at 310 pages it's far too long with the story drawn out way beyond what is needed. It was like travelling down the long and winding road for eight days a week and never really getting anywhere in the process. At times I wanted to be doing something else, to be anywhere else rather than reading this book...residing across the universe, relaxing in an octopus's garden in the shade, lounging in strawberry fields forever or shopping in Penny Lane (my dad lives there!) would have been preferable to sitting on my sofa reading a book that was boring me to sleep. Hell, I would rather have been with Lucy in the sky with diamonds!
I should have known better than to get my hopes up on a book I had never heard of until I accidentally stumbled across it online but the premise seemed good and I bought a ticket to ride so to speak and hoped that it would please, please me. When the book arrived it turned out to be a case of "here comes the sun" only, upon reading, to realize I had misinterpreted the weather, that the clouds were coming back, and all I got was rain. Oh well, I can't go back to yesterday so what's done is done and I'm actually glad to be done with this novel. I would be asking for a refund but I don't care too much for money as money can't buy me love.
The idea of the novel is worth a couple of points out of ten, and the characterization worth another, but it's not written particularly well and it reads like it's 1000 pages instead of just over 300. Even if you're a huge fan of 'The Beatles, like I am, I wouldn't recommend this book.
As a fun aside there are 27 Beatles song titles mentioned in this review. Can you name them all? If not, the answers are below.
Back in the USSR
Paperback Writer
Come Together
Help!
Twist and Shout
From Me to You
All You Need is Love
Nowhere Man
Lady Madonna
Real Love
Let it Be
Free as a Bird
The Long and Winding Road
Eight Days a Week
Something
Across the Universe
Octopus's Garden
Strawberry Fields Forever
Penny Lane
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Ticket to Ride
Please, Please Me
Here Comes the Sun
Rain
Yesterday
Can't buy Me Love
Day Tripper
The novel starts off very strong with John Lennon's character standing out above the other members of the band. Even though the story centers around the Fab Four it's fair to say that Lennon is the main character in the novel. So the band has a disagreement with their management - I guess no-one had told them that all you need is love - and John, George and Ringo leave the studio never to come back. Paul McCartney stays and pursues a solo career becoming a mainstay in Las Vegas as showman Paul Montana. Meanwhile Lennon becomes a bitter recluse who's somewhat of a nowhere man and who can't find work, George Harrison becomes a priest, probably worshiping Lady Madonna although we're never told such, while Ringo lives off his wife who doesn't seem to care about that...must have been real love.
While the characters of The Beatles are essential to the novel it's the backdrop of the society they live in that drags this novel down. The National Front (white supremacists) are a major force in this version of England and while some stand aside and let it be others, like Lennon, want to oppose the fascism but are too afraid. When he does speak out he gets his ass kicked and so no-one in this very bleak society is portrayed as being as free as a bird. Bleak. That one word sums up this book and even at 310 pages it's far too long with the story drawn out way beyond what is needed. It was like travelling down the long and winding road for eight days a week and never really getting anywhere in the process. At times I wanted to be doing something else, to be anywhere else rather than reading this book...residing across the universe, relaxing in an octopus's garden in the shade, lounging in strawberry fields forever or shopping in Penny Lane (my dad lives there!) would have been preferable to sitting on my sofa reading a book that was boring me to sleep. Hell, I would rather have been with Lucy in the sky with diamonds!
I should have known better than to get my hopes up on a book I had never heard of until I accidentally stumbled across it online but the premise seemed good and I bought a ticket to ride so to speak and hoped that it would please, please me. When the book arrived it turned out to be a case of "here comes the sun" only, upon reading, to realize I had misinterpreted the weather, that the clouds were coming back, and all I got was rain. Oh well, I can't go back to yesterday so what's done is done and I'm actually glad to be done with this novel. I would be asking for a refund but I don't care too much for money as money can't buy me love.
The idea of the novel is worth a couple of points out of ten, and the characterization worth another, but it's not written particularly well and it reads like it's 1000 pages instead of just over 300. Even if you're a huge fan of 'The Beatles, like I am, I wouldn't recommend this book.
As a fun aside there are 27 Beatles song titles mentioned in this review. Can you name them all? If not, the answers are below.
Back in the USSR
Paperback Writer
Come Together
Help!
Twist and Shout
From Me to You
All You Need is Love
Nowhere Man
Lady Madonna
Real Love
Let it Be
Free as a Bird
The Long and Winding Road
Eight Days a Week
Something
Across the Universe
Octopus's Garden
Strawberry Fields Forever
Penny Lane
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Ticket to Ride
Please, Please Me
Here Comes the Sun
Rain
Yesterday
Can't buy Me Love
Day Tripper
February 13, 2015
Let's start with this quote: "The point of [fictions] set in alternate universes are to show no matter what setting or circumstance, these [people] will always find each other. I will find you. Every me loves every you." (Lammii, you genius blabbermouth.)
Why is Paul a Vegas-bound Paul Montana, no matter how fame-hungry he's usually sketched? Why is Julian in a fascist party (though, sadly, John's alternative life here is imaginable)? Why is George a half-mad Jesuit priest instead of, say, a rishi? Why do most books about alternative England make her a fascist country by the '80s? Why is a Beatle-less England more convincing to be a fascist country? Not much a big fan of Thatcherism, no?
Well, point is, I have so many questions, and this is a what-if scenario I don't want. This is an AU that, though fascinating, I don't want. These caricatural characters? Nope. A world without The Beatles? Thanks but no thanks. In every universe I will find them, and their work will find me. Every me loves every Beatle.
Why is Paul a Vegas-bound Paul Montana, no matter how fame-hungry he's usually sketched? Why is Julian in a fascist party (though, sadly, John's alternative life here is imaginable)? Why is George a half-mad Jesuit priest instead of, say, a rishi? Why do most books about alternative England make her a fascist country by the '80s? Why is a Beatle-less England more convincing to be a fascist country? Not much a big fan of Thatcherism, no?
Well, point is, I have so many questions, and this is a what-if scenario I don't want. This is an AU that, though fascinating, I don't want. These caricatural characters? Nope. A world without The Beatles? Thanks but no thanks. In every universe I will find them, and their work will find me. Every me loves every Beatle.
August 12, 2012
This book is set in a world where the Beatles never formed....the opening scene as John sitting at the welfare office being told to the Falklands and raise sheep....Lennon fires off to the lady that she could go "bugger" the sheep....Ringo is married to Maureen who runs a string hairdressing shops and a chronic drunk....John was divorced from Cynthia and Julian is flirting with a neofascist party that controls Britain with a leader that appears to be a strange likeness David Bowie. George became a priest....and Paul goes on to be discovered and marries Nancy Sinatra and Vegased out. the Story evolves into a Beatles reunion of sorts. I would love to see this made into a film....the book was a riot...I would already cast Ewan McGregor as Lennon....Colin Farrell as McCartney...
August 17, 2008
Lennon-centered curiosity of fan fiction that begins with an alternative outcome of the Beatle's lives had they not become popular. The treatment of Harrison and Starr is the usual throwaway stuff - Harrison in particular is portrayed as a Catholic priest suffering after a nervous breakdown who is cured of his affliction after Lennon has him pick up the electric guitar once again. The book starts in an interesting way but the ending is wildly overwrought.
October 6, 2008
Not a "great" book but it definitely has its moments. I would only recommend it to those with a decent knowledge of the Beatles' history - otherwise you won't really get a lot of it. Or maybe fans of Black 47 since the lead singer wrote it.
March 24, 2023
"....Αλλά τον Τζορτζ δεν τον ένοιαζε, αυτόν το στόχο δεν θα τον διορθωναν ποτέ, και ίσως ήταν καλύτερα έτσι: θα έμενε σαν μνημείο μιας εποχής πιο αθώας, τότε που κάτι ήταν σωστό ακόμα κι όταν περιείχε πολλά λάθη...."
September 2, 2012
This book would have been better served had Larry cast the 'Stones'.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews