Rating: 
Summary: Complete
Review: Ray Coleman's book addresses many of the rumors that swirled around John Lennon, and brings out personal information from the best possible sources. I agree that the organization of the book favors readers with a good amount of prerequisite knowledge because it does jump back and forth in time. The book successfully forms a picture of John's forty years of life.
Rating:
Summary: The life of a complexed man in a clear way
Review: This book may seem to be dull as it doesn't have much photos and it's incredibly long,but then again,no one has ever written a book this good about the genious we all love!This book is recommentable only for true fans!For them this is a journey to saddness,anger,joy,happiness and love.John Lennon will shine on forever.And so will this book!
Rating: 
Summary: A generally good job
Review: This is a fairly good biography. The writing could be a little more involving (you can tell the writer got his start in journalism). And I was quite surprised how little Ringo is mentioned in this quite long book (only a few pages here and there). It has been said that Ringo was closest to John in the group. And I am interested in the group dynamic. I am a Beatles fan first, before being a Lennon fan. And some of John's rough spots are glossed over. Since AND THE LOVE YOU MAKE revealed that John had a little semi-gay affair with Brian in Spain, where they vacationed while Cynthia Lennon was dealing with the newborn Julian, this book tries to go to much effort to disprove John's gay impulses. Well, I don't think John had real gay impulses. He saw that Brian was in love with him, and, as an artist, probably thought he'd give it a brief try with him. John in his PLAYBOY interview said, "[In Spain with Brian] I was thinking like a writer all the time: `I am experiencing this'...It was almost a love affair [with Brian]. But it was never consummated." (John told his childhood friend Pete Shotton that Brian merely masturbated John, which wouldn't qualify as consummation). And in his interview with Jann Wenner, John said, "[with Brian] I enjoyed playing a bit faggy. It was enjoyable. But in those very large rooms in Liverpool, it was very embarassing." So there is John himself suggesting that his relationship with Brian bordered on the "romantic" (even though it doesn't quite qualify.) This biography should have mentioned this aspect of John and Brian, instead of trying so hard and obviously to deny it. And later, when John is separated from Yoko in the 70's, and Cynthia happens to be in L.A., and she and John, with others, go to Disneyland together, John never says a word to Cynthia, and won't let her say a word to him. She just wants to talk about their son Julian. And when they fly on the same plane later, he still won't talk to her, and she cries to herself during the flight. Coleman let's John off the hook here for his very insensitive behavior; that it was acceptable since John was going through problems being separated from Yoko. So what! John's treatment of Cynthia here is mean, especially for a man who preached peace and love. And John was furious at his own father for being a lousy father, but then John turns around and was less than a wonderful father for Julian. I admire John Lennon, and know he was far from all bad, and was mostly good. But this book goes too far to paint him as all-around wonderful!! And he wasn't that either. A very good bit of the book is seeing John's love letters to Cynthia Lennon before and when they were married. There is a belief that John didn't ever love Cynthia, and only married her because she got pregnant. But the love letters Cynthia provided the author show that John did in fact love Cynthia very much at one time (and let her know it in these letters). These letters show the warm and loving side of John, and it is nice to see it.
Rating:
Summary: The best and most revealing book on Lennon's life
Review: This is an excellent book, I learned much about one of the greatest musicians of the 20th Century. Full of what influenced him, what made hime big, and the rest of his life. Coleman did an excellentjob and this book was an easy to read and exciting book. Very enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: COME TOGETHER AND READ THIS BOOK!
Review: This is an outstanding biography of the man who came to be known as the Chief Beatle and the Founder of the World's Greatest Band, the Beatles!Coleman does an in-depth analysis of the former Beatle and traces his ancestry. One comes away with a "sense" of John, the natural and environmental forces that molded and shaped this highly gifted and articulate man. One can smile at the bright, high-spirited child who reached developmental milestones early and was also an early reader; one can smile at the artistic boy who created complex drawings at a very young age; one cheers for the talented young boy who proved to be quite adept at things musical. Coleman does an admirable job of portraying John's natural parents, half-sisters and the indomitable aunt who raised him in realistic lights; one gets a good sense of how each one of these people influenced John and how his life experiences were expressed by his early experiences. In a very touching description of John reconnecting with his natural father, one feels John's anguish at having been promised a life with him and denied; one feels John's devastating maternal loss when his natural mother Julia is killed in an accident when John was in his teens. John takes those experiences and fleshes them out musically; his songs "Mother" and "Julia" are songs that come straight from his early loss. His interpersonal relationships with the other Beatles, his first wife Cynthia and their son Julian and his second wife Yoko and their son Sean are fully examined in this work. John describes the "strong women" in his immediate family and how he drew strength from their examples. This book makes readers feel as if they are seeing John emerge from his own "Hard Day's Night" to "Starting Over," which appeared to be where he was in his life during his last five years. Sadly, on December 8, 1980 an assassin's bullet silenced the voice of the man who got the world to listen. This is a must read for all John Lennon fans and for people becoming familiar with his work. Please listen to John Lennon.
Rating:
Summary: The best bio on Lennon
Review: This is probably the best bio you can get on Lennon. It has lots of details, is very well written and never boring. If you're looking for a bio that rocks, this is it!
Rating:
Summary: Not for beginners
Review: This is the most in-depth of all John Lennon biographies, but I wouldn't recommend it to casual or new fans. Ray Coleman's non-linear analysis of the ex-Beatle's life, constantly flashing back and forward to illustrate an angle or exhaust a topic, can only be appreciated if you're already familiar with the basic story. Since no other good Lennon biographies are currently available ("The Ballad of John and Yoko", by the editors of Rolling Stone, would be a good start, but it's out of print) you can either begin with a Beatles biography (The Beatles' own "Anthology", Phillip Norman's "Shout" or Hunter Davies' "The Beatles") or you can research about John Lennon on the Internet and other sources. THEN, if decide you want to go really deep into the subject, you'll find all you need in Ray Coleman's book. On the other hand, if you're a long-time Lennon fanatic, this book is a must.
Rating:
Summary: The best book about John Lennon ever.
Review: When i first ordered this book, I had great expentations.And it is a great book about John Lennon. It tells everything about John Lennon, from the start to the end. As I started to read, it got more and more interesting.It has details and interwievs with peoble you didn't know exsisted. And when I got to the end, I started to cry.I couldn't help it. So read this book, it is a must for every Lennon Fan.
Rating:
Summary: The best book about John Lennon ever.
Review: When i first ordered this book, I had great expentations.And it is a great book about John Lennon. It tells everything about John Lennon, from the start to the end. As I started to read, it got more and more interesting.It has details and interwievs with peoble you didn't know exsisted. And when I got to the end, I started to cry.I couldn't help it. So read this book, it is a must for every Lennon Fan.
Rating:
Summary: Valuable
Review: While thoroughly worthwhile, I hesitate to call this the "definitive" biography. Coleman tells the Lennon story from his perspective as a British journalist and former acquaintance of John Lennon. As such he is in touch with many valuable sources, and not with others. Perhaps this books should be read in tandem with Albert Goldman's negatively sensational but well-researched biography. The truth may then emerge, for it probably lies somewhere in the middle.
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