John by Cynthia Lennon

Perspectives change with time. She might be able to relive her life with John from a different angle now that the emotions are removed. Sometimes having distance is having perspective, and this understanding comes with age. And everyone wants a piece of the Beatle pie...why not her? She probably needs the money, since she didn’t inherit John’s fortune. She doesn't need to justify a thing. Life with John couldn’t have been very happy. She was the "big secret," and under the carpet for years. It couldn't have been easy... don't forget how she missed the train...shoved out of the way and left on the platform when they all went off to meet their Guru.

I got this in email from Lennon.net...also I can't wait to see the pictures! But I'm going to buy it from the store, instead of ordering it. Sure it would be cool to have Cynthia's signature but I think it will be cheaper for me to get it in the store, plus on my birthday too
*************************************
Cynthia Lennon’s book, “John”, is now available through www.lennon.net.
This is your ONLY chance to buy a copy, of what promises to be the
biography of the season, personally signed by Cynthia. Cynthia’s book is
the definitive and most intimate portrait of John Lennon yet,
complemented
by dozens of never before seen family photographs and, uniquely, a
Foreword to the book written by Julian Lennon. With only 500 signed
books
available pre-order now to avoid disappointment. “John” is published on
25
September 2005 and orders will be dispatched on and from that day.

Order here >> http://www.lennon.net/Lennon/autobiography.htm

I think it will be interesting to see what Cyn has to say after all the years. I met her some 20 odd years ago at a book saying with Ray Coleman. She was very nice. Many author's don't feel right telling nasty stories while the people they're writing about are still alive, so I don't fault Cynthia for waiting. I'm interesting in her "first hand, Beatle years" stories, more than anything else.

I was curious about the "only 500 copies" thing. Then I noticed that it always mentioned "500" and "signed" in the same sentence. Logically, it would make no sense for Cynthia to only publish 500 copies of a book, only to sell it for roughly $30...not when so many Beatles/Lennon fans would want a copy.

I checked amazon.com, and they will have it in September for around $18. Unsigned, of course. :)

-lennon4

I read it as the first 500 copies will be signed and then afterwards you'll just get a unsigned copy? £20 is quite cheap though.

Originally Posted by ringo_rama

Same here. Of course, I've been known to be quite cynical before so I guess that shouldn't surprise anyone.

Come now, let's not be Cyn -ical!

Originally Posted by ringo_rama

The whole situation reminds me of Alistair Taylor, who in 1988 wrote a book that fawned over the Beatles, nothing but positive things to say. Then, in 2001, he wrote a second book that lashed out on them simply because he was angry that his name was not mentioned in the Anthology book. Sure, it's interesting to read all the dirty details, but I lost a lot of respect for Alistair with that--it seemed very petty to change his tune after all those years.

As for Cynthia, it seems to be very gossipy. There's no reason to kiss and tell, especially if she was too much of a coward to do it when he was alive. Now there's nobody out there who can rebuke any false accusations she may make.

I also think it's wrong for her author credit to be "Cynthia Lennon." They divorced in 1968. She's been married God knows how many times since then and she has little to no insight on the last ten years of John's life.

Yes, she was there, and she does have exclusive stories, but no matter how much she insists that she's doing this book for John or for the fans, all I'm hearing is "cha-ching."

Hmmm... hafta disagree with you. I've read Al's book, and he's honest about being screwed over once Allen Klein came in, but his love for the boys is overabundantly obvious. He had a right to be ticked off, but he really wasn't. Or at least, he doesn't come across as such.

And as for Cyn, she really has every right on earth to kiss and tell. John treately her very badly, and she was there from the beginning. She has a story to tell, and every right to tell it.

And she's always gone by Cynthia Lennon, ever since the day she married him. Sometimes people just retain those names. I have an aunt whose kept my uncle's last name, even though they divorced over twenty years ago. It's her prerogative if she wants to do that.

And lastly, it's Cyn. I'm convinced she loves John to this day, so how nasty do you really think it's gonna be? Will she be honest and straigtforward? Probably. Will it be nasty and gossipy? Very doubtful.

Originally Posted by Lynner

I'm interesting in her "first hand, Beatle years" stories, more than anything else.

Me too- I figure it will be interesting reading, whatever the tone or 'spin' of the writing. I've read a lot of Beatle books that touch on the same incidents, so a few new stories would be welcome.

Cynthia has had Bassanini, Twist, and maybe Charles as her last name but she's more known as Cynthia Lennon- that's how we all know her. If she went as Cynthia Charles, we would be like "Who?"

My grandmother has also kept her ex-husband's (my grandfather) last name as her last name, they've been divorced for 25 years and they don't talk AT ALL, well except for maybe one or two occasions if it's absolutely necessary... anyway, she says that she kept it for her children- who at the time were teenagers. Now her children are well over 40 and her married name is still her last name.

Now that I'm thinking more clearly about it, there's a possibility that Cynthia has maintain Lennon in her name for Julian's sake.

Originally Posted by erinluv182

And lastly, it's Cyn. I'm convinced she loves John to this day, so how nasty do you really think it's gonna be? Will she be honest and straigtforward? Probably. Will it be nasty and gossipy? Very doubtful.

Really good point. Cynthia saw a lot over the years. Yes, there may be some stories that don't necessarily portray John in the best light, but I'm sure that won't be the majority of the book, or the message she's trying to get across. Even after the divorce and all they went through near the end, I don't think Cyn is still bitter about John. I imagine there'll be a number of sweet and funny stories in there, as well, that she still remembers very well after all these years.

I have mixed feelings about Cynthia putting out this book. I mean, we're all familiar of their history and subsequent end of their dysfunctional relationship. Anything more than that should be kept to herself. God forbid Patti Boyd should publish her memoirs about her marriage to George. After all, she was a "first wife" as well. Still, I don't see that ever happening simply because Patti has enough class to not air her dirty laundry publicly. Yes, we as fans would like to know as much as we can about the Beatles but do we really need to know that much? I believe some things should remain private. Particaulary since John isn't around to defend himself. JMO.

Only a couple more weeks!

Here's an article about the book- well not really, but it was taken from it about when John hit her after dancing with Stuart (!). I posted the link at the bottom of the article
************************************************** **********
The Sunday Times - Britain

September 11, 2005

Lennon’s wife reveals his ‘fight or flight’ tactic
Richard Brooks, Arts Editor



JOHN LENNON’S first wife is challenging the “peace and love” image of the rock’n’roll legend by revealing him as a violent and unstable teenage bully who hit her for dancing with his best friend but was scared of physical confrontation.
Cynthia Lennon, who met him when they were teenage art students in Liverpool, also demolishes the account that biographers have given of his childhood — by revealing what he told her about it.



His Aunt Mimi, with whom he lived as a boy, emerges as a cold and rigid monster who left him psychologically flawed. “He told me that as a little boy he often dreamt of running away from Mimi to his mother.”

Cynthia married Lennon in 1962 and had a son, Julian, but they split up in 1968 after he met Yoko Ono, who became his second wife. She makes her charges in a new book, John, which is serialised today in News Review.

She describes the young Lennon as “a demanding lover who insisted that I put him before everything else”.

She continues: “I discovered that John’s temper could be frightening. He wanted proof, daily, that he mattered most to me. All sense of reason disappeared and his tantrums could be awesome.”

On one occasion he “went mad” after she danced with his close friend Stuart Sutcliffe. “Before I could speak, he raised his arm and hit me across the face, knocking my head into the pipes that ran down the wall behind me. Without a word, he walked away, leaving me dazed, shaky and with a sore head.

“I could put up with his outbursts, the jealousy and possessiveness but not the violence.”

He always backed off if anyone was aggressive towards him, however. He once fled in tears when his aunt and Cynthia’s mother had a row. Cynthia ascribes his behaviour to his upbringing.

In 1944, at the age of five, he was removed by his aunt from the care of his mother, who had been abandoned by her husband, had had an illegitimate baby as a result of a wartime affair, and was living with another man.

“He was taken away from his mother and brought up in a cold, austere home with little affection or comfort,” Cynthia writes.

Mimi — who died in 1991, 11 years after Lennon was murdered — “battered away at John’s self-confidence and left him angry and hurt. She constantly hounded and oppressed him”.

Cynthia rehabilitates Lennon’s mother, Julia, as a stable, loving parent who initially thwarted Mimi’s attempts to take him from her but was forced to do so after Mimi reported her to social services. She was killed when he was 16.

The book also deals with the breakdown of their marriage, which Cynthia ascribes to his drug-taking rather than his frequent infidelities.

In a foreword, their son Julian writes: “Dad was a great talent, a remarkable man who stood for peace and love in the world. But at the same time he found it very hard to show any peace and love to his first family, my mother and me.

“To me he wasn’t a musician or a peace icon; he was the father I loved and who let me down in so many ways.”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...774387,00.html

I'm begining to agree that all these review articles are slanting to the negative because it sells books. Would like to see some good things too if for no other reason than the sake of balance (darn good reason I think!)

I've read the other related thread in Menlove Avenue too about this book and decided to post here because as one linker stated in the thread over there...
"Why is the thread about the same topic (Cynthia's book) in Paperback Writer only two pages while this one is SIX!"
She makes a good point so I'm commenting in this one!

I think Cynthia can only write what every other person who had relations with John can -HER perception. And like any text of perception the readers of her book (of which I will be one) must take it all into consideration with all the other books written by friends and lovers (or just business associates- lol). If your looking for the gospel truth then I'd say you've mixed up this band with religion.

Got the book!
Slightly disappointed on the pictures- I was expecting a lot of family photos that are never before seen- I've seen some of them before; but I have to admit, the ones that I never seen are really nice, especially a color photo of John and Julian in 1965 wearing glasses.
As for the book itself- I wouldn't say that it's a repeat of A Twist of Lennon, there's certainly the same events that she has recorded but this time around, there's a lot more detail.

Good book- will be one of my constant companions to take with me wherever required and by the bed to read at night.

As GGirl said, perspectives change over time and with added wisdom.

I am looking forward to reading it -- as of now, I will reserve judgment until I do.

Originally Posted by ringo_rama

I also think it's wrong for her author credit to be "Cynthia Lennon." They divorced in 1968. She's been married God knows how many times since then and she has little to no insight on the last ten years of John's life.

Yes, she was there, and she does have exclusive stories, but no matter how much she insists that she's doing this book for John or for the fans, all I'm hearing is "cha-ching."

I'm with you on the above.

Originally Posted by EnchantingLennon

Got the book!
Slightly disappointed on the pictures- I was expecting a lot of family photos that are never before seen- I've seen some of them before; but I have to admit, the ones that I never seen are really nice, especially a color photo of John and Julian in 1965 wearing glasses.
As for the book itself- I wouldn't say that it's a repeat of A Twist of Lennon, there's certainly the same events that she has recorded but this time around, there's a lot more detail.

Good book- will be one of my constant companions to take with me wherever required and by the bed to read at night.

Another nice picture that Im not sre if it has been published before or not , is one of John and Cyn and two other friends on top of a car in 1959. I haven't seen too many color pics from this period, so its a really nice one.

Now I really want to read that book! I am sure it is replete with information that had been previously undisclosed. My interest has been piqued for sure.

Originally Posted by Pepperland Kamer

Another nice picture that Im not sre if it has been published before or not , is one of John and Cyn and two other friends on top of a car in 1959. I haven't seen too many color pics from this period, so its a really nice one.

Oh yeah...I saw that particular photo in Liverpool, in one of the many beatle stores, actually it was made into a poster, so I bought it, so I'm so glad I did, cuz since I've been back there, that don't have that poster in print anymore, it's just on display, and people are always asking if they have anymore, and well...they have to politely answer back NO...so I was delighted to see it in her book!

Donna~

I like it sooo far, yeah alot of the stuff she wrote in "ATOL", is repeated but in MORE DETAILS!!!