Lennon Revealed

August 29, 2005
In this breezy collection of remembrances, journalist Kane (Ticket to Ride
) fondly—if a bit too reverentially—remembers his times with enigmatic Beatle John Lennon. In 1964, Kane, then a Canadian radio reporter, was assigned to follow the Beatles in America, beginning a relationship with Lennon that lasted throughout the musician's short life, and one that obviously engendered some real affection. In brisk, entertaining prose, Kane, with a supporting cast of many Beatles associates, assesses the many faces of Lennon from a journalistic yet intensely personal perch. "Was John Lennon a mean bastard? A foolish prankster? An aggressive sex fiend? A musical tyrant? A gay man?" The answers, Kane says, are as complex as Lennon himself. Kane shares his take on the man and the pivotal moments in his life, including Lennon's relationships with his bandmates and Yoko Ono, his involvement in the peace movement, and the infamous "lost weekend" and the Yoko-ordained affair with secretary May Pang. A final chapter of letters written by Lennon fans, however, feels tacked on. There are certainly better books on Lennon, but readers should enjoy Kane's personal, honest recollections. "My reporting of Lennon and his adult life will no doubt vary from others," Kane aptly notes, "but it is mine."

September 15, 2005
As the only American journalist who traveled with the Beatles on their first U.S. tour and someone who had contact with John Lennon over many years, Kane ("Ticket To Ride") has plenty of insight into the complexities of Lennon's work and personality. Here, he deals with the thorny issues that have fascinated many other writers -primarily, the allegations that Lennon had a homosexual encounter with Stuart Sutcliffe, the original Beatles bassist, and then gave Sutcliffe a beating that led to his death of a brain hemorrhage. Kane suggests that both allegations are true, backing up his conclusions via interviews with more than 70 individuals, including Yoko Ono, Lennon's friends, and experts on the former Beatle. The result is a seemingly fair and balanced account of just who the man was and what he was about. On the downside, there's not a whole lot of detail about Lennon's career. This hardcover book will come packaged with a DVD of Kane's 1968 interview with Lennon and Paul McCartney at the launch of the Beatles's ill-fated Apple Corps: a nice touch. Although Kane does not necessarily "reveal" anything that fans haven't already read, he does strike a nice balance between biographers who go overboard in praising Lennon and those who vilify him. Highly recommended for public libraries (though note the DVD); academic libraries with significant popular music/popular culture collections should also consider. [See also Bob Spitz's "The Beatles", reviewed on this page, and gird your loins for "Memories of John Lennon", coming in December. -Ed.] -James E. Perone, Mount Union Coll., Alliance, OH

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2005
Kane met John Lennon when he traveled with the Beatles on their American tours, which he chronicled in " Ticket to Ride" (2003). Now, 25 years after Lennon's murder, he offers an affectionate but clear-eyed look at the musician's life, based on his recollections and interviews with many of Lennon's friends and associates. Eschewing chronological treatment, Kane proceeds somewhat disjointedly, dividing the book into chapters on such aspects of Lennon as his significant relationships (including with second wife Yoko Ono and paramour May Pang), wild streak, peace activism, love for New York City, and relations with the other Beatles, particularly Paul McCartney. Perhaps because Kane is a reporter rather than a critic, he downplays Lennon the musician; otherwise, he reveals many facets of a complex figure. If the book ultimately doesn't constitute a definitive portrait, it demonstrates why expecting one is probably futile. Yoko Ono told Kane that Lennon "didn't want people to just adore him. He wanted people to know what he [was] made of." Kane's account hews to that wish.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)