Imagine

Module 7
Partridge, E. (2005). John Lennon: All I want is the truth. New York: Viking.

A carefully documented biography of John Lennon with photographs throughout. Elizabeth Partridge portrays Lennon as the complex human being he was, including the hard facts about some of his choices and the way his life and then death impacted so many millions of people. The book discusses the relationship with Yoko Ono and the powerful effect each had on the other. Most of the information was taken from John’s own writings and interviews, so much of the speculation and false rumors were put to rest. The photos add a dimension of reality and depth.

My View:
At the bakery we played a LOT of Beatles. I kneaded bread to the strains of the White Album, scooped scones to Abbey Road, and cut off slabs of warm slices while bouncing to Yellow Submarine. So in my mind, the atmosphere that is set as soon as I hear those familiar voices includes the hint of yeast in the air and a sense of both gemutlichkeit and a bit of tension. The bakery was difficult but good, and it was the entity around which our lives revolved for some years. Similarly, the Beatles’ history was patchy in places, especially John Lennon’s life and role, but the group was at the center of many people’s lives for many years. They set the tone for an entire generation. I liked learning more of John’s story so I could see motivations that seemed irrational or at least confusing at the time. Maybe knowing that there were reasons behind those actions gives hope that there were also reasons behind some of the choices WE made. Life is always getting better, so much better all the time.


“There are many Beatle books on the market, but this photographic biography by Elizabeth Partridge is one of the best for pleasure reading and research reports. . . . The quantity of large black and white pictures of the Beatles make this book a collector’s item.”
Johnson, S. S. (2008) John Lennon: All I want is the truth. Florida Media Quarterly 33(4), 19.



Ideas for the library: We’re more than ready for another Music in the Library event. This time, why not highlight the Beatles! We have many books and other library materials about the Beatles, so I’ll have a display right by the circulation desk with these enticingly arranged for folks to take. And of course, there must be music! I’d like it right INSIDE the library like we do for classical concerts, but if the staff is worried, we can easily move it outside to Library Park or beside the Peace Statue. Hmmm. Wouldn’t September in the Rain be a nice time for an indoor concert?