John Lennon : all I want is the truth : a photographic biography

Resource Information

The work John Lennon : all I want is the truth : a photographic biography represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in City Libraries, City of Gold Coast. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

This resource has been enriched with EBSCO NoveList data.

Label

John Lennon : all I want is the truth : a photographic biography

Title remainder

all I want is the truth : a photographic biography

Statement of responsibility

by Elizabeth Partridge

Title variation

All I want is the truth

Creator

• truePartridge, Elizabeth

Subject

• trueCreativity in men
• trueDrug use
• trueFame
• Lennon, John, 1940-1980
• trueMusicians -- England -- Biography
• trueRock musicians -- England -- Biography
• trueSexuality
• Biographies
• trueSongwriters -- England -- Biography
• trueSingers -- England -- Biography

Genre

• trueBiography

Language

eng

Award

• Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth, 2005
• YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2006
• YALSA Outstanding Book for the College Bound, 2009.
• School Library Journal Best Books, 2005.

Review

• Gr 9 Up –Partridge cuts through the mythology and misinformation surrounding the life of the legendary singer/songwriter and goes a long way toward revealing the complexities of his personality. She relies heavily on Lennon's own writings and the wealth of interviews he granted during his lifetime. What emerges is an unflinchingly honest portrait of a troubled, angry, and highly creative individual who was captivated by rock 'n' roll and often used it as a means of expressing his unhappiness and confusion. Partridge skillfully captures the amazing speed at which the Beatles were swept into astonishing popularity that led to an unrelenting schedule of touring, songwriting, and recording that slowed down only when touring became both too grueling and too dangerous. She doesn't shy away from the sordid details of the band's mercurial rise to fame and fortune but her nonjudgmental commentary focuses first and foremost on the music. Lennon's life after the dissolution of the Beatles is explored in depth, as are Yoko Ono's influence and the worldwide impact of his death. With an abundance of gorgeous black-and-white photos, some of them full-page or even spreads, this handsome book will be eagerly received by both Beatles fans, who are legion, and their elders, who will enjoy reliving the glory days of the Fab Four and exploring the inner workings of a creative talent.–Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CA --Ginny Gustin (Reviewed October 1, 2005) (School Library Journal, vol 51, issue 10, p192)
• /* Starred Review */ As she did for Woody Guthrie in This Land Was Made for You and Me , Partridge here presents a captivating portrait of a legendary musician, tracing Lennon's life from his birth in 1940 during a German air raid on Liverpool to his murder in Manhattan 40 years later. This well-researched photobiography (with 140-plus photos) includes copious quotations from Lennon and his colleagues, ranging from eloquent to profane; paired with Partridge's crisp reporting, the quotes offer a spontaneous and incisive look at Lennon's life. At times, the narrative suggests a level of intimacy that readers might question (e.g., when Cynthia, who would become John's first wife, tells him she is pregnant: "She watched, her heart pounding in her chest, as he looked at her, speechless"), but the well-known milestones are documented in detail. Ages 12-up. (Oct.) --Staff (Reviewed October 17, 2005) (Publishers Weekly, vol 252, issue 41, p51)
• /* Starred Review */ "The guitar's all very well, John, but you'll never make a living out of it." Despite his aunt's admonition, learning to make a living out of his guitar was the theme of John Lennon's life, and Partridge does a masterful job of placing Lennon's music in the context of his times—the influences of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard, as well as the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War and Watergate. Lennon comes across as a brilliant, self-centered, self-destructive figure caught up in a pop culture world that reflected and exaggerated his own worst tendencies. Given the massive amount written about the Beatles, separating the man from the myth is a huge challenge, superbly accomplished here, with great attention to documentation. Source notes let readers into the process of writing nonfiction, and the bibliography is excellent. Photographs and other primary source material help to create an honest, multidimensional portrait of the artist. Strong language, partying, sex and drugs were a big part of John's life, and their portrayal makes this a work for older readers, who will find it fascinating. (afterword, discography, index) (Nonfiction. YA) (Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2005)

Biography type

individual biography

Cataloging source

DLC

Dewey number

781.66092

Index

index present

LC call number

ML3930.L34

LC item number

P37 2005

Literary form

non fiction

http://library.link/vocab/ext/novelist/minGradeLevel

• 4
• 6

Nature of contents

bibliography

Target audience

adolescent