Lennon in America: 1971-1980 Based on the Lost Lennon Diaries: Amazon.ca: Geoffrey Giuliano: Books

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From Publishers Weekly

In an attempt to build the most "human" Lennon composite--libidinous, possibly bisexual, drug-addled, self-loathing and Yoko-controlled--Giuliano (Glass Onion, Two of Us, etc.) spent 16 years interviewing Beatles insiders, listening to rare audiotapes, amassing Lennon's personal correspondence and examining his much-talked-about unpublished diaries, of which Giuliano obtained a copy in 1983. "Can you imagine," the longtime Beatles biographer gasps in his introduction, "what it feels like to hold in your hand a document you know has the power to change the course of Beatles history completely and forever?" After trumpeting a publishing revolution, he then warns readers that they "will not find in this book the voice of John Lennon as quoted from his diaries." Nor will they find paraphrases, because Lennon's entries "were often incomplete thoughts and snippets--the exact meaning of which is difficult to discern." If Giuliano's own double-talk isn't enough to diminish this work's credibility, his endless, voyeuristic descriptions of Lennon's sexual encounters are. Giuliano believes that Lennon's mother, Julia, who allegedly placed her son's hand on her breast when he was 14 years old, is to blame for his hero's idiosyncrasies. At first Giuliano's intentions to give Lennon admirers "some truth" seem earnest, but in the end it seems that he seeks only to shock. "It's very unhealthy to live through anybody," Lennon said after Elvis's death, but Giuliano keeps trying to worm his way into Lennon's soul in this crude, predictable exhumation. 70 b&w photos not seen by PW. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

A bit like Albert Goldman!s The Lives of John Lennon through a soft-focus lens, this book ( based in part on the lost Lennon diaries ) looks at the artist!s life during the 1970s, examining his paranoia and exposing myths about the nature of his character. Giuliano, renowned for his biographical work on the Beatles, is clearly sympathetic toward the smart Beatle and, to paraphrase a song by the subject, simply wants to give us some truth. Beatle fanatics will be fascinated by the minutiae within, including the truth behind political prisoner John Sinclair and the details of Apple!s dissolution. In fact, the book occupies itself with everything from Lennon!s masturbatory habits to his recurring religious awakenings. Non-fans will be put off by this image of Lennon as cad, drug addict, and paranoiac; this often sensationalized account is for voyeurs and fans with deconstructive tendencies and is one of the best, most detailed books available on this subject. [For another revealing account of Lennon, see also Robert Rosen!s Nowhere Man, LJ 5/1/00."Ed.]"Colin Carlson, New Yor.
-"Colin Carlson, New York
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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65 Reviews

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2.8 out of 5 stars (65 customer reviews)

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1.0 out of 5 stars Playing Mindgames, Jan 16 2002

By

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Lennon in America: 1971-1980 Based on the Lost Lennon Diaries (Hardcover)

This book is certainly not loved among the Beatle literati. It is interesting that Geoffrey Guiliano has managed to have each work he has submitted about the Beatles published.

I think this book was poorly written and riddled with inaccuracies. My chief complaint about it is that Mr. Guiliano appears to have an axe to grind where each Beatle is concerned. This book is little more than tabloid journalism and a thinly veiled excuse to smear Yoko Ono. What this author fails to realize is that Yoko also served as John's inspiration and who was a very strong and nurturing influence in his life.

I think most people are savvy enough not to waste their money on this book. It is really the subject matter (John Lennon and John Lennon with the Beatles) that lures in readers. I read this at the library and only wasted my time and not my money.

It appears that one purpose of this book was to compete with the Beatles' own "Anthology," which is truly a treasure and a delight. How this author can purport to compete with the Beatles themselves and serve as their voice is questionable.

Skip this book. Instead of having this kind of tabloidesque work play mind games with you, read something of substance like Ray Coleman's biography of John Lennon, the Beatles' own "Anthology" and Fenton Bresler's "Who Killed John Lennon" instead. Coleman and Bresler give good, objective and well researched accounts without relying on hearsay, e.g. "someone told me," or "this person told that person who told another person" format. This work by Guiliano is certainly not for the Beatle literati.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Check your love for John & his music, this is a bumpy ride., Dec 14 2001

By

JOHN GODFREY (Milwaukee ,WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Lennon in America: 1971-1980 Based on the Lost Lennon Diaries (Hardcover)

Geoffrey Giuliano is a sycophant,the same type of toady that hung around John, Yoko & Sean & for which he has so much disdain. He has ingratiated himself to Yoko & Sean with pictures of them together in his book. I'll bet those pictures were taken before Yoko read this book. This is vicious book & not from one who admired or loved them. It is a book by a creature that stabs his dead victim once again in the back & twists the knife. John can't defend himself & everybody hates Yoko anyway. So there you are. He has a book to sell. Lennon had many demons. So does Giuliano. He has gone to the Beatles well too many times.

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1.0 out of 5 stars Badly Researched, Barely Credible, Save Your Money, Jun 29 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Lennon in America: 1971-1980 Based on the Lost Lennon Diaries (Hardcover)

After reading this book, I just have to say that the author really did a pathetic job of researching and attribution. How bad? Well, bad enough that the entire credibility of this book comes into question. Example: He speaks of Lennon's sour relationship with his father, particularly after an incident at the Magical Mystery Tour Premeire Party, where his father showed up drunk dressed as a garbage man in 1968. Then he goes on to say this incident was forgiven by John in 1964. This is one of the many inconsistencies. Mr. Giuliano, just how many favorite cats did John Lennon have -- my last count was about 7 until I gave up. Let's not even mention the reference to John's obsession with Madonna, who's first album came out in 1982, 2 full years after Lennon's death. Considering source material was the alleged Diaries of John Lennon, which of course are not reproduced in this work, one would hope to have gotten an insight into Lennon's last years. Instead, it is filled with innuendo, the predictable Yoko-bashing, and useless bits of information. Save your money on this one. For fans of John Lennon, best to just remember the artist as you like, not how Giuliano or Goldman or Seaman or Mintz or the slew of other sycophants who continue to feed on the corpse of this man.

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Most recent customer reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars WHAT A BUNCH OF LIES!
This book which claims to be based on the "lost lennon diaries" which it odviously is not is about 10% truth. Read more

Published on Mar 23 2004 by jessiecuccione

1.0 out of 5 stars [Weak]
Having only recently become interested in John Lennon's music, ... It was a very poor introduction to the artist. Read more

Published on Aug 1 2003 by Christopher Pope