Welcome to Litsy!

Is the goal of a good biography to be objective? Is that even possible? Of course Norman wrote this after John‘s death, so he was dependent on interviews with people who knew him and his journals. Yoko refused to endorse this book because she said the author was “too mean” to John. Maybe that‘s true and he chose to slant it that way, or maybe based on some of John‘s actions, especially towards women, he was just trying to tell the truth. 🎶/5

The curious thing about the stubborn ne'er-do-well was that, away from the classroom and its hated compulsion, he was a bookworm whose taste in literature far outpaced Quarry Bank's English syllabus and who, left to his own devices, spent hours in the posture of the most conscientious student, reading, writing, or drawing.

#currentlyreading #nonfiction #nonfictionnerd #music

It was always obvious that John was just as bright or a good bit brighter than anyone else around. But right from the beginning it was obvious he'd made up his mind not to subscribe to the system in any way.

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Working Class Hero

John Lennon and Plastic Ono Band

As soon as you're born, they make you feel small
By giving you no time instead of it all
(cont'd in comments)

His choice of subjects could sometimes startle teachers accustomed to normal infant renditions of pussycats or "My Mummy." The notable example was a painting he once did of Jesus Christ -- a longhaired and bearded figure like a psychic vision of himself twenty years into the future.

??

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Uncle George had helped by sitting John on his knee each night and picking out the words in the Liverpool Echo--thus fostering what would become a lifelong addiction to newsprint.

⬆️ John Lennon's uncle helped him learn to read

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Yes, the future self-proclaimed working-class hero grew up in a house equipped with servants' bells.

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#allmyloving #anglophileapril
Asked my daughter to take a picture of the alumni board in school today of John (she said I bet it‘s got something to do with Litsy). Both my kids went to this school, obviously my daughter is still there! It‘s a cool piece of history ❤️

In December 1963 Walter Cronkite showed film of the Beatles playing music and that changed history. We'd just lost our President in November and this broke through the sadness. #december1963 #winterwonderland @TrishB

Something good to remember. Image via Pinterest. ✌️🌺✌️🌸

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#quotsyapril18 #chance

December 16: #jinglebells #favechristmassongs It‘s so hard to pick favorites, & I get stuck on different songs from year to year, but these are some that never get old for me. As you can tell, I have a tendency to stray toward the moody & melancholic. 🤫 #allthebooksdec #seasonsreadings #seasonsreadings17

Used to go to Strawberry Fields on this date , when I was in NYC.Always had thoughts of John , as I strolled past the Dakota.✌️Linda McCartney photo.

I am really a horrible combination of being a bookworm and an academic. So I have piles of books all over the house. I keep on adding space to my bookcrates (yes I made bookshelves out of crates) but my books also just keep on multiplying. #bookstacks #augustphotochallenge

Probably the definitive biography. Norman strikes a balance between his admiration for Lennon's talent and his awareness of his less attractive traits. Most of the story was familiar to me, having read countless books and articles on the Beatles, but Norman casts new light on several areas