I haven't read Shout! yet, but I really liked “John Lennon , the life” (in Finnish edition,though). Since I'm not a Beatles researcher, it's kind of hard for me to say what is true and what isn't, but the book was really entertaining, and the amount of work Norman has done for it must be enermous. I like how he let so many people speak their opinion, usually without dismissing some of them.

Though I must say, he seems to have something against Paul. This isn't exact quatation since I don't have the original version, but the meaning should stay the same: “John sent Ringo, who was known for his kind and easygoing personality, to speak to Paul about album release times. When he got there, Paul who had worked so hard to be the “nice guy” started shouting and kicked Ringo out. Ringo,however,didn't lose his good personality and–“. 

I liked the first childhood part, like many,and I didn't find the “mother lust” thing too absurd. He says that there is a record in which John makes his  famous boob statement, I don't know if it exists but seems likely it does. He had also interviewed that therapist who said John had repeatedly talked about his mother and also things related to that “incident”. You know… Julia wasn't really a mother figure for John, so I don't find it too strange if he developed some sexual feelings for her.

I think it's quite strange that people deny the “mccartney-lennon” thing so blatantly. And Norman really didn't overstate the thing. This book has over 700 hundred pages, and only one paragraph in the book is dealing with the issue. His “evidence”was quite hilarious though.Anyone knows if Yoko has repudiated the words that are put into her mouth? Because if they are true, Yoko was either overly jealous or John really wanted a gay relationship…What a word.

I have this feeling that Norman gets kicks when he is writing about gays since the book is flooding( I exaggerate a bit)with stuff related to homosexuality. I mean, most of it is just unnecessary for the subject.He just goes about Elton John… Again,not precise quote:”That night, John and Paul slept together in the same bed like innocent children.”    (whatever the word choice was). I mean, if everything was so innocent, why bother mentioning it?

All in all, I think the book was very good and I prefer his version to Kane's bio. I think Kane's  bio was the mean one. About how the beatles were “fooling around” with school girls and he thinks it's very probable that Lennon killed his best friend…(not meaning to, though). I do think Norman's personal opinions are at time pretty outlandish but at least they make me crack up-and he makes clear that they aren't the ultimal truth.

Went overboard again…