Ray Connolly - 'Being John Lennon: A Restless Life'

Ray Connolly's second crack at writing a biography is, in my opinion, certainly better than his first. Whilst 2016's 'Being Elvis', (the review for which is linked) seemed to be about a man who Connolly had only met on two or three occasions, 'Being John Lennon' was full of personal stories and memories, and I found it much nicer to read knowing that it had come from somebody who seemed as close to Lennon as any journalist would have been able to get. 

There are constant references and tie-ins to meetings and days long gone past, and also to the work of other authors - Cynthia Lennon's book, 'John' is quoted several times - Connolly's work here seems more like a collaboration with other authors than a book written just by himself. I like the thought of him collaborating with others to write this book because it seems more likely to be factual if more people - and their published works - have had input in it.

But what I also liked about this biography was that it didn't just follow John's life, though that was the main path that it took. Instead, throughout, it touched on the lives of school friend Pete Shotton, Aunt Mimi, and fellow Beatles'. In one book, Connolly has touched on everybody, and, as in 'Being Elvis', includes a chapter at the end which tells of what happens to the important figures in the subject's life after they died.

Another feature which I liked and thought worked particularly well was that each chapter has a quote as its title, and that chapter focuses on the context of that quote. It really gives the book focus and somewhere to centre itself, and it works amazingly.

I hope that Connolly brings out another book soon, because he has left me gasping for more. Connolly is a talented writer, and I can't wait to read more from him.