jude
And That's A Start
Posts: 6
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Post by jude on Apr 14, 2008 7:15:22 GMT
Just published and on the market...the only researched historical novel on the life of John Lennon. Entitled Shoulda Been There, it was documented for 20 years with 7 trips to Liverpool to interview John's relatives, childhood friends, college mates, early band members and business associates.
Althought written as a novel, each chapters is footnoted and contains informational end notes that discuss the discrepancies of non-fiction accounts. The book also has a Scouse glossary and an encyclopedia of historical charaters with short bios of each.
John's story is told as if you are there...as Bill Harry put it, the reader becomes "a fly on the wall" at all events in John's life.
For more info, go to ontherockbooks.com and check the review on daytrippin.com. Free shipping from April 15-May 15.
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Post by The End on Apr 14, 2008 11:22:46 GMT
Welcome to the forum Jude! I assume you are the author of this book Sounds like a hell of a lot of research has gone into Shoulda Been There! Did you hear any myth-busting revelations on your travels?
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Geoff
I'll Be On My Way
Show Me That I'm Everywhere And Get Me Home For Tea
Posts: 135
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Post by Geoff on Apr 14, 2008 15:54:49 GMT
Not available from Amazon...?
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Post by The End on Apr 14, 2008 16:00:06 GMT
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Heikki
And That's A Start
Posts: 11
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Post by Heikki on Apr 14, 2008 20:19:29 GMT
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jude
And That's A Start
Posts: 6
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Post by jude on Apr 15, 2008 8:12:49 GMT
Hi!! Yes, I am the author. You know, it was a LOT of research, but it was tremendous fun as well! Getting to meet Bob Wooler, Allan Williams, Beryl Adams, Lord Woodbine, Rod Murray, June Furlong, Charlie Lennon...who wouldn't love every minute of that? I was so fortunate to be invited to the premiere of "Backbeat" and to see The Casbah when it was still closed and in disrepair. I had an unbelievable time doing the research. And I fell even more in love with Liverpool than I am with The Beatles. You're only right ...I did "unearth" quite a few myths in the process of digging for the facts. I think most people by now have heard that Mimi Smith didn't run in a bombing raid to see John on the night that he was born (there were no bombs dropped on Liverpool that evening...only a small skirmish over Aigburth and Garston). When I combed the war records and discovered that tidbit about seven years ago, I was floored. Getting to the "truth" of how Stu was injured...whether it occurred at Lathom Hall, Litherland Hall, or in Hamburg...was intricate investigative work. And studying the many, many conflicting stories about what happened on the day that The Beatles took Brian on as their manager is quite amazing. I had to make a spread sheet with all the "facts" so that I could sort out the truth. The entire process of writing the book was bliss for a Beatle fan, and now I'm enjoying working on the sequel (which will cover 1962-69), Shivering Inside. By the way, if anyone on this forum writes to me at kesslerjude@yahoo.com and mentions this forum, I'll give you $5 off on the book and free shipping. Thanks for your interest in Shoulda Been There!! Enjoyed chatting with you! Jude
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Post by The End on Apr 15, 2008 11:36:50 GMT
Absolutely fascinating stuff Jude, thanks for that I know what you mean about Liverpool - I go every year to the Beatle convention there and I absolutely love the City and its people! Hope you'll stick around here a while Good luck with your new book. AL
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Post by Bobber on Apr 15, 2008 18:42:08 GMT
Looks good. I think I will order a signed copy.
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jude
And That's A Start
Posts: 6
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Post by jude on Apr 16, 2008 7:14:17 GMT
Thanks for ordering the book! I will be at Beatle Week in Liverpool this August. I'll have a booth at The Adelphi on Sunday. If you have time to come by, I'd love to meet you! Jude
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Post by Bobber on Apr 16, 2008 7:32:16 GMT
Likewise, but I won't be able to make it unfortunately.
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Post by The End on Apr 16, 2008 13:16:12 GMT
Thanks for ordering the book! I will be at Beatle Week in Liverpool this August. I'll have a booth at The Adelphi on Sunday. If you have time to come by, I'd love to meet you! Jude Yay! I'll be there Jude!
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Post by The End on Apr 18, 2008 16:34:57 GMT
By the way, if anyone on this forum writes to me at kesslerjude@yahoo.com and mentions this forum, I'll give you $5 off on the book and free shipping. I took Jude up on her kind offer
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Heikki
And That's A Start
Posts: 11
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Post by Heikki on Apr 29, 2008 17:17:41 GMT
I got my Jude Kessler's Should Been There today. I've been reading it the whole day and am very, very delighted. Just a wonderful book! It takes you with it from the first moment. Jude Kessler is brilliant writer and she seems to have a great love to subject she's writing about. Jude Kessler's first part of her John Lennon trilogy is is extra ordinary enjoyable reading. A must to every Lennon & Beatles fan.
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Post by The End on Apr 30, 2008 6:34:26 GMT
Thanks for the info Heikki I received my book on Saturday
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Heikki
And That's A Start
Posts: 11
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Post by Heikki on Apr 30, 2008 7:09:32 GMT
Yes, using a fiction format is dangerous, but I think Jude Kessler has succeed very well in her Lennon book. One tip I'd like to give. If you want to enjoy the time travelling experience to John Lennon's life, do jump over the endnotes in chapters. You can check those afterwards if you like to, of course. Jude Kessler's text is very lively, very enjoyable.
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Post by The End on Apr 30, 2008 9:13:18 GMT
One tip I'd like to give. If you want to enjoy the time travelling experience to John Lennon's life, do jump over the endnotes in chapters. You can check those afterwards if you like to, of course. Yes, that's a good point actually
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Post by briank on Apr 30, 2008 11:09:13 GMT
Yes, using a fiction format is dangerous, but I think Jude Kessler has succeed very well in her Lennon book. What do you mean, fiction format? I am hoping this one does not recount word-for-word conversations that were never recorded? Like Emerick's and Norman Smith's books did, it's VERY dangerous to fake something in order to "fill in the blanks". Some people cannot separate things they read in a book from true history... I am interested in this book, but worried now about accuracy...?
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Post by The End on Apr 30, 2008 15:52:41 GMT
I would describe the book as a dramatisation of actual events - an historical novel - and it is quite clearly stated that conversations are conjecture so there is no confusion as to what you're getting.
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Heikki
And That's A Start
Posts: 11
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Post by Heikki on Apr 30, 2008 18:55:33 GMT
Yes, using a fiction format is dangerous, but I think Jude Kessler has succeed very well in her Lennon book. Some people cannot separate things they read in a book from true history... I think there's no danger to mix fiction and facts. Jude Kessler's Shoulda Been There is clearly a fiction book, based on strict facts which you can by the way always check in the end of each chapter (endnotes). I don't understand how you could mix these. "A dramatisation of actual events, an historical novel", very well said. Besides Jude Kessler writes very lively. You can almost feel the atmosphere and the events Liverpool. Just open your mind, use some imagination and enjoy.
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Post by briank on May 2, 2008 7:01:29 GMT
That sounds good. The above-mentioned books didn't do that and I think people take them as all facts; when they are a dramatization to "give you the feeling of being there". That's ok to do - IF you say so!
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