THE BRAND NEW 2024 50 BOOK CHALLENGE

Book 5
One, Two, Three, Four- Craig Brown

For any Beatles fans out there, this is a must read, I found I couldn’t put it down, and I became so immersed in nostalgia, that I started watching old Beatles clips on instagram.
The first half of the book is a wonderful journey to stardom, adulation which we have never seen since, four young boys, capturing the imagination of the world.
It’s also a comment on the times, and we see more of Maureen, Cynthia, Patti Boyd and Jane Asher, they are fleshed out by Craig Brown and become people rather than glamorous add ons.
The second half is a bit sadder, constant and alarmingly large quantities of drugs, their obsession with India, and meditation, and their understandable disillusion with touring, John, always volatile was becoming a loose cannon, and it seemed they were tiring of each other. After the death of Brian Epstein they seemed rudderless, wasting and losing millions of pounds on doomed to fail ventures.
Enter Yoko Ono.
A so called artist with no talent, rubbish, even by the standards of the day when almost anything could be classed as art.
A very unpleasant woman who made them both look utterly ridiculous.
I think they would be simply laughed at today, and given no publicity, but John was a Beatle, so the press hung on their every word, and their increasingly stupid actions.
Overall, I loved it, took me back to junior school, when like one of the ladies interviewed, I fully expected to marry Paul one day.

I read One, Two, Three, Four last year, loved it, like you Sarah took me right back to junior school days when The Beatles were massive in our lives. I also thought the book provided a great social commentary and an insight into class attitudes of the time. It was definitely amongst last year's best books for me.

I'm going to reserve it from the library. I was a Beatles girl back in the day and actually saw them singing live when they were 2nd on the bill. Roy Orbison was starring. I went with a coach trip from the youth club.

Sparklefizz
I am beyond jealous, what an experience

TerriBull
I agree, the social commentary aspect of the book was really interesting.
Nice to hear more about those early Beatles wives and girlfriends, so forgotten, so easily replaced.
But what an amazing time for them.

Sparklefizz

I'm going to reserve it from the library. I was a Beatles girl back in the day and actually saw them singing live when they were 2nd on the bill. Roy Orbison was starring. I went with a coach trip from the youth club.

I saw them when they were a supporting group too, Sparklefizz

Yes I think they were very instrumental in propelling little old England out of the artistic doldrums, on to a world stage and they kicked started that revolution that put England right at the epicentre of the place to be, mid sixties. It was a great time to be young, I was just a half hour train ride from the West End, friends and I spent our weekends traipsing up and down Carnaby Street and the Kings Road, window shopping only, alas no money

Very jealous Sparkefizz I never got to see them live, but a friend and I found John Lennon's house in Weybridge, he wasn't home. George Harrison married Patti Boyd in my home town. We found out during the school day, the registry office was nearby, but it was all over by the time we got out mid afternoon. Shame!

Even if the Beatles had turned up in our small town, my dad would never have let me go, you were lucky girls

I saw them when they were a supporting group too, Sparklefizz

I saw them at Tooting Granada in London. We couldn't hear very much because of all the screaming, but when Roy Orbison came on and sat on a stool with his guitar, everyone was completely silent.

TerriBull

Yes I think they were very instrumental in propelling little old England out of the artistic doldrums, on to a world stage and they kicked started that revolution that put England right at the epicentre of the place to be, mid sixties. It was a great time to be young, I was just a half hour train ride from the West End, friends and I spent our weekends traipsing up and down Carnaby Street and the Kings Road, window shopping only, alas no money

Very jealous Sparkefizz I never got to see them live, but a friend and I found John Lennon's house in Weybridge, he wasn't home. George Harrison married Patti Boyd in my home town. We found out during the school day, the registry office was nearby, but it was all over by the time we got out mid afternoon. Shame!

I grew up in Surrey and used to get the train to London with my boyfriend to walk up and down Carnaby Street and the King's Road, looking at everybody and everything. TerriBull We may have passed each other. I always came home feeling very badly and boringly dressed.

Shall I start a new thread about the Sixties?

Yes, go on Sparklefizz, I’m feeling in the mood for a little nostalgia

I've read that book. I saw the Beatles live several times. Had a chat with George. Well George chatted. I gawped. I have 'spoken' about my many Beatles escapades on here. A Beatles bore.

No such thing Kate

Book 6 The Roots of Evil by Quintin Jardine. A Bob Skinner mystery.

I read Atom Bomb Angel a while ago, totally unlike anything else by Peter James.

Book 15, A Valley Dream, by Anna Jacobs, the first of the Backshaw Moss series.

#6 Sprig Muslin Georgette Heyer.
Another revisit to a book and author I first discovered well over fifty years ago. Things are a bit fraught 'in real life' so this was just what I needed.

Book 13 Her Mother’s Daughter by Jackie Walsh - psychological thriller about a woman who finds out she was abducted as a baby. Pretty average.

Book 10, the second Dr Ruth Galloway/ DCI Harry Nelson title, The Janus Stone.

I read this in a day and a night, my house is neglected, but I am totally engrossed in these very clever, well written murder stories played out against an eerie, atmospheric setting, and the development of characters' friendships and relationships.

I have now downloaded the third title, Book 11, The House at Sea's End.

Thanks again for this recommendation.

Juno56

#6 Sprig Muslin Georgette Heyer.
Another revisit to a book and author I first discovered well over fifty years ago. Things are a bit fraught 'in real life' so this was just what I needed.

Juno, I think I know what you mean. I hope Sprig Muslin brought you comfort. From time to time I revisit Norah Lofts' novels, favourites of my dear Mum and my Aunties in the 60s. I remember my Dad reading Nevil Shute and Georges Simenon titles from the local library, we went every Saturday. I come from a family of bookworms. 📚

#3 Grownups by Marian Keyes (

#4 now reading The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

#2 was Annie's Summer By The Sea by Liz Eeles
A light, easy read

Also read The book of Beginnings by Sally Page!
So The Lost Bookshop is Number 5 🙂

Grannmarie

*Book 10, the second Dr Ruth Galloway/ DCI Harry Nelson title, The Janus Stone*.

I read this in a day and a night, my house is neglected, but I am totally engrossed in these very clever, well written murder stories played out against an eerie, atmospheric setting, and the development of characters' friendships and relationships.

I have now downloaded the third title, Book 11, The House at Sea's End.

Thanks again for this recommendation.

So pleased you've joined the Dr Ruth Galloway fans, Grannmarie. I grew quite fond of the characters over the series and felt bereft when Elly Griffiths announced that she had written the last book of the series.