Larry Kirwan

Where I come from, not back in the USSR but Liverpool, 'The Beatles' are part of the culture. It's very rare to find a Scouser (the nickname for someone from Liverpool) who doesn't love them as they're all viewed as "one of us" so to speak. So when I seen this offering by Larry Kirwan, who I knew as the lead singer of Irish rock band 'Black 47' and not as a paperback writer, I was quite surprised. It's the tale of what might have happened if 'The Beatles' had split up in 1962 only to come together and be reunited in 1987. Sounded good to me but did it have me screaming "Help!" or did it make me want to twist and shout in my living room? Well here's my review from me to you.
The novel starts off very strong with John Lennon's character standing out above the other members of the band. Even though the story centers around the Fab Four it's fair to say that Lennon is the main character in the novel. So the band has a disagreement with their management - I guess no-one had told them that all you need is love - and John, George and Ringo leave the studio never to come back. Paul McCartney stays and pursues a solo career becoming a mainstay in Las Vegas as showman Paul Montana. Meanwhile Lennon becomes a bitter recluse who's somewhat of a nowhere man and who can't find work, George Harrison becomes a priest, probably worshiping Lady Madonna although we're never told such, while Ringo lives off his wife who doesn't seem to care about that...must have been real love.
While the characters of The Beatles are essential to the novel it's the backdrop of the society they live in that drags this novel down. The National Front (white supremacists) are a major force in this version of England and while some stand aside and let it be others, like Lennon, want to oppose the fascism but are too afraid. When he does speak out he gets his ass kicked and so no-one in this very bleak society is portrayed as being as free as a bird. Bleak. That one word sums up this book and even at 310 pages it's far too long with the story drawn out way beyond what is needed. It was like travelling down the long and winding road for eight days a week and never really getting anywhere in the process. At times I wanted to be doing something else, to be anywhere else rather than reading this book...residing across the universe, relaxing in an octopus's garden in the shade, lounging in strawberry fields forever or shopping in Penny Lane (my dad lives there!) would have been preferable to sitting on my sofa reading a book that was boring me to sleep. Hell, I would rather have been with Lucy in the sky with diamonds!
I should have known better than to get my hopes up on a book I had never heard of until I accidentally stumbled across it online but the premise seemed good and I bought a ticket to ride so to speak and hoped that it would please, please me. When the book arrived it turned out to be a case of "here comes the sun" only, upon reading, to realize I had misinterpreted the weather, that the clouds were coming back, and all I got was rain. Oh well, I can't go back to yesterday so what's done is done and I'm actually glad to be done with this novel. I would be asking for a refund but I don't care too much for money as money can't buy me love.
The idea of the novel is worth a couple of points out of ten, and the characterization worth another, but it's not written particularly well and it reads like it's 1000 pages instead of just over 300. Even if you're a huge fan of 'The Beatles, like I am, I wouldn't recommend this book.

As a fun aside there are 27 Beatles song titles mentioned in this review. Can you name them all? If not, the answers are below.

Back in the USSR
Paperback Writer
Come Together
Help!
Twist and Shout
From Me to You
All You Need is Love
Nowhere Man
Lady Madonna
Real Love
Let it Be
Free as a Bird
The Long and Winding Road
Eight Days a Week
Something
Across the Universe
Octopus's Garden
Strawberry Fields Forever
Penny Lane
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Ticket to Ride
Please, Please Me
Here Comes the Sun
Rain
Yesterday
Can't buy Me Love
Day Tripper… (més)