Yoko Ono

Yoko Ono

Tells the story of the artist and pop star from her wealthy Japanese upbringing to her love affair with John Lennon and her life after the ex-Beatle's deathFrom Publishers WeeklyHopkins, author of Bowie, has written the first book to focus primarily on Yoko Ono. Although not done with her cooperation, it is also perhaps the most sympathetic portrait of her to appear. Hopkins goes into some detail on Ono's career as an artist in the late '50s and '60s (her work, strongly influenced by the ideas of John Cage, seems today, at least as described by Hopkins, purely conceptual and not emotionally engaged). The material on her early days, marriages and art is interesting, but the book really comes to life with the appearance of John Lennon. Although Hopkins provides a corrective to previous writers who have tended to describe Ono as a kind of evil dragon, she ultimately emerges here as arrogant and manipulative. Photos not seen by PW. First serial to National Enquirer.Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.From Library JournalMost biographies of John Lennon portray Yoko Ono as cold and manipulative. Indeed, Hopkins (author of Bowie and other books) describes many incidents that support that point of view. However, his even-handed account of Ono's life shows other qualities, as wellsome endearing, some puzzling. Ono's Japanese childhood, which spanned World War II and included both enormous wealth and extreme poverty, is intriguing, as is her evolution from Sarah Lawrence student to avant-garde artist to pop star. Hopkins interviewed many insiders in order to expand on or correct tales told by other Lennon-Ono biographers and sometimes by John and Yoko themselves. He recounts some of the bizarre events that have occurred since Lennon's death, as well as outlandish behavior from the couple's years together. A complex, inconclusive, and sometimes sensational portrait. For public libraries. Will Hepfer, SUNY at Buffalo Libs.Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.