I Met the Walrus: How One Day with John Lennon Changed My Life Forever

By Jerry Levitan

Book Overview

Imagine you're the world's biggest Beatles fan and you've just snuck into John Lennon's hotel room. But instead of being thrown out, inexplicably you're invited to spend the day with your idol. That's... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061713260
• ISBN13: 9780061713262
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 1.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 0.8" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

An engaging, inspirational story.

This book is written in a manner that draws you in and takes you back to your childhood. Levitan is admirable in his singular purpose and unwavering belief in his ability to tackle just about anything. It's a colourful read and hard to put down once you start it. The artwork is perfectly suited to the charm of the story and the DVD with Levitan interviewing Lennon is a bonus. The reader is left with the feeling that anything is possible and one day really can change your life.

A 'must' for any avid Beatles fan

In 1969 John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged two week-long 'bed-ins for peace' - and at one then-14-year-old Beatles fan Jerry Levitan snuck into Lennon's hotel room armed with a tape deck. His interview, presented on a never-before published DVD and accompanying his book on the topic - will prove a 'must' for any avid Beatles fan or library catering to music enthusiasts. Its chapters offer not only the interview, but how this changed Jerry Levitan's life.

written with love

The first reviewer here has given a very well-written review of what you will find in this book. I really enjoyed this book and could relate so much to the author because I have found much solace and comfort in the art of both John and Yoko. It was a pleasure to read someone else that enjoys Yoko's songs and contributions as she is often not appreciated. Throughout the book, I felt like I was witnessing the events as they took place. This is a very unique and imaginative book. I highly recommend it.

I MET THE WLARUS

163 pages of text. Illustrated with drawings that look like they're from a child's book,but they curiously seem to fit in perfectly with the text. The photographs were taken by the author at the time of the interview. There is a disc with the audio and video of Levitan's interview (which was used as the basis for the short film) which the author included. This is a neat little book. Nothing fancy,or "cosmic",or deep about meeting John Lennon,this is told by someone who had no experience interviewing anyone,let alone someone of Lennon's magnitude. The story is told strictly from a fan's (Levitan) perspective. It begins with an overview of life in 1964,when the BEATLES were on THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW. This is where the author begins his tale of the BEATLES and how they affected him (and many others too) in those days before MTV and music videos as we all now know them. Levitan gives a brief run down on the various BEATLE albums and how they,too,affected him. As he explains,the BEATLES were heroes of his,and he constantly would tell anyone and everyone (whether they wanted to hear it or not) about their music. While he says he was their "number one fan",his tale is told in a straight forward manner,without the "gushiness" sometimes found in these kinds of personal stories. While much,if not all,the information contained here is known to all BEATLE fans,it's written in a way that puts a knowing smile on the reader's face,because most BEATLE fans (certainly those of a certain age) can surely relate to Levitan's excitement. The story gets interesting when Levitan begins to tell how he came to interview John Lennon-first by finding out where Lennon (and Yoko Ono) were staying in Toronto (Levitan's hometown),and then calling his local rock radio station so he could tape his interview with Lennon,by having someone meet him at Lennon's hotel with a tape recorder. For whatever reason,Lennon took a liking to Levitan,and invited him back for a one-on-one interview. Lennon thought (rightly) that Levitan would use the interview (about peace/anti-war) to influence young people's ideas about war. Luckily,Levitan also had with him a camera borrowed from the family (a "Brownie") which was used to get photographs of both himself and Lennon/Ono,and some slide movie film,which are shown in the book. He also took along his copy of the "Two Virgins" album,which both Lennon and Ono signed,along with a self portrait sketch Lennon drew on the album cover. The interview itself is not the most profound one you'll ever read,because at the last minute Levitan realized he had not thought up any questions to ask. However,this is what gives this little book it's spark. It's not a "professional" interview,but more about two people chatting together about various subjects-nothing in depth-just topics that seem to come up,based on the author wanting to get to know Lennon and how he (Lennon) sees the world. But in this manner,there begins to be an inside look i