From Booklist
Lennon was famously requested by wife Yoko Ono to have an affair with the couple’s personal assistant, May Pang, while on sabbatical from the marriage. Apparently, Pang had a camera, but the biggest wonder is that no book of her photos appeared until now. The pictures show Lennon at a time of estrangement and personal excess (drink and drugs). The latter may be inferred from the cheery shot of Lennon with surprisingly fresh-faced Bobby Keys, who played the sax lead on the hit “Tequila” as a teen and became Keith Richards’ dedicated imbibing partner. Other photos touch on underappreciated facets of Lennon’s life: he and son Julian, then about 10, cavort in the water; Julian dresses up in John’s clothes—all very homey, as are shots of Lennon and Pang exuding domestic bliss. Not out to foment scandal, Pang comments about Lennon’s recording activities and personal concerns of the time very gently. Great for fans and desirable if not essential for biographical reference. And finally, how can libraries go wrong acquiring anything about any Beatle? --Mike Tribby

Product Description
“There were times I was a bit reticent in taking out my camera, like when some ‘old friends’ stopped by to hang out. I didn’t want to intrude on these moments, but John insisted. He felt that I captured him in ways that no one else did because of his comfort level with me…For years, only my closest friends got to see these photos—which were literally tucked away in a shoebox in my closet. They were surprised that these images did not convey the John that was portrayed in the press during our time together. In fact, they saw a side of John seldom seen.”—From INSTAMATIC KARMA

John Lennon is the most famously photographed Beatle—everyone from Iain MacMillian to Annie Lebowitz took iconic images of him—but there have never been pictures of him like these taken by May Pang, Lennon’s girlfriend from 1973 to 1975. In INSTAMATIC KARMA, they’re collected for the first time. With very few exceptions, these photos are that rare thing: never-before-seen images of an icon. The photos here show Lennon in a variety of settings: at work, at play, at home, and away. They show a playful Lennon, a casual, unguarded Lennon; they’re the kind of photos one lover takes of another. May has written rich captions to accompany her photos--taken together, they tell a simple story of the time May and Lennon spent together; a time, according to legend, when Lennon was unhappy and unproductive, estranged from his family and bandmates. Pang’s photos clearly tell another story—they show Lennon clowning around, working on his hit album “Walls and Bridges”, embracing old friends and family, hanging out in their apartment on Manhattan’s East 52nd Street, relaxing in the country in upstate New York or spending peaceful days swimming in the waters of Long Island.

The photographs in INSTAMATIC KARMA are both color and black & white, casual Polaroids and more composed shots. Each one is an intimate glimpse into a fascinating time in John Lennon’s life.

About The Author
MAY PANG worked for ABKCO, the Beatles’ management company, in the early 1970’s, and from there was hired as John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s personal assistant. After her relationship with Lennon ended, Pang worked for Island Records and United Artists. In addition to photography, she designs a line of feng shui jewelry and furniture. She lives in New York with her two children.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/031237741X/?tag=imwan-20

CYNTHIA LENNON ENDORSES JOHN LENNON'S GIRLFRIEND'S BOOK

John Lennon's former girlfriend May Pang received a glowing endorsement from Lennon's first wife and son for her new photo book Instamatic Karma. The book, which is due out on March 4th, chronicles Lennon and Pang's 18-month relationship from 1973 to 1975, and features never-before-seen shots of Lennon with son Julian Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and Harry Nilsson.

Lennon's first wife, Cynthia Lennon, who became friendly with Pang during Lennon's so-called "Lost Weekend," provided a quote for the back cover of the book, which is signed by both she and Julian.

The dedication reads in part: "My first meeting with May, in the early seventies, was fraught with tension and uncertainty. My efforts to reunite Julian with his father after four years could have gone one way or another. May was wonderful, even though she was young and inexperienced in having to deal with such sensitive and emotional issues... May was open, caring and compassionate to me and my son, Julian. For all that May has done... Julian and I will be her greatest champions... She was a good friend when my son and I needed one, and a dear close friend now."

Instamatic Karma also features photos of other key players during Lennon's separation to Ono, including Keith Moon, David Bowie, and Mick Jagger.

Pang was working as Lennon and Yoko Ono's assistant in 1973 when Ono informed her that she and Lennon were separating and that she would like Pang to start dating Lennon.

Prior to living with Lennon, Pang was briefly romantically linked with Badfinger's Pete Ham.

Pang was responsible for coordinating the production of such Lennon albums as Mind Games, Walls And Bridges, and Rock 'N' Roll, and Nilsson's Lennon-produced album Pussycats.

Pang is featured on background vocals of Lennon's Top Ten hit "#9 Dream," whispering "John" during the choruses.

Lennon wrote "Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird Of Paradox)" on his 1974 album Walls And Bridges about Pang.

In 1983, Pang wrote a memoir of her affair with Lennon called Loving John. In it she claims that their affair lasted until 1977, and that they remained in contact through 1980.

In 1989 Pang went on to marry producer Tony Visconti, known for his work with David Bowie, T. Rex, Thin Lizzy, and many others. They divorced in 2000, and have two children.

Pang remains close to the Beatles scene. In 1998 Paul McCartney invited her, and not Yoko Ono, to Linda McCartney's New York City memorial service, and in 2002 she attended the George Harrison memorial The Concert For George at London's Royal Albert Hall.

Good luck to her. From all that I have read, it sounds as if she was a positive, stabilizing influence on Lennon during a self-destructive period of his life. I think she deserves more credit than she's previously received. Sounds like an interesting book, too.