Gotta Have Maggie’s Book

By Tara Losinski

She was a celebrity. She moved in exclusive circles, mingling with heads of state and partying with rock stars. Now, thanks to a recently unearthed “to-do” list of ex-Beatle great John Lennon, Margaret Trudeau has one more reason to be on the list of all-time “cool” Canadians.

Back in 1979 Trudeau, the former wife of Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau had just published her first book, Beyond Reason, a memoir of her life and marriage to the Prime Minister. Her book made it made on to the required reading list of none other than former Beatle great, John Lennon. According to a Toronto Star article, Lennon met her former husband during the famed 1969 Montreal sleep-in, an encounter that possibly prompted his interest in the book.

Lennon’s hand-written list of reminders and musings, which will be put up for auction on Nov. 30 by New York’s Gotta Have Rock and Roll memorabilia store, includes getting the cable fixed, buying marmalade and gassing up the cars. And right there, at number six on the agenda, is his note to read “Margaret Trudeau’s book.” Very cool.