Celebrity Detox: (The Fame Game)
by Rosie O'Donnell
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Book Reviews of Celebrity Detox: (The Fame Game)
Book Review: Worth the wait? YES!
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me first start off by saying that I am a huge fan of Rosie's and have been for quite some time. Remember a little show named, "Gimme a Break", where she played Maggie the dental hygienist neighbor in the last season? I sure do, because she was hysterical. Why does this matter? I wanted for the record to freely admit how much I have enjoyed her over the years, and will continue to for many years to come. I was prepared to give this book a favorable review long before reading it. I knew ahead of time it would receive at least 3 or 4 stars from me just out of respect to Rosie and all that she has to say.
After reading this book, I have no choice but to give it 5 out of 5 stars because it is fantastically written, and unabashedly honest. I love that.
Rosie is a very artful story teller with a keen sense for telling it like it is. I do not believe you have to be a fan of hers, and certainly I do not believe that you have to agree with what she has to say to appreciate this book. She tells a story as she sees it, from her point of view. Period.
Some reviewers feel that she doesn't delve deep enough into things leaving the reader guessing and wanting more. Not this reader. I do not need graphic details or soul baring dissertations on what awful things obviously happened to her as a child. It is simply not necessary. What is important is that she survived, is here, and is present.
Is Rosie a loud mouth? Sometimes. Does she find it necessary to get the last word in? It would seem so. Is this part of why I adore her? Absolutely. More people need to speak up, and out about the things that they simply can not wrap their heads around.
The woman is intelligent, well spoken, ridiculously funny, and extremely profound in her own way. She gives all of her heart and soul to what she believes in, and sets an example for the rest of us.
Rock on Ro, the world needs you and others like you.
Book Review: Fascinating but too jumbled
Summary: 3 Stars
I found this book fascinating because it's so raw. There is some structure to it, but the structure is quite loose and I felt that it would have been improved with a good edit. (However, I get the impression that Rosie would have resisted any serious attempts at shaping her story as not being true to what she wanted to say). I also was severely irritated early on when Rosie describes how it felt to learn she was going to be co-host of the View by reading it on a billboard in Times Square, only to have her admit a few pages later that this isn't what actually happened.
Rosie emerges from these pages as a decent and caring woman who goes through life trying to live by her authentic self (what she refers to as her "yellow"). However she also comes across as someone who still has considerable issues stemming from the death of her mother, who struggles to cope with fame and who too often feels let down by people if they don't behave in the way that SHE feels they should behave. What's fascinating is how honest she is about everything. She freely admits that she wanted Barbara Walters to be a surrogate mother to her and that she felt hugely let down when she felt that Barbara betrayed that. But what also seems evident is that Barbara never wanted nor was suited to take on that role.
Ultimately I felt the book failed for me because it wasn't enough of one thing. I expected more of an inside look at what went on in The View, it's not quite that. I was surprised that she never mentions her on-air fight with Elisabeth Hasselbeck and her subsequent early departure. It's a story that touches on how we as a society aspire to and react to fame, but again, it's not really that. It's also a very personal story about a scarred girl who pins her chances for happiness on things that can't deliver it - but again, it's not so simple. I found this book very interesting, but it's not one that has earned a permanent place on my shelf.
Book Review: Stars in Our Eyes: Celebrity Detox and the Fate of Media
Summary: 3 Stars
Reading the cover of "Celebrity Detox," Rosie is peering outside into the world with one eye while the other eye is hidden by a star which perhaps represents ego of celebrity. O'Donnell advertises first book "Find Me" along with a video of photo snapshots to be read along with Celebrity Detox. Advertising the two books together seems to suggest we must read the first book to really connect with the second book.
The first book "Find Me" is about a chance encounter with an individual who made contact and how it changed both their lives forever. This second book seems to be asking us to find Rosie O'Donnell ...And find ourselves at the same time. Like clues in a Fate game. While we can never be in complete control of our fate or fame, interacting with signs from everyday role models can help us challenge and shape the resulting menu of our media diet.
The title "Celebrity Detox" suggests that Rosie O'Donnell is detoxifying from celebrity addiction. Perhaps the intent is reach media consumers with an interactive view of how toxic celebrity addiction can both enlighten and entertain. The Fame Game is a challenge for us to reach out and disturb traditional notions of untouchable star. A mystifying puzzle of celebrity each individual reads as they wish to understand how media shapes our culture. Perhaps the intent of Celebrity Detox is to bring stars to earth (their audience) to interact with media as it shapes each and every moment of our lives.
Just because we expect writers to tell the truth, doesn't mean we should always receive the literal truth. Good literature isn't fed to us as entertainment, it also challenges us to think beyond the TV box. I suspect this book is partially fiction and partially truth as a deliberate interactive exercise to test our abilities as critical thinkers to better understand current state of the media and also to help heal toxicity both to celebrities and ever consuming audience.
Book Review: Excellent look inside The View
Summary: 5 Stars
The book was delivered to me yesterday. I sat down after dinner expecting to read a few chapters before going to bed. By midnight, I had finished it.
This book is an honest - brutally honest - look at her strengths and her shortcomings along with a lot of information about her experience at The View. She takes a very fair look at her apprehension about and difficulty with working with others (she never had to before The View) and gives a lot of insight into her relationship with her family. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in or fascinated by the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of celebrity.
Rosie O'Donnell is an American hero. She has continued to stand up for what she believes in despite continued uninformed lies and distortions about her that are reported NIGHTLY on both entertainment and so-called news shows. She has bravely screamed about the injustice of the war and the corruption of the Bush Administration while the media has stood meekly by and allowed an unjust war to continue and our civil rights to be eroded without question. She sat quietly by while NO ONE in the media took the time to report on the unbelievable amount of time and money she devotes to charitable causes. Instead, our great media chose to give that misogynist pig Donald Trump unlimited airtime to lauch his vicious attacks on her (and indirectly on ALL WOMEN). She has, ironically, been a model of class and dignity in the face of unbelievable unfairness.
Shame on you Barbara Walters, Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric and Oprah Winfrey. I would have - at the very least - expected one or all of you to stand up for her.
Good work out of you, Rosie. You should be very proud of yourself.
Book Review: The Truth-Always, Nothing But
Summary: 5 Stars
What I most respect about Rosie is her honesty, and the fact that she walks the talk. She speaks her truth nothing more, nothing less. I loved this book. I felt she showed respect for Barbara's legacy; the book needs to be read in its entirety-not in excerpts or quips. And there is so much more in this book than Barbara. I also believe she answered many questions, while leaving some areas blank due to circumstances and timing (for example Elisabeth was still pregnant when the book was released; therefore she did not get too deeply into their issues.) I learned a lot about Rosie from this book. I admire Rosie's courage in speaking the truth. I am more open with my true feelings and stand up more for my beliefs as a result of Rosie.
I want Rosie back on the air to continue to challenge the best in all of us. She makes us think more whether we agree with her or not. She inspires conversation and action. I am grateful for her website, but it is not enough.
Rosie is polarizing though. I believe this is because most do not understand her or the depth of her philanthropy. Although, she is vehemently against the war, she finds honorable ways to support our troops (Fisher House Heroes Fund for soldiers post Iraq rehab). But how many people take time to know that- I cannot tell you how many times I have explained this about her to others as well as her marvelous Broadway Kids project.
I have the utmost repsect for her and Kelly and their beautiful family. They are role models for a blended family.
Rosie inspires me to be a better person, and this book is heartfelt and honest. One does not have to like Rosie or even have an opinion about her, but if you read this book, you may just surprise yourself and rethink your position if it was negative.