Life with My Sister Madonna
by Christopher Ciccone, Wendy Leigh
|
List Price: Our Price: $2.89 You Save: $12.11 (81%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Life with My Sister Madonna
Book Review: Entertaining, gossip-rich look at celebrity from a bitter guy!
Summary: 4 Stars
Is someone who makes it really rich through hardwork, determination and lots of image control responsible for ensuring their grown sibling is financially set for an on-going luxurious life?
Christopher's answer is a resounding "YES!". So, here he is in his 40's upset. He's upset she's not fully supporting him anymore. He's upset he can't get an easy, fun high-paying job. He's upset that when he was living off her that she wasn't paying him enough or giving him the luxurious lifestyle he deserved. So, he's written a tell all book to get back at her.
Here's the big upside with this one:
- Even if you think morally he shouldn't have written it, it's an entertaining read (or in my case listen - since I got the audible version that is read by him - which allows the nuances of his petulance to shine through). Plenty of dirt is tossed about Madonna, all of her various boyfriends and her driven, controlling nature. Along the way, it's an interesting look into the crazy world of celebrity.
Here's the Big Downside with this one:
- It sure would be nice to hear Madonna's side. This book actually made me feel sad for her, more than anything. What Christopher writes as her mean-spirited, greediness could also easily be interpreted as her caring a great deal about him, giving him places to live, job after job and opportunity after opportunity - just hoping he would find a way to build his own successful life where she could be his friend instead of his meal ticket.
Bottom Line: Entirely entertaining and gossip-rich tell-all from one very bitter, whiney guy.
Book Review: Great Insight
Summary: 5 Stars
First I have to say that I've been a Madonna fan my entire life, and reading this book has certainly been an eye opener into her life, from a perspective we would never otherwise get.
I really relate to the book, mostly because I have the same kind of relationship with my sisters, and really, there's just no convincing siblings of anything. They see you how they see you, and that's the end.
The book though, really touches on a lot of issues that most people already know. Yes, Madonna is a [...], a huge [...]. I've known that forever. This book just pushes that notion further down the pike, both confirming and taking that, "[...] on a mission" persona to a whole nother level.
However, I still think Madonna is one of the best entertainers going and I don't like Madonna because of her personality, I like her for what she does, and that's entertain. Her creativity is nothing short of spectacular, and everytime she releases an album we see something different and unique.
It does sadden me the way she has treated her brother and others, and the way she's totally turned her back on the gay community, which is about 95% of her fan base, yet we come back for more everytime.
Whatever your feelings, this book is a great read, and recommend it to any fan or non fan.
Book Review: Christopher Ciccone is whiner!
Summary: 2 Stars
God, Christopher Ciccone is whiny. And catty. There is really no new information about Madonna in this book, it's just Christopher whining about how she's mistreated him all these years. Basically, every time he works for her, she rips him off (doesn't pay him fairly, replaces him at the last minute, etc.) You know what - then quit working for her! Christopher can't do that though because he has no formal training to do ANYTHING. Madonna lets him dance in her videos, design her houses, dress her for her tours, art direct her tours and gets her friends to give him gallery shows, even though he's never formally trained do any of that (except dance). And all he does is bitch about how horrible it is to work for her. I'm not a huge Madonna fan; I just read this book because I like reading about the entertainment business and stars in general. But there was nothing new here - almost nothing about Madonna's childhood, no insights into her personality. I really don't think Madonna and Christopher were ever that close, even though they spent a lot of time together, because he relates virtual nothing about Madonna's personal life. Or else he was never paying attention what was going on in it because he's just as self-absorbed as she is.Book Review: Thankless and Desperate
Summary: 3 Stars
Let's see..
Madonna introduced Christopher to dance
Madonna created his career in interior design
Madonna had him perform in her video
Madonna made him a director of her shows
Madonna got him an art show at Jean Paul Gautier's gallery
Madonna included him in her jet-set star-studded lifestyle
Madonna paid for his medical treatments
Madonna dedicated a song to him during her tour
Madonna introduced him to Kaballah
Yet he is angry when he perceives that he is being underpaid for his services and that he lives in her shadow...hmmmm
This book is an interesting read (although not that well written); however, it gave me no insight into Madonna. I wanted to understand her creativity, hard work, inspiration, thoughts on family, etc....yet there is none of this here. She appears as a one dimensional person.
This book is a testament to how family and friends view you when you are rich and famous. Everyone wants a piece and resents you when they do not get it.
Even after he and Madonna have broken up for good, this book proves that he is desperate and thankless; the only way he can (still) make money is off his sister.
Book Review: Not good, not bad
Summary: 3 Stars
The reviews here are divided for good reason - this book one-sided, comes across as bitter and creates no sense of character. On the other side, it's un-put-downable and a revealing insight into the dynamic world of Madonna's life and her early career formation.
Sadly, the story of Chris gets lost somewhere in the middle as the book instead tries to sell itself to readers that the authors think only want to know what Madonna said or did. As a result, this is not a good biography of Madonna or a good autobiography. By hedging it's bets, the book can't deliver on either front. I finished this book wishing that Chris had written a proper autobiography instead. A more clear focus on his own life story would have produced a more satisfying read.
That said, I couldn't put this book down and in that sense, it's worth the time and effort. Don't expect autobiographical literary greatness, or an insightful book into the perils of fame and personal relations, but instead expect a light read and you won't be disappointed.