Babylon Confidential: A Memoir of Love, Sex, and Addiction

Babylon Confidential: A Memoir of Love, Sex, and Addiction

3.96 of 5 stars 3.96  ·  rating details  ·  146 ratings  ·  45 reviews
When actress Claudia Christian flees a troubled childhood and moves to Hollywood at age 17, she steps through the looking glass into another world.

From the set of Dallas to her starring role on the sci-fi series Babylon 5, Claudia’s affairs with billionaires, supermodels, rock stars, and celebrities are mixed with shootings, stalking, heartbreak, and betrayal. Onset and of...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published November 6th 2012 by BenBella Books
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Adrian
I am not normally an autobiography reader so I do tend to pick and choose whose I read. As a minor Sci-Fi geek it was through the Babylon 5 series & films that I discovered Claudia Christian. So when I saw this autobiography I thought why not, could be an interesting read.

I found the book to be riveting and at times hard to put down, as it takes you on a journey from a childhood lost, struggles to make it in Hollywood, the good years and the spiral into alcoholism and near bankruptcy. The jo...more
Hollie Parrish
An Amazing story of love, loss, addiction, heartache, and triumph. Claudia is an inspiration that it is possible to over come pain and personal demons. She is a survivor.
Nina
An incredibly brave and honest memoir, full of humor and pathos, with tons of juicy tidbits about life in Tinseltown and a courgeous narrative of her descent into alcoholism and slow climb back out again. I've been a fan for years, but had no idea of the kind of things she has lived through.
Leon

When actress Claudia Christian flees a troubled childhood and moves to Hollywood at age 17, she steps through the looking glass into another world.

From the set of Dallas to her starring role on the sci-fi series Babylon 5, Claudia’s affairs with billionaires, supermodels, rock stars, and celebrities are mixed with shootings, stalking, heartbreak, and betrayal. Onset and off, drama follows Claudia—an alcohol-fueled coke run and makeout session with a bridesmaid on her wedding day; her tempestuo

...more
Julie G
I don't usually read Hollywood tell-all books. Who did what, and with whom, doesn't generally intrigue me. But, I am a huge Babylon 5 and Claudia Christian fan. And I have always wondered what happened to her, after the show.

Little did I know just how incredible her story would be.

Admittedly, for me, it was an uncomfortable read. Ms. Christian pulls no punches and hides no secrets. Her life is presented, warts and all, for public consumption. It feels, at times, a bit like peeking through a keyh...more
Brian
For anybody that has had addiction problems and just life problems in general this is a great book to read. There are a lot of things Claudia writes about in this book that I could relate to as not only somebody that has had addiction problems, but also from the standpoint of being a friend with these kinds of problems. The thing with addiction is its not about what your addicted to its about the ways your life change as a result of that. I think Claudia hits a lot of nails right on the head wit...more
Kerry
I wanted so badly to love this book. I am a huge Babylon 5 fan, and that is largely due to being a HUGE fan of Commander Susan Ivanova, played by Claudia Christian. I knew her memoir would focus heavily on her alcoholism and expected something along the lines of Ashely Judd's "All That Is Bitter and Sweet" - a long look at childhood and its attendant traumas; a middle section describing the Hollywood glory days (and yes, I did hope for some extended anecdotes about the B5 experience!); and a fin...more
Mel
I'd been looking forward to reading this book for months. Claudia is one of the actresses I most admire. This book is a very intimate look at her life. She talks about her family, her career, her loves and most importantly her battle with alcoholism.

For me the part that touched me the most was when she discussed her decent into alcoholism. She talked about her "monster" the way it would always pull at her low self-esteem. It was interesting to see how her triggers were similar to my own. Claudi...more
Katherine Coble
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Rhonda Howard
Meh... I love the memoir where someone beats the odds.

Although I have not ever seen Babylon 5, and I'm not a sci-fi fan, this was an interesting look into the lives of Hollywooders. Why would anyone even want that kind of self-esteem corroding, eroding, defeating life? It's no wonder so many actors end up addicted or wacky (like Charlie Sheen).

She does a lot of name-dropping, but that is her world. She also names people she has slept with and the drugs they used while doing so; I wonder how the...more
Richard
The first half of the book is a memoir of a lifetime of Hollywood debauchery. It's well written (by a ghost writer admittedly) and a fairly interesting story. The title is slightly misleading marketing for fans of Babylon 5 because while Babylon 5 is covered it's not given any more coverage than any of the other shows Christian worked on. This is not a book like Wil Wheaton's diaries detailing every episode of Star Trek in which he appeared.

The second half of book is all about Christian's recent...more
Fr. Ryan Humphries
Jan 24, 2013 Fr. Ryan Humphries rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: diehard Babylon 5 fans
Recommended to Fr. Ryan by: Amazon.com
I love, love, love Babylon 5. I loved Claudia Christian's character and I really wanted to know the backstory about why she left the show after season 4. I can now say, the story is neither interesting nor worth my time.

I did really appreciate the honesty of someone who is working the AA program. She is 5th stepping it like crazy. But this book was just not good. She writes about herself as a "star" over and over again. She's a B-lister at best. She throws lots and LOTS of names around in very e...more
Heather Boustead
Babylon Confidential:
A Memoir of Love, Sex, and Addiction
By Claudia Christian and Morgan Grant Buchanan

Claudia Christian had a starring role on Babylon 5, a science fiction television series. Now she is coming forward with her memoirs revealing a whole new side of herself that few others have seen.

First off since this is a memoir I will not be reviewing the “story” I mean how can you criticize someone’s life? Second I had no idea who Claudia Christian was when I was sent this book for review; t...more
Rahadyan
I've been an admirer of Claudia Christian and her work, especially on the sf series Babylon 5. As audience members and as fans, we are often not privy to another side of what appears to be a glamorous life.

One of my longtime heroes was my high school guidance counselor, who died at the too-young age of 63 a few years ago. I had unfortunately lost touch with him, but never forgot one of his many aspects: He was strong because he allowed himself to be vulnerable. Ms. Christian's similar strengths...more
Robert Rapplean
Babylon Confidential is a gripping book that had me thrilled with Claudia's successes, aghast at the machinations of Hollywood, and horrified with the lengths to which her addiction drove her. Many of her stories involving other celebrities were fascinating. The way that she presented both the events and her feelings about them with unrelenting openness made reading the book a very enriching experience. I can highly recommend it.

Despite her having been dragged by her addiction through some of th...more
Niles Oscarson
I thought it was a really good book. It is just short of amazing what trials Ms. Christian has made it through. The writing was good the book flowed well for an autobiography. I can't say I couldn't put it down but I enjoyed it when I did pick it up. I have to say I found the photos very interesting, I didn't know she had known and still knows some very interesting people. The book was easy to read, the material was interesting and I feel I know her as a person better. What more could one ask of...more
Reuben Herfindahl
Pretty entertaining read. It's very honest and human. There's the usual bit of hollywood, "I met this person and partied with that person.", but my guess is that's kinda par for the course living out there. Of course the sci-fi fanboy in me enjoyed learning a few new tidbits of info, but that was secondary to just plain enjoying it on it's own merits. At the end it does turn into a bit of a sales pitch for the particular cure which worked for her as do most of these celebrity addiction memoirs,...more
Angus
Babylon Confidential
A Memoir of Love, Sex & Addiction
by Claudia Christian with Morgan Grant Buchanan

"Ivanova is always right. You will listen to Ivanova." I was late catching the Babylon 5 bug but once I did I watched it in reruns and on DVD enough to make up for it and become fan worthy. I am even more of a fan of Claudia Christian now after reading this memoir. You are awesome and this will do a lot of good.

It is a chronological journey from child to present, from trauma to healing and fro...more
Farrah
Like many others (in fact it seems like most) who have read this book, I picked it up because I am a huge fan of Babylon 5. Commander Ivanova was my favorite character, and I had wondered what Claudia Christian had been up to since the show.

I wouldn't say this book was wonderfully written, but it was interesting and funny at times. I could hear her voice in certain passages. I give it 4 stars because I was interested in her and her life, I am not sure if it would be a great book for those who a...more
Michael
I've been a big fan of babylon 5 for a very long time. I tend to watch the entire series every so often, and Claudia's character is awesome. I had heard at one time that she had done an album, and it never seemed to fit. After reading this book, it makes a lot of sense,

This book tells the ups and downs of a talented actress who slowly descends into alcoholism and fights to recover. What an incredibly fast read. I really enjoyed it... If that is the right phrase to say when reading about someone...more
Ted
Claudia opens up her life in this book. To fans that have only seen her at her best (working her butt off) it's shocking to know how troubled her down time was.

Knowing her better can only make us like her work even better.

It was a good read about her journey from success to the depths of addiction and the surprisingly simple cure that she finally found.

I was able to cry for her sorrows and rejoice in her successes.

A good read about a terrific actress.
Cthonus
I'm not normally a fan of "celebrity" memoirs to put it mildly. In my view most are famous for just being famous and not for any obvious talent. Ms Christian is an exception - a talented actor with a touch of self-deprecating wit. The book may be a road map through a life of addiction but it also highlights Hollywood at its misogynistic worst.

A light read but not a comfortable one.
Brian Cahill
A poignant, personal story, detailing the roller coaster-like highs and lows of a Hollywood life. It's also very relatable, as Claudia shares the story of her life and the challenges that she, like so many of us, has had to face. If you don't tear up twice in the first 25 pages, you should get your heart checked.
Lisa Bingham
I loved the character that Claudia Christian played on Babylon 5. I understand now that she put a lot of herself into the character. I wish her well on fighting her addiction. Ms Christian provided a lot of good information, resources for those with addictions.
Rose Young
I have read and reread this book - it is a salvation to those of us who struggle. Claudia provides insight and honesty in her self disclosure. Great read! Love the book and the great respect for the author. Read this one! It will change your life.
Dietmar
Lt. Ivanova has always been my favorite character within the Babylon 5 universe. Reading Claudia Christians biography sheds a completely different light on this great actress. Her battles with the monster alcoholism are gripping and I am glad that the biography has a happy end and that she has found a way to chain her demons. Although at some point the book read just like a list of movies, lovers and famous aquaintances, in the end and as a whole it has been a very interesting look into the soul...more
Jon Manzo
Nicely done; interesting anecdotes about her career, but the main focus of the book is about her struggles with alcohol addiction. On that topic, she is brutally honest about the hell she went through. Highly recommended.
Sharon
Interesting autobiography; I loved Babylon 5 and enjoyed reading the behind-the-scenes happenings, but Claudia Christian has led an interesting and varied life. Even so, this is more about her descent into alcoholism and her eventual triumph through discovering the Sinclair Method of treatment. Timely, well-written and engaging.
Elle Frederick
Claudia bravely takes us with her through the storm to show us the way to the
rainbow that is The Sinclair Method.

A MUST read for anyone who is themselves dealing with the struggle of addiction or who's loved one is.
Lanni
Dec 19, 2012 Lanni added it
CC's character Commander Susan Ivanova has always been one of my SciFi favorites. But her life is drastically different from her tv series role. Good read, she rats out some hollywood actors, who frankly deserve it.
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A very close self examination 1 4 Apr 16, 2013 06:40pm  
Babylon Confidential: A Memoir of Love, Sex, and Addiction (ebook)
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Claudia Christian is an American actress, writer, singer, musician, and director, best known for her role as Commander Susan Ivanova on the science fiction television series Babylon 5.
More about Claudia Christian...
Baptism Of Fire (Babylon 5) Forbidden Love Issue 3: Sacred Bands (Forbidden Love, Issue 3) My Life With Geeks And Freaks Red Fury (Babylon 5) Chains of Destruction

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