book data
421 ratings,
2.87
average rating, 202 reviews
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published
July 15th 2008
by Simon Spotlight Entertainment
binding
Hardcover, 352 pages
isbn
1416587624
(isbn13: 9781416587620)
description
Ciccone's extraordinary memoir is based on his life and forty-seven years of growing up with and working with his sister - the most famous woman in th...more
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avg 2.87
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in July, 2008
This book was INCREDIBLY bad. Perhaps the worst I've ever read, and I've read a lot of books!
I'll qualify this review by telling you that I chose this book at the airport because I wanted something simple and fun to read on my 14 hour flight to Tokyo. So, it's probably my own fault for ending up with such a worthless book.
My two main criticisms of the book are as follows:
1. The quality of the writing in this book was completely sub-par and even what I would ...more
I'll qualify this review by telling you that I chose this book at the airport because I wanted something simple and fun to read on my 14 hour flight to Tokyo. So, it's probably my own fault for ending up with such a worthless book.
My two main criticisms of the book are as follows:
1. The quality of the writing in this book was completely sub-par and even what I would ...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommended to Rose by:
Mikey recommends it for: Madonna fans, my sister
It's a quick & dirty read. Exactly what I wanted! We hear enough about Madge & alot about Christopher's experience of their relationship. None of her fans imagined her as a kissy/huggy type & she's definately not ~and her brother shows both the good & bad sides of his experience with her. (He's learned she'll sell out anyone & now, it's HIS TURN.)
Now, for Lola's tell all! THAT will be good! You know that kid is gonna have ISSUES with a control freak mom.
Now, for Lola's tell all! THAT will be good! You know that kid is gonna have ISSUES with a control freak mom.
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I should begin by saying that I admire and respect Madonna and the ambition and drive that have kept her in the spotlight for so long. And I love her music. I would consider myself a huge fan, but I don't actually like her.
In her brother's blah-titled and poorly written memoir, "Life with My Sister Madonna," the Material Mum comes off as spoiled, demanding, cold, neurotic, stingy, and self-centered. And I ask, "Is this surprising to anyone, even to her fans?"
...more
In her brother's blah-titled and poorly written memoir, "Life with My Sister Madonna," the Material Mum comes off as spoiled, demanding, cold, neurotic, stingy, and self-centered. And I ask, "Is this surprising to anyone, even to her fans?"
...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
MADONNA FANS
My biggest beef with this book is how insanely delusional Christopher is. There really wasn't a point to this book at all besides Christopher cashing in on his sister's name. In the end, it makes Christopher look bad not Madonna.
There are no new insights to Madonna as a person or an entertainer and everything Christopher reveals about her is pretty much common knowledge to Madonna's fans. We all know she can be a bitch. We all know she's an opportunist. We all know she's driven and ...more
There are no new insights to Madonna as a person or an entertainer and everything Christopher reveals about her is pretty much common knowledge to Madonna's fans. We all know she can be a bitch. We all know she's an opportunist. We all know she's driven and ...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
Nobody
Christopher comes across as a spiteful, celebrity obsessed, hanger-on who is clearly suffering from a severe case of jealousy.
Why is he always broke? After reading for the 12th time that he has "reluctantly" taken another job offer from his sister, I starting thinking "enough already!" If he hates working for her so much, than find another employer, or.....here's something he hasn't thought of.....SAVE some money instead of going to overpriced clubs with Naomi...more
Why is he always broke? After reading for the 12th time that he has "reluctantly" taken another job offer from his sister, I starting thinking "enough already!" If he hates working for her so much, than find another employer, or.....here's something he hasn't thought of.....SAVE some money instead of going to overpriced clubs with Naomi...more
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Read in December, 2008
I really enjoyed the lightness of this book, it is an easy, and fun read and not as one-sided as I thought it would be. If only a fraction of what is written is true, it still would be disturbing. For example; Madonna earns over 55 million a year and yet had her sibling pay for their own tickets and acomodations to her wedding. I am surprised that given her pro involvement with gay rights that she married such an openly homophobic man as Guy Ritchie.
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Read in September, 2008
recommends it for:
people who enjoy reading garbage
I'm not at all impressed. This was a HUGE waste of time to. Madonna's brother is so angry that she went further than him in life and he doesn't even have the you-know-whats to come out and admit it. He has to throw little digs in here and there while pretending to sing her praises. What a joke. Does anyone really care if her brother (who I'd never heard of before this book by the way) thinks she slept with two DJs in New York to get her record played? And, let's be frank, what if she did? Last I...more
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Read in August, 2008
I borrowed this from a friend at work who revels in celebrity gossip and said he really liked this...
I thought it was total crap. It was written very poorly and Ciccone jumps around from story to story, often going on tangents...
But it was delicious crap and I did really enjoy reading it. Despite the poor writing, some of the stories are very entertaining, especially the bits about Madonna as a child and Christopher's various experiences with Madonna's boyfriends (Sean ...more
I thought it was total crap. It was written very poorly and Ciccone jumps around from story to story, often going on tangents...
But it was delicious crap and I did really enjoy reading it. Despite the poor writing, some of the stories are very entertaining, especially the bits about Madonna as a child and Christopher's various experiences with Madonna's boyfriends (Sean ...more
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Read in October, 2008
recommends it for:
Madonna fans
I have a fascination with Madonna.. along with millions of other people.. I've just started this book and I'm hooked. :)
Well I have to say that I was disappointed because I really thought that the diva Madonna was going to be so different from the real Madonna, however, she's not according the her brother. Christopher Ciccone claims that Madonna is a horrible, selfish, greedy person even to family. That everything revolves around her and if people don't agree to this, then they ...more
Well I have to say that I was disappointed because I really thought that the diva Madonna was going to be so different from the real Madonna, however, she's not according the her brother. Christopher Ciccone claims that Madonna is a horrible, selfish, greedy person even to family. That everything revolves around her and if people don't agree to this, then they ...more
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Read in February, 2009
Christopher Ciccone concludes this book predicting Kabbalah will keep his sister and Guy Ritchie together. Excepting that, I found the book to be believable and engaging. Madonna is one of those figures, like the original Gun n' Roses, that I skipped over in their prime but have now returned to simply to better understand the 80s zeitgeist.
And what of this cultural icon, at times controversial, now desperately fighting against the machinery of fame that would have brushed aside any...more
And what of this cultural icon, at times controversial, now desperately fighting against the machinery of fame that would have brushed aside any...more
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Read in May, 2009
I could go on for days about this book. I was really upset that her brother Christopher Ciccone wrote this. When Madonna started out in the beginning she had a close relationship with her brother and helped him out by hiring him for a lot of her shows and throughout the years decorating her house. He spent some time living with her and they would go clubbing together. As time went on, Madonna outgrew the club scene and eventually started settling down with a family of her own. Her brother d...more
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Read in April, 2009
It’s not every day where you can read a poorly written yet delicious read about one of the world’s most famous entertainers! This book is pretty predictable since everyone knows Madonna is a control freak, hard worker, and renaissance woman. This saucy read details Madonna’s life from her brother’s eyes. The book comes across as whiny and somewhat desperate since any reader will deduct that the writer/brother is no longer in her fold and has no way of contacting his “meal ticket.” (T...more
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badly written.
doesn't give any info about madonna that you wouldn't know if you were already a fan.
it was nice to read some of the stories of chris and madonna back in the day, but a lot of the time he kind of skimmed over time periods you would love to hear more about.
a lot of the book was him trying to declare that he is as special and popular as madonna and he just isn't.
the book comes off as desperate.
doesn't give any info about madonna that you wouldn't know if you were already a fan.
it was nice to read some of the stories of chris and madonna back in the day, but a lot of the time he kind of skimmed over time periods you would love to hear more about.
a lot of the book was him trying to declare that he is as special and popular as madonna and he just isn't.
the book comes off as desperate.
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Read in February, 2009
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,...more
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Read in March, 2009
I had to buy this book for my spring break trip because I wanted an easy read with some gossip about my formerly favorite pop idol (no one has replaced her, btw, I just stopped caring about pop stars so much). The book is great although annoying at times because Madonna's brother, while trying to tell us Madonna, also discusses a bit of his own personal life, which is not as interesting to me as his perceptions of her behaviors and attitudes. The details about Madonna are priceless and a reminde...more
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This book was actually much better than I expected it to be. I've been really into listening to celebrity memoirs while driving lately, and while some have been great (Steve Martin) others, not so much (Paula Poundstone). I found this one to be interesting but not overly dishy and really compelling. Plus it's fun to learn a little bit more about Madonna, especially if you grew up in the eighties, like I did.
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I pretty much knew going in that this book would be trash. It was a fast read, and probably something I won't remember in five years. From her brother's point of view, Madonna is an icy control freak who is SOOOO UNFAIRRRR. god, there is so much whining in this book. He sometimes perks up with bravery and breaks off ties with Madonna, only to come crawling back, when he realizes that without her connections, he doesn't have much of a shot. I just don't understand how a book could be so terribly ...more
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Read in May, 2009
I am not too surprised by the overall feeling that Madonna is controlling, egocentric, cheap, cold, tough and
a hard ass. Don't you need to be those things to get a big as Madonna is? I liked reading this book, just like I like my gossip websites....but it wasn't a great book. It is "written" by Madonna's brother Christopher, who has serious issues himself. This is one of those stories that you have to think that there are always two sides to every story. I believe that the...more
a hard ass. Don't you need to be those things to get a big as Madonna is? I liked reading this book, just like I like my gossip websites....but it wasn't a great book. It is "written" by Madonna's brother Christopher, who has serious issues himself. This is one of those stories that you have to think that there are always two sides to every story. I believe that the...more
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Read in August, 2008
Completely self-serving, as far as I can tell. Although you can certainly identify and relate to Christopher, you kind of wonder what his whole point is, besides making a dollar. And I did walk away with a bit more respect for Madonna, who clearly is a masterful businesswoman.
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Nothing like reading a light, trashy, beach read in the middle of January. It's interesting to read other reviews of this book, as folks just get so worked up! I love it when someone gives a book one star and then just goes on and on detailing why it is so horrible. I just don't finish books I find horrible.
Is it the next great American novel? No! Do I want to hang out with Madonna or her brother? Hell no! Was it a light distraction with juicy bits around Hollywood, ego, drugs,...more
Is it the next great American novel? No! Do I want to hang out with Madonna or her brother? Hell no! Was it a light distraction with juicy bits around Hollywood, ego, drugs,...more
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