Scan barcode
raymond_murphy's review against another edition
4.0
Forgive me, I am pure trash. I should know better than to have read it, but it was frankly fascinating. Christopher is more than a little bitter toward his older sis, but you can sort of read around that and get a fascinating picture of the icon.
labunnywtf's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book in the span of seven hours, while peeling 20 pounds of raw shrimp. I don't know which was more eventful.
This isn't a bad book, but it's not exactly ground-breaking, either. We don't find out anything about Madonna that one can't figure out on their own. She's a bitch, she's power-hungry, la la la bad marriage etc etc etc.
It wasn't an unpleasant read, and it gave me something to do while stabbing my hands with shrimp heads. It's nice for those interested in the backstory of celebrities. I just wouldn't recommend it for the tabloid-hungry crowd.
This isn't a bad book, but it's not exactly ground-breaking, either. We don't find out anything about Madonna that one can't figure out on their own. She's a bitch, she's power-hungry, la la la bad marriage etc etc etc.
It wasn't an unpleasant read, and it gave me something to do while stabbing my hands with shrimp heads. It's nice for those interested in the backstory of celebrities. I just wouldn't recommend it for the tabloid-hungry crowd.
squrrl_grrrl's review against another edition
4.0
You'll hate Madge (even more) after reading this scandalous tale. Though the writing could've been better, it's the story that counts, and Christopher's is one of a sad family tragedy filled with mistrust and expolitation. Shame on one of the wealthiest woman in the world to treat her family with such disrespect, but can you expect any less from the Material Girl? I wonder if he rues the day he published this book since soon-there-after she divorces Richie? Time will tell and the saga continues. All in all a quick, fascinating read that is not to be missed by any fan of pop culture.
cathiedalziel's review against another edition
3.0
Quick, easy to read, gossipy type book. I'm always intrigued by the thought processes and upbringing of those who reaches a level of super achievement and what they must do and must be willing to sacrifice in order to sustain that level of success.
And dishing the dirt is always a fun way to kill some time.
And dishing the dirt is always a fun way to kill some time.
rleibrock's review against another edition
2.0
The reason - the ONLY reason - this book is getting two stars instead of one is because I find its subject so interesting. I grew up listening to Madonna so she holds a special place in my pop culture heart and I was eager to gain some deeper insight to who she is as a performer and a person.
And, while this book did contain glimpses of private Madonna, in the end it was nothing more than a bitter brother's interpretation of who she is.
I know, I know...it's his pity party, he can bitch and moan if he wants to.
But, the fatal flaw with this book is just how poorly it's written. There are serious time line inconsistencies, jarring story jumps and numerous contradictions throughout.
Even worse, Christopher Ciccone's non-stop celebrity fawning and name-dropping do little more than to underscore his sister's accusations that he's living off her name. I don't read a lot of tell-all books so I have little with which to compare this, but Ciccone is, by the far, the most unlikable and unreliable narrator I have encountered in a very, very long time.
Still, I read every word of it - that's thanks to the lure of Madonna and has very little to do with her brother other than his willingness to spill a smidgen of dirt.
And, while this book did contain glimpses of private Madonna, in the end it was nothing more than a bitter brother's interpretation of who she is.
I know, I know...it's his pity party, he can bitch and moan if he wants to.
But, the fatal flaw with this book is just how poorly it's written. There are serious time line inconsistencies, jarring story jumps and numerous contradictions throughout.
Even worse, Christopher Ciccone's non-stop celebrity fawning and name-dropping do little more than to underscore his sister's accusations that he's living off her name. I don't read a lot of tell-all books so I have little with which to compare this, but Ciccone is, by the far, the most unlikable and unreliable narrator I have encountered in a very, very long time.
Still, I read every word of it - that's thanks to the lure of Madonna and has very little to do with her brother other than his willingness to spill a smidgen of dirt.
krystyne88's review against another edition
4.0
Guilty pleasure read. It was very real and fascinating.
kimmyannie's review against another edition
2.0
This was an ok book. I have always been a Madonna fan,so I was interested. I think it is told from the point of view of a scorned, jealous brother. Still, pretty interesting little insights into her world. There's so much better literature out there!
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not a huge Madonna fan but I was in the mood for a biography and thought this one of her brother side of the story would be interesting. This one is hard to think about. In one hand Indo agree that Christopher should have had more time to heal and get a little more "me time" before writing the book as it came across very "I'm the victim" which don't always go well in a memoir or an biography? More fitting for a therapist session. But in the other hand I do understand that he was hurt and for what I've read, been emotional abused for many years and probably needed space to tell his side of the story, and for that I thought he was very brave and strong
vgk's review against another edition
3.0
I don't usually read tell-alls, but this was an OK one. I was a fan of Madonna's work from the very first release up until Ray of Light, after which I lost interest in her completely. While I enjoyed this early work, I have always suspected that personally she is an utter bitch, power-hungry, entirely self-involved and supremely egotistical - a view that I have come to from viewing her work, reading her interviews and also informed by a friend who interviewed for a dancing role with her and said she was weird, controlling and unpleasant. This book confirms all these suspicions about her character and behaviour. Somewhat alarmingly though, these characteristics appear to be her starting point, and over time the complete lack of resistance from those around her causes this ugliness to swell, until by her marriage to Guy Ritchie, she is a complete, unmitigated (and somewhat unhinged) monster. Beyond this, I was a tad surprised at the extent of her miserliness, which is truly overwhelming. Christopher has his own problems, and it was pleasing to see by the end of the book (2008) he is in therapy and dealing with them. Madonna on the other hand, as history has shown (I write this review in 2023), just goes from bad to worse.
snarkytorta's review against another edition
3.0
It held my interest because I’m a Madonna fan. Hearing About Madonna through her brother’s does lend humanity to the pop music icon but the overall takeaway seems to be a brother who is really good at playing the victim. Is he jealous of his sister? I don’t know, but he does seem very unhappy.