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From:Simon & Schuster Audio
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User Rating: Amazon Sales Rank:#271628 |
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 Sprinkle the people you love with...sort of...love, 2008-11-14
The quote on the back jacket of this books feels true: you can't understand Madonna without understanding her brother Christopher. He proves it with this book, the first thing I've ever read about Madonna that makes her seem like a true, flesh-and-blood human being. She should be grateful to Christopher for many things, but particularly this one: he helped us see her as a real woman, warts and all. Horrible! she would probably respond. However, I can identify so much more with her because of this portrait. Here are two children who have been grieving the early death of their mother. One is a driven Me Monster, the other a confused, frightened little boy who just needed a lot of hugs, and confused the Me Monster with the mother he didn't get. All those of us who didn't have a mother or didn't get our mother's love can feel for both siblings. Sadly, unlike her friend Gianni Versace, who splurged royally on his sibling, and made her feel totally loved, Madonna appears to have "cheaped out" on Christopher, in a push-pull relationship that has him sleeping in crappy hotel rooms, flying coach while Big Sister is living it up in first class, and often withholding money for jobs he did for her, as control-freak blackmail. Ugh. That's not a pretty picture. But it is understandable, because her mother was tragically lost to her, that Madonna is stingy, greedy and driven, and that she doesn't know the concept, "SHOWER the people you love with love." Of course, she's probably different with her kids, but if anyone needed her total, one hundred per cent love and support - and someone who gave his to her, unconditionally - it's Christopher. I hope Madonna gets onto herself and stops thinking that she's "done so much" for her kid brother, because so far, no matter how conciliatory Christopher is, finally, in this book, it's obvious that Madonna has let her brother down again and again, coldly and imperiously. Hey, Maddie - he was there for you all the way, right from the start. How about playing against type and crawling on your hands and knees to beg for his forgiveness? I can assure you, this is the true message of all spiritual disciplines: unconditional love and amends (to the hilt) for one's crappy behavior. And snap it up. You're not getting any younger. P.S. My kid brother passed away four years ago and it ripped my heart out. Believe me, there is nothing sadder than losing a sweet baby brother who adored you and whom you adored - your "buddy" from early on. The regrets at how you dropped the ball with Christopher would be legion if you lost him.
 Good Read but Predictable, 2008-11-12
It's a very good read but I don't think I can say I learned anything new besides Madonna's relationship with different family members which were NOT surprising in the least. I think this book pretty much confirms the assumptions that have always been made by the public about Madonna and her character and how she pretty much stepped on people (and slept with a few) to make it to the top.
You can definitely feel the resentment and anger that her brother has but he does commend her drive, motivation and self promotion as very big part of her success, but also says that's her only talent. He rubs me the wrong way and there are quite a few things I tend not to believe because I truly believe that he feels she owes him a living.
I think she would have been happy to keep him on the payroll but she totally cut him off because of his drug problem which he "glosses over" in the book. Saying that because Madonna is so against drugs she turned his drug use into something that it's not - yeah ok. He is a drug addict and she will not contribute to the problem and the book is how he will still continue to make money off of her but this time without her consent.
Accurate description of siblings, 2008-11-11
I encountered Madonna in 1978 at U of M and I knew then and there that she was either crazy or on her way to stardom. I never spoke to her (I was much younger and was looking at the school) - she certainly made sure she was the center of any attention when I saw her.
What I find fascinating about this book is the basic sibling relationship. Did he live through his sister? Sure he did. Did she use her control over him? Sure she did. Can anyone with a dynamic family see themselves in this type of book? Yes we can.
This book is not boring and if nothing else it makes you feel a little bit better about your own crazy family.
2 of 2 customers found the following review helpful:
 Boring., 2008-10-26
This book was a snore. I was hoping to read a little insight into Madonna's career during the mid-eighties, but that portion only spanned a page or two. This double spaced book reads like a memo or just notes of a book, with only a few details on the things you would really want to know. "The tour was a success. She sold XX albums. She flew to ___. Then she came out with the song___. It sold XX albums. I dressed her for the next tour." etc. etc. and then follows up with pages of whining.
Madonna's brother Christopher is one of those people who never reach for the check, they assume you will pay for lunch because you make more than them. They won't even make the *gesture* of pretending they will pay for it and let you wrangle it from their hands. He mentions throughout the book how much money Madonna makes and can't understand why she won't pay for X, Y and Z with all of the money she has. Christopher, stop being a leach. You have made enough off this woman, and this money is hers to spend as she sees fit. There is nothing worse than someone *expecting* you will pay their way, just because you can. That makes them not want to do it!
Christopher is also convinced that we will all agree with him that only doing *bumps* of coke rather than lines, is no big deal and nothing for Madonna or anyone else to terminate employment over. He says that to Madonna, you are either on drugs or you are not. Uh, yeah! That is pretty much what the rest of the world thinks as well, my friend. If you fail a drug test for a prospective employer, you cannot tell them "I only do bumps, not lines" and expect them to chuckle and say "welcome aboard!" Madonna was correct in not hiring you when you were on drugs.
Anyway, this book tells you little about Madonna. It really made a fool out of her brother, who seemed so sure we would all agree with him on drug use and letting the rich pick up the tab for his life. If you hate people who play the victim, this book will annoy you.I was shocked a full grown man would not see the error of his ways and how spoiled he was. He is completely clueless and this book was vendictive and a waste of time. It was pathetic.
2 of 2 customers found the following review helpful:
Sad Sibling Story, 2008-10-15
Yes, Christopher partied and helped Madonna along in her career, but like other reviews said....Madonna changed...she started having a family and children...and wanted a stable home life with a husband too. That puts your life in a whole different world. Christopher could not relate to that. He wanted things to be like old times. Yes, Madonna has a big ego, etc., etc., but she was done with the whole partying thing, and I think that's fine. Christopher needs to move on.
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