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From:Christopher Ciccone , Wendy Leigh , Simon Spotlight Entertainment ,
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User Rating: Amazon Sales Rank:#3909 |
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4 of 4 customers found the following review helpful:
 Madonna: According to Christopher Ciccone, 2008-09-09
Well we all knew Madonna has a brother. We've seen him in the documentary Truth or Dare, taking Madonna's abuse backstage. And wasn't that him dancing with her in the "Lucky Star" video? But did you know he was right there with her from the very beginning? Christopher Ciccone's book on Madonna seems like trash at first, but on the other hand, doesn't it seem like the truth? We know Madonna can be difficult at times, we've heard she's a little stingy, and she drops friends and acquaintaces like out of style fashion. I am a huge Madonna fan and I love her, but let's face it: she's a diva. That's just how it is. None of us were there with Madge and Chris, so we don't really know what all happened between them. But there does seem to be something genuine about Chris, whatever his intentions with this book are. Madonna certainly isn't going to care one way or another about his detailed disappointments over not directing her past few tours, getting slighted and mistreated over construction of her various homes, and getting the brush off once Guy stepped into the picture. The part about Guy nearly running over his foot really got me. I was convinced. However, Guy, although he does seem to be a 'man's man' really doesn't strike me as homophobic, just because he might make a crack or two about gays. Although it's insensitive, straight men do that sometimes, forgetting gay men are in the room. We've all been there! I can't help but agree with Chris when he mentions it was in poor taste of Madonna to visit their mother's grave during Truth or Dare, even "reenacting" the search for the grave. I always felt that was a bit much for the film, using their mother that way. Upon release of this book, I was hesitant to read it, because I knew Chris was angry with Madonna and it would put her in a bad light. It does portray her negatively, but at the same time, Chris still respects and loves her and expresses that. Madonna is incredibly business-saavy, ambitious, and goes in for the kill no matter what. I keep thinking everytime Madonna suppossedly "burns" him, why Chris kept going back for more. Is it really that good of an idea for family to work together? As a Madonna fan, I still recognize she isn't a perfect person and has made mistakes. I believe she has treated some people badly and that sometimes she thinks she's a little above us at times. But I don't have to work with her, and no one forced Christopher at gunpoint to work with her either. All I have to do is listen to her music and enjoy her awesome shows. I will forever be a fan. Chris's book puts him on the fence between bitter-shut out brother and brother scorned who wants closure. This probably wasn't the best way to do it, but it made one great summer read!
2 of 3 customers found the following review helpful:
 I was curious, but it's bad, 2008-09-09
As a Madonna fan, I was naturally curious to read about "Madonna". I think Christopher is a wimp that needs to get his own life. Total sellout for a sister he "loves so much". I'm sure Madonna is no angel, but why keep going back? Clearly he doesn't learn his lesson. It's unnecessarily long and bad.
The only interesting things were the things he described about Madonna, if they are true.
3 of 4 customers found the following review helpful:
Even sharper than a serpent's tooth, 2008-09-08
There is an old saying (I believe from the Bible) to the effect that sharper than a serpent's tooth is an ungrateful child.
Add to that....an ungrateful sibling.
Somewhere along the line, Christopher, Madonna's brother, hitched his wagon to Madonna's star and road that ride for all that it was worth: hobnobbing with celebs, becoming a reasonably successful interior designer after he had designed for Madonna, traveling in private jets, vacationing with Donatella.
Then, Maddonna married Guy Ritchie, and he was no longer the dominant, consistent male influence in her life.
And, suddenly, the sister who was so worth spending time with, traveling with, and being paid by, became an egocentric, ruthless, harridan.
This book is an exercise in pettiness, envy, and backstabbing. And, not very well written to boot.
Christopher is marginally noteworthy, but his noteworthiness comes from his sister, about whom he has very little positive to say after years of living in her limelight.
1 of 2 customers found the following review helpful:
 Trapped by the drugs and lost his place in his sisters world! , 2008-09-07
At times I felt sympathy for Chris and his situation. You felt his sense of loosing himself to care for his sisters needs. That does happen in families for all types of reasons. It was clear that Madonna truly needed her loving and devoted brother as she became more famous. I think their relationship ended and was a casualty of Chris's regular drug use.
It became a complicated story because of his lack of self examination once he started "partying" "doing cocaine every weekend".
He did not see his place lost because of his drug use. However i thought it was clear that was the reason. His denial about his problem with drugs and money problems made me loose concern for him.
Madonna was wise not letting him stay involved or have access to her credit cards and homes, etc. He denies it, but your judgement does change when you're doing drugs habitually, and he was using drugs regualry enough to create all the problems with his sister!
2 of 2 customers found the following review helpful:
Eh!, 2008-09-06
Well, it's not horrible but I'm glad I got it from the library and didn't pay for it.
Mr Ciccone claims that one of the two precepts by which both he and his sister try to live their lives is keeping their word...this, no more than a few pages after Madonna cajoles him to move to New York and live with her (she reneges) and asks him to be one of her dancers (she hires someone else).
Both Mister Ciccone and Madonna seems to be permanently scarred by the early death of their mother.....y'know what? this happens. People die too soon. Move beyond it. It can be done. Not necessarily easily, but it can be done.
Mr Ciccone makes every excuse for his sisters' terrible behavior and the fact of the matter is...there is no excuse. Not all successful people in showbiz are monsters. Most of them are solid, sane working professionals. Madonna is not one of them.
Oh well, I wish them luck. They need it. At the end of the day, this is a sad book. These people enjoy the trappings of success but seem to have very little going for them in the line of their "inner life". That is actually the only thing that can keep you going when it all hits the fan.
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