Diana Ross: by J. Randy Taraborelli
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Book Reviews of Diana Ross:
Book Review: I didn't mean to read the whole thing....but the book drew me in.
Summary: 4 Stars
I actually picked up this book hoping to learn more about Ross's relationship with Michael Jackson. Well, as it turns out, there is very little about that topic in this book. BUT - after thumbing through the books passages - I was drawn in by the author's smooth and inviting writing style. I went back to the beginning - and from then on I couldn't put this book down. It was a worthwhile investment of time - and I look forward to the author's updated biography on MJ which is due out in August.Book Review: A More Compassioante, (Repentant?) Tarraborelli
Summary: 3 Stars
Firstly, I have written a review of this book when I initially purchsed the European release many months ago. You can find it on Amazon.com UK.
After many years of reflection J. Randy resurfaces to make merchandise of Diana Ross once again. I guess this is his third strike at the bitc... I mean bat. Personally, I don't find Miss Ross a bitch (after all that I have read and heard and seen her say about herself). Do I think she is difficult at times?, has she been selfish and thoughtless?, yes, undoubtedly. She has admitted as much and it is available for everyone to see on youtube in her interview with Babs Walters.
J. Randy's book is a more objective look at the legend that he so willingly chopped to shreds in his previous book, "Call Her Miss Ross." This time he injects his thought and observations in the text. It tends to place some of the more critical and potentially damaging anedcotes and stories in a more reasonable light.
One positive thing about all of this author's books is the amount of research that he cites for quotes, proof and conclusions. He cannot be faulted there. He does not deal in mere legend and myth.
What frustrates me most about this book is that J. Randy does not seem to be objective in his assessment of how the Return to Love Tour went awry. He puts the blame squarely on the shoulders of his subject. He alleges that if Diana wanted a reunion there would have been one. He gives the unrealistic and ill-informed Mary Wilson a pass on her antics and resort to name calling IN THE MEDIA once again; calling "Diane" selfish and unfair and that "Since she was a child she always wanted everything for herself." After all these years Mary still beleives she is Diana's entertainment value equal. She was offered $3 million to be a part of the tour. Why didn't she just say that she didn't want to sing "behind Diane" anymore and refuse the offer? SHE is the reason the tour could not go on. She is lucky "Diane" even wanted to look at her let alone harmonize with her. I would ask J. Randy this: If you had a so-called sister-friend who repeatedly resorted to media tricks to settle disagreements, wrote a scathing book about your behavior behind the scenes, 20 years before; would you be willing to remain close friends with them? Would you still feel kindly if you had helped your friend financially and only the bad was included in the original book? I would like to have seen JRT do a balanced assessment of Diana and Mary's relationship. This is really what people want to hear about anyway. Only the diehard Supremes fans care what Mary Wilson has to say about anything. Just like the author she seems to have attached her publicity wagon to her sister-friend's fame or infamy depending upon your view.
This book is more a definitive work about Diana Ross than his previous two. Well written and many years too late. Perhaps this more gentle view of a woman loved and vilified equally is his money motivated way of apologizing.
I understand that Cindy Birdsong is shopping her memoirs with a literary agent. I hope it happens.
Book Review: Still don't know why she is a DIVA and not PSYCHO!
Summary: 3 Stars
I really enjoyed Taraborelli's book on Michael Jackson and decided to read his book on Diana Ross. I am 35 years old and really am not fully aware of Motown's impact on those times other than they appeared to be ground breaking times. Diana Ross really proved to me to be more what we call today Bi-Polar than a DIVA. She was mean and sometimes just uncaring. I really don't like the fact that after Michael Jackson named her in his will she couldn't even show any respect to him by showing up for his memorial or burial. She and MJ may not have had a close relationship over the past few years but she could have at least showed up for someone who thought enough of her to ask her to care for his kids if he should pass on. I enjoyed her daughter Tracee Ellis Ross on the show Girlfriends and her son in the movie ATL.
Back to the book...Taraborrelli I think wrote this book more as fan and supportor of Diana than an objective observer. Especially since I think he wrote MJ's book in an objective manner, I just didn't get that with this book. The book was too long and not much substance. I knew her older daughter was Berry Gordy's before she 'announced' to the world that she was, the child is more of a spiting image of Gordy than Gordy's other children. He only grazed over her relationship with Gene Simmons ( of KISS Fame) and her marriage to her last husband. AND what is Diana up to these days. And what about that hair. Why did she decided to wear it that big? Who was really in control of her image, HER?
I just didn't learn anything new about Diana Ross nor did this book change my impression of her. If she walked into my room right now I would be happy to greet her but only because she is in today's standards a living legend. One appreciative note: I think it was great when he mentioned that Halle Berry thanked every well know black actress when she accepted her Oscar but forgot to thank Diana Ross. I missed that and do think Diana should have been recognized for her Oscar nod for "Lady Sings the Blues".
Book Review: A Fan's Notes
Summary: 3 Stars
An unabashed fan of Ross and the Supremes, the author of this bio lets all his own biases show. The writing is a little too gushing in places and the uncritical judgments seldom tempered. Still, if you don't already know this familiar story, there's interesting fodder here because the author has been an insider more or less for decades. The early years of the Supremes are well dissected and readers learn much, not the least of which is how much the group recorded beyond the hits. Ross's later years are also well documented and her somewhat sad decline and recent DUI chronicled. This is a very long book, so be prepared to wade through.Book Review: Very readable piece of fiction
Summary: 3 Stars
As for readability, I'd give this book 5 stars. It read like a novel - with dialogue and drama and character exploration. But, is it really a "biography?" - that's not how it came across to me. I thought it read more like one obsessed author's suppositions, speculations, fantasies and desire to dish a bit of dirt. For example, he'll ascribe a motive or intention to some action Diana took. C'mon, as if he (or anyone but her) knew what she was thinking at that point in time. Buy it as fun read.....but go into it knowing that the author has filled in a lot of blanks with his own biases.