Life with My Sister Madonna by Christopher Ciccone, Wendy Leigh
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Book Reviews of Life with My Sister Madonna
Book Review: Be Cautious in the Divas You Support....
Summary: 5 Stars
I identified with most every page in this book. I live in Hollywood and have worked with--and been very close to- THREE worldwide famous Divas, and two of those "relationships" ended up disasteroulsy for all of the same reasons mentioned in this book. Even the third Diva, whom I am still close with, has been hurtful to me more times than I can ever count.
The problem starts, when they begin to believe their own publicity. They begin to BELIEVE they are immortal and that the rest of us are "mere mortals." Where 'we' must we must be held accountable for any bad behavior, cruelties, and occasional thoughtlessness, THEY are magically forgiven, thus living by a completely different set of social rules. They feel they are ABOVE the rules in society that the rest of us must follow. Often their egos and demands go far beyond the norm, and that is when their more personal relationships fail. Often....they don't even notice (or care).
How does this happen? It happens because of you. The sychophants that forgive any and all bad things a famous person may say or do, because you can DANCE to their music, or sadly, because you may be an admirer of bitchiness. The person I saw in the vile "Truth or Dare" film is NOT someone I would admire. I saw a shallow, demanding, thoughtless, totally self-centered brat who managed to make every young gay guy aspire to be rich and bitchy, yet DEVOID of any substancial talent. It looks as though things haven't changed much.
TWO of the Divas I mentioned above have a LEGION of gay fans and LET ME TELL YOU, they are not nearly as supportive of YOU, as you are of them. YOU PAY THEIR BILLS and keep their names in the papers! I am dying to reveal their names, but I won't. The gay community is easily used. Indeed Madonna is gay friendly. But why then, does she let her current husband chronically say homophobic remarks and not defend her obvious supporters? Or even her own brother! BELIEVE ME---gay guys will defend Madonna TO THE DEATH (I have been witness to it!) but she will not do the same for them. This needs to be exploited and I am happy that aspect is included in this book.
As of 2008, we live in a very celebrity obsessed culture. It gets a little dangerous when we begin to think of them as Gods and Godesses and imortals and p*ss on those who are not "famous." This book shows you the REAL Madonna, as a human being, one on one. If she were at all talented (which in her case is EXTREMELY arguable) one might be able to back her up to some degree. But as it is--she was always bratty--always got what she wanted by whatever means possible, often at other's expense--thus leaning on very, very limited talent. Now before these young queens bash me and continue to aspire to be brats, bitchy, and rich with limited talent--consider this: Madonna is a HETEROSEXUAL FEMALE, in a HETEROSEXUAL MALE dominated world. She can get away with this for obvious reasons. Can a gay man get the same results? NOT BY A LONG SHOT. Not a chance. Hell...a gay man can hardly aspire to that pathetic Tila Tequila's level of fame, much less Madonnas! Madonna has never been an outsider (as you will read) rarely had hard times (the dropp-off in Times Square with no money and a pair of ballet slippers is nonsense), and certainly never faced murderous discrimination. In fact, she even MADE UP most of her hard times so you could "idenify" with her on SOME level! So this complete and total adoration and TOTAL forgiveness of any and all of her bad behavior is unfathomable to many. It's got to stop, and I hope this book is the beginning of that. These bitches need to THANK those "little people" who helped get them to where they are today.
"But why write it in a BOOK!?" you ask. Because with the public AT LARGE reading it--is the only way to get her attention apparently. That is all she appears to care about. I know only too well, the irrationality, the petulance, and the way these kind of ladies can make themselves impossible to contact to work out problems with, privately.
Book Review: A great, inside story of an icon gone bad.
Summary: 5 Stars
I heard about this book and after reading an excerpt, had to get it. I am not the biggest Madonna fan, but as an icon shes been around forever, and I thought this would be an interesting inside view, and it was. Christopher's view was an honest, only brother would know picture of Madonna. It was well written and very interesting. It is very thorough, going from their middle class childhood through the humble beginnings and various incarnations of Madonna. It shows that the family was pretty dysfunctional, having lost their mother at an early age, the 8 siblings are very detached from one another. No mention of her late mother is ever spoken about in the home. Its like she just vanished one day. Their father remarries, and initially no one warms to her, the "evil" stepmother, although in years to come Madonna is exactly like her. Even more disturbing is finding out 99% of Truth or Dare was staged and isn't a true documentary at all. At one point Madonna and Christopher go to their mothers grave in the cemetary and the Truth or Dare film crew mysteriously show up to film it. Christopher is incensed and refuses to use their mother in that way. She basically uses her dead mother as an extra in her movie. Madonna of course, is only too happy to be filmed crying at the gravesite and performing all kinda of theatrics for the film. Madonna becomes close to Christopher in their 20's when they bond over dance lessons and an interest in the arts. That takes them on journeys to Nyc and beyond, playing club dates and having Madonna do whatever she needed to do to have her demo played in the clubs. It's sad to see that someone as fortunate and as successful as Madonna totally abandones her family financially when she makes it and continues to do so. Christopher suggested at one point that she help pay off their grandma's house because she's struggling and she had a big hand in raising them after their mother died. Madonna refuses and only sends her $500 a month to help with bills. What the hell?? The house in Michigan was prob a dollar and she couldn't pay it off?? Several times in his life, Christopher gives up his entire life- jobs, apartments, etc to run to Madonna when she beckons for him to work for her or live with her, just to have him go all the way there and shes like "Never mind, I already hired someone else". What??? Her lack of empathy is appalling. Madonna would have times where she wouldnt pay him for jobs he did for her. She would conive him out of money consistently, when all he wanted was a "normal" relationship with his sister and family. Its sad overall because Christopher has virtually no relationship with his niece and nephews, and obviously he and Madonna dont talk anymore either. She's just a mess as a human being. It's obvious the religious teachings of Kabbalah are wasted on her by the way she treats her family and close friends. It's all about Madonna, what can be done to further launch Madonna, and what she can use people for. She is completely all about herself and all I know is that England can have her. She didn't even adopt her son David with the best intentions in mind. It all stinks of a PR stunt. "Look at me, Im single handedly saving Africa"... In the end, I'm sure when she gets to the gates of heaven, she'll find out that treating your family horribly for years and years, and being an overall miserable person won't be washed out by adopting an orphan and making it look good and sincere. Karma's indeed a bitch and I'd love to live to see her get hers.Book Review: Insight Into an Icon
Summary: 5 Stars
Life with My Sister Madonna, by Christopher Ciccone, is a revealing look into the life of Madonna, the "global icon". It is also about Christopher, their relationship, family, friends and fans.
The book begins with a prologue that takes place in London in 1993 and portrays the good times between brother and sister. Christopher explains that Madonna is an insomniac: "unbridled desire for fame and fortune, you see, is incompatible with sleep."
Madonna is portrayed as someone with both a massive ego and riddled with insecurities. She was very nervous about performing for the 1991 Academy Awards, because it was in front of established actors, "whose respect she desperately wanted to win."
Those who worked for her--including Christopher--knew to praise her during and after performances and movie premiers--no matter how poorly she acted, no matter what. When Madonna hired a new person to dress her between performances, for example, Christopher told him to keep quiet, except when Madonna asked, How do I look?" The reply: "Wonderful Madonna, wonderful."
Ciccone writes that Madonna wanted to be a great movie star: "I wish her well, but secretly believe that the only part that she is truly capable of playing is that of herself, Madonna, a part that she has created and curated."
Ouch.
The first chapter begins with their childhood in Rochester, Michigan. Tragically, their mother died when Christopher was 3 years old and Madonna, 5. The father remarries and there are 8 children.
The children are expected to do daily chores and are punished for transgressions; all save Madonna. Christopher writes that she rarely had to do chores and was virtually never punished. He wrote that Joan, his step mom, even seemed a bit afraid of Madonna.
Turns out, Madonna looks like their mother and is dad's favorite.
The book progresses though their lives. In high school, Madonna secretly took ballet classes and got Christopher involved as well. He explains that it was not for his company--which he desperately wanted; rather, the instructor, who Madonna adored, needed a male dancer.
Christopher believes that the disputes between brother and sister come with the addition of Guy Richie into Madonna's life. Richie is portrayed a homophobic jerk and it is obvious that there is no love between the author and Richie.
Ciccone writes that in 2001, Madonna: "treats me as if I am nothing other than a serf paid to decorate her house." He writes about how cheap Madonna is, especially in light of how much money she makes. In 2001, Richie and Madonnas worth were said to be worth $260 million. And Madonna had the highest female annual income in Britain of $43.8 million dollars. Ciccone writes that Madonna perpetually underpaid him, disputed payments and blackmailed Christopher over money. For example, he would not get paid unless he took Kabbalah classes with her.
No matter how badly Madonna treated her brother, he always came back for more, incapable of stopping himself. Madonna's power, so the book indicates, strong from childhood, only got stronger as she aged--making her a powerful, successful magnet that nobody--not even her brother--could resist.
A compelling read.
By the author of the award winning book, Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet.
Book Review: Madonna Loyalist to Attack Christopher C! --- Updated!
Summary: 5 Stars
Not since Mary Wilson smashed the walls down of Rossnation with her blistering novels about the Supremes and that Ross woman has a book cause such an uproar!
La Christopher "Chi-Chi" Ciccone dishes the dirt about his famous sister Madonna.
Chi-Chi doesn't hold back and let's Her Vadge have right in her vise grip coochie.
I'd hate to be around the Ciccone table at Thanksgiving. Me thinks Ms Mo might throw a carving knife at her brother.
OK, my previous "review" was before I read the book and did it just to stir it up in here. I see that it worked.
I just finished reading the book today. I really enjoyed it. It's entertaining and interesting. Christopher tells HIS story of his life with his famous sister, Madonna.
The press as always taken the "juicy" parts of the book and ran with it. Which is expected. What I got from this book is that it's probably a bit of therapy for Christopher to write this.
There is nothing shocking about this book. Everyone knows that Madonna is a damn good and smart business woman. She took the recording industry by storm. Madonna jumped feet first into a world of cigar chomping, arrogant white men and threw it right back in their faces and made millions and the world stood up and took notice. She by her own words isn't the best singer or dancer. But she had a vision and drive to make it and she DID. I have always admired her for that. I think she has a great talent to entertian people and by the concert ticket and record sales she sure proved that.
That being said, I'm a fan not a fanatic. There of course was one time when I felt her walked on water. But I'm a gay man of 47 and while I still love my icons, I can now see them in a different "Ray of Light".
This book doesn't take away any effection I have for Madonna as a performer nor take away any love that I have for her for the years of joy her music has given me. It just shows her in a light that I am not shocked to read.
Of course this book will create an uproar. But isn't just what La Ciconne has always wanted? The Madonna Army is throwing fits about this. Defending their Queen, foaming at the mouth writing fake reviews about a book they didn't read. The Madonna haters are jumping for joy pointing fingers saying "I told you so". So what? That's what makes Madonna Ciconne "Madonna".
Overall the book is really fun to read and I read it in three days. If you like to read about the inside lives of the famous, you'll enjoy this book.
On a person note, I'd like to direct this to Christopher, Madonna and their brothers and sisters: While you all may not get along or not speak to each other I offer this word of advice. I would LOVE to be able to fight, laugh and talk to MY brother. But I can't. My only brother died of AIDS in 1989 and wish I could still have him here. Be glad that at this time in your lives you all have each other still on earth.
Book Review: Madonna! Madonna! Madonna! just look how perfect that looks!
Summary: 5 Stars
Ok, I purchased the audiobook on itunes, as well purchased the book from amazon... I have to say the end of the book made me cry, thinking about my own sister whom lives in New York,,,and I live in Dallas. The books ending is what got me...Leaving me with the message that I must never become estranged from my sister that I love deeply. Come on people, the end of the book is what "books" are all about. First of all, he claims to say that that Guy, and Sean are homophobes.... Yet he gets upset when his sister Madonna so called "calls him out". Are you proud to be gay Christopher, or are you ashamed, or is it that socially you think of yourself as a homophobe, you don't want people to think of you as a normal homosexual... Oh wait, maybe Christopher would like to be crowned as the "ultimate fag of all fags", Madonna's Gay Brother......Madonna's only gay brother, Christopher Ciccone, gay brother of Madonna!!!!!! See how much better that looks....
Madonna is Madonna, thats why we love her.....We all know she's amazingly ruthless, fabulous, nervous, willing, curious, beautiful, the only one, worth every penny I spend on her, bitchy, sexy, and ruling the world....Christopher sure said "only" about every other sentence refering to the many thousands of dollars she paid him.... His is Christopher Ciccone, She is Madonna..... That's that. I appreciated the book, and at the same time fell harder for Madonna .... I love her, I loved the way she handled every situation with Christopher! She could have not been any more perfect.... That is how I see her, and how I fell for her application to always stand beside her as she promises with every worship, I will receive everything Madonna has to offer.... Christopher called out alot of famous people about drug use, insinuating in my opinion that Madonna is double standard for being friends with coke whores, yet making him go to rehab... She does not employ the starlettes he calls out. And foremost the starlettes are not her brother.......She loves her brother, and just as any other human being would treat a family member on cocaine..... With a deep control of love........
Madonna has always admitted her bitchiness and has never denied being a control freak..... Christopher is upset because he can't have full reign of his sister... If he would have not been so p@*?y whipped, he would still have a life partner and would not be following her accomplishments with self entitlement as the plan.....
I apologize for the run ons, and fragments, but the point is there, I love love Madonna.......
I love Madonna..... And know one thing, as a 31 year old gay man can hold Madonna responsible for always sending every head lift, amazing music to dream to, assurance that it will be that, and only that....And for always making me so damn excited to live knowing that she is alive with me. The anticapation of her next feature keeps me co-ordinating and feauturing myself.......xoxoxoxoxox
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