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Life with My Sister Madonna | 
 enlarge | Authors: Christopher Ciccone, Wendy Leigh
Publisher: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
Category: Book
List Price: $26.00
Buy New: $10.60
You Save: $15.40 (59%)
New (51) Used (23) from $8.50
Avg. Customer Rating:  188 reviews
Sales Rank: 2706
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.2 x 1.4
ISBN: 1416587624
Dewey Decimal Number: 782.42166092
EAN: 9781416587620
ASIN: 1416587624
Publication Date: July 14, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Madonna up close, by the brother who knows her better than anyone. Christopher Ciccone's extraordinary memoir is based on his forty-seven years of growing up with, working with, and understanding the most famous woman of our time, who has intrigued, scandalized, and entertained millions for half a century. Through most of the iconic star's kaleidoscopic career, Christopher played an important role in her life: as her backup dancer, her personal assistant, her dresser, her decorator, her art director, her tour director. If you think you know everything there is to know about Madonna, you are wrong. Only Christopher can tell the full scale, riveting untold story behind Madonna's carefully constructed mythology, and the real woman behind the glittering façade. From their shared Michigan childhood, which Madonna transcended, then whisked Christopher to Manhattan with her in the early eighties, where he slepton her roach-infested floor and danced with her in clubs all over town -- Christopher was with her every step of the way, experiencing her first hand in all her incarnations. The spoiled daddy's girl, the punk drummer, the raunchy Boy Toy, Material Girl, Mrs. Sean Penn, Warren Beatty's glamorous Hollywood paramour, loving mother, Mrs. Guy Ritchie, English grande dame -- Christopher witnessed and understood all of them, as his own life was inexorably entwined with that of his chameleon sister. He tangled with a cast of characters from artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, to Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Moss, Demi Moore, and, of course, Guy Ritchie, whose advent in Madonna's life splintered the loving relationship Christopher once had with her. The mirror image of his legendary sister, with his acid Ciccone tongue, Christopher pulls no punches as he tells his astonishing story. Life with My Sister Madonna is the juicy, can't-put-it-down story you've always wanted to hear, as told by Madonna's younger brother.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 183 more reviews...
 What's It Feels Like For a Brother of a Material Girl October 11, 2008
I first saw this tome at Barnes & Nobles and actually resisted getting it. Considering it was written by her "beloved" brother Christopher, it must be one posterior smooching session. When I read the reviews on Amazon about how this book was a hatchet job on the Queen Bitch herself that I have to grab my own copy, and read it all within two days (hey, I've got a job, PEOPLE!).
It seems Chris has a tale to tell. The book itself re-affirmed what we know or suspected about Lady M herself: a tight-waded, egocentric, calculating, publicity-hungry harpy who is one step away from flying around in a broom. Well, to a Madonna fanatic, the fact that she IS one and the sheer spectacle of her being one and getting away with it with impunity is one of the secrets of her success.
On the other hand, one cannot help but sympathized with Christopher on how Madonna used and abused him, and there are several examples of Madonna's behavior that I cannot excuse in anybody...like having her sister Paula pay her own way to her wedding to Guy Ritchie? How tacky is THAT?
As for Christopher himself, as many other reviewers have pointed out, he is no doubt talented, and with friends with Demi, Gwyneth, Kate, Naomi, etc. etc., he can't parlay that into a career of his own? In the business side of thing, Madonna is the one who did all the real hard work: writing songs, photo shoots, video shoots, singing and dancing in tours and promotional appearances, endless sessions in the recording studios. It seems in the end, Chris just expected his sister to keep throwing him a bone.
Also, I agree with other reviewers that Mr. Ciccone downplayed his own drug use. The fact that he bragged about doing a "key line" with Jack Nicholson and lamented flushing into the toilet the "finest" grade of coke (as a non-user I wouldn't know to save my life) he's ever had, and actually showed Courtney Love how to do coke, I'd say Madonna's suspicions have some legitimate basis. And the fact that he is always broke...as in Prince's song "Pop Life", I think Chris' money went up into his nostrils.
Overall, this book is entertaining and fun. In the end, Madonna may be the "bad girl" here, but don' tell me Chris himself isn't totally blameless. It hasn't change my status being a Madonna lunatic. After I watched Truth or Dare, I came to the realization that while I will always enjoy her music, videos and concerts, I wouldn't want to know her personally. My relationship with Mrs. Ritchie is like millions of others...we pay and she entertains. A fair exchange, I'd say. Any dirt on her personal life is just a little bonus to amuse us all.
 Biotrash Fabulousness October 8, 2008
As a professionale crap reviewer (google jackie jones and no, I am not the jazz singer in Chicago but isn't she great!!!), I have this to say...
Christopher Ciccone is a brat. A talented brat. But say, if EYE wrote a bio on my step sisters, Bette, Joan, and Lana, I would be ashamed! Ashamed! But thank GOD my painting's sold.
Probably the best dirt since Mommy Dearest and Cheryl Crane. Totally worth it.
jj
Specially fror big time fans October 5, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book is "can't put down" is you are a total Madonna fan, many small details behind the big superstar, nothing that you wouldn't imagine but lots of confirmations about the cold blooded diva. Madonna devotes herself to becoming her own brand and makes it at whatever price, over family or friends... yet to know if there is another way of becoming an icon, i personally don't think so. A big price for big stardom. And yes it is so lonely at the top!
 NOTHING SURPRISING October 4, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
THANKFULLY I PICKED THIS BOOK UP AT THE LIBRARY, OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE CONSIDERED IT A WASTE OF MONEY.
THERE WAS NO INFORMATION IN THIS BOOK THAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT MADONNA.SHE IS A SELF-PROCLAIMED CONTROL FREAK AND MISER. AFTER FINISHING THE BOOK I COULDN'T FEEL SORRY FOR CHRISTOPHER AT ALL. HE ALLOWED MADONNA TO WALK ALL OVER HIM DURING THIER ENTIRE RELATIONSHIP. I'M STILL NOT SURE WHY HE NEVER STOOD HIS GROUND. WAS IT HIS LOVE FOR MADONNA, FEAR OF MADONNA, OR HIS LOVE OF THE GLAMOROUS LIFE MADONNA AFFORDED HIM TO LIVE?
CHRISTOPHER SOUNDS MORE LIKE A DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEE, WHO TOOTS HIS HORN ENTIRELY TOO MUCH.THE NAME DROPPING GETS A LITTLE ANNOYING ALSO.
MAYBE SHE GOT TIRED OF HIS EXPECTATIONS OF HER AND JUST THREW IN THE TOWEL.
 He clearly didnt learn much from his big sister! September 29, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book gets 3 stars simply because he's writing from the point of view of somoene who knows Madonna intimately & you get a better perspective of who she is, unlikle most bios written about Madonna but overall the attemp was lackluster & didnt quite live up to the hype.
His attempt at making Madonna look bad didnt work if you ask me---i didnt feel one bit sorry for him throughout most of this book and found myself taking Madonnas side more often than not. He writes extensively on how often Madonna helped him, opened doors for him & introduced her to her glitterati of celeberity connections. Yet all he wanted to do was party & snort coke. Too bad Chris you werent resourceful like your sister & took those connections and turned them into something big. The part in the book where his interior design biz is taking off and Demi Moore asks him to do her house is perfect example of how quickly he was able to screw up golden oppportunities. he goes & buys a bunch of stuff from IKEA, has it delivered to her house and then sends her the bill. When she isnt amused, he chalks it up to her "not getting the joke". Needsless to say she didnt use him.
Madonna is business minded that is how she conducts her career & why she is on top. Too bad you didnt take notes Chris, you'd still have that interior design business if you had. He writes about not using contracts when he did interior design jobs for Madonna because she was his sister--yet she was all business with him from the jump. Thats your tough luck you didnt take the hint & get professional. Family or no family if youre running a business you draw up contracts. & when he does finally start using one, its more out of immature spite than anything. & yes Chris you do/did have a drug problem despite what the doctors told you. How can you write about snorting coke w/ Naomi Campbell & Kate Moss on one page & claim to not have a drug problem on another? Denial. & Madonna tried to help him kick the habit & he didnt take it. Oh well!
Yes Madonna is insecure. Yes Madonna is a control freak. Yes Madonna is tight with a dollar. Yes Madonna can be a self-serving b****. But arent all bigtime major superstars? Sheesh they dont get to the top blowing all their money, being nice to everyone & letting people get away with sh**. Like someone else here said it is, what it is. If he was smart he wouldve learned something from his sister and made something of his self. He wouldna had to write this damn book.
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