by Vicky Duggins
Member since:
September 6, 2006

Book Review - Life With My Sister Madonna by Christopher Ciccone

July 28, 2008 01:59 PM EDT (Updated: July 28, 2008 02:53 PM EDT)
views: 214 | comments: 24
Don't spend your money or your gift cards on this book.  Don't even bother checking it out of the library.  This book is a rip-off from beginning to end.

Christopher Ciccone, Madonna's brother, relates very little about what Madonna was like as a child and adolescent.  The two biggest "revelations" in this book are that Madonna has a large ego and that she is cheap, as in frugal.   Who could have guessed?

You'll know nothing more about Madonna when you finish this book than you did when you started it. 

Christopher began working for Madonna as a dresser and moved up to directing some of her tour shows.  All was good until Madonna decided Christopher was becoming too distracted by cocaine and alcohol to do a good job anymore.  Christopher feigns astonishment that Madonna could confuse what he claims is his occasional partying with an addiction problem.  But Christopher went to rehab anyway, just to please his sister.

Christopher claims it's not his drug and alcohol use that has caused the estrangement between himself and Madonna.  He blames Guy Ritchie, Madonna's husband, saying that Ritchie is extremely homophobic and doesn't want him around.

This book is very repetitious.  Because Christopher chose not to really disclose much of anything about his sister, he tells the reader the same thing over and over, but with a bit of different sentence structure each time.

The only reason I finished this book was because I'd paid $17 + shipping for it.
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Comments: 24

Sandy F. Jul 28, 2008, 2:04pm EDT
Don't you hate the celebrity writing craze? I don't even buy them in the first place, as a writer, I hate that they can get a bad book published and I can't get a good book published because of my name, or lack of same. I think they are dragging down the quality of what's available for readers. Sigh...... This was a good review, thanks.
señoritafish (oxyjulis californica) Jul 28, 2008, 2:04pm EDT
Well, I'm not that interested in Madonna anyway, but thanks for letting us know about a stinker. Books written by less well off relatives are mostly just a way to make a buck out of sour grapes anyway. ;)
Apryl Just Apryl Jul 28, 2008, 2:18pm EDT
I heard it was bad. I saw him give an interview and he didn't have very much to say in that either, some thought he was being vague. I just thought he probably didn't have much to say, you have confirmed that. Sell it on e-bay.
Vikki M. Jul 28, 2008, 2:30pm EDT
I saw this book at Borders the other day and was curious about it. I hadn't heard of it prior to noticing it on the table. Glad I didn't waste my money! Thanks for the review.
jennifer b. Jul 28, 2008, 2:30pm EDT
Thanks for the warning. I tend to avoid these celebrity type books anyway.
Ron B. Jul 28, 2008, 2:53pm EDT
Thanks Vicky.
Vicky Duggins Jul 28, 2008, 3:07pm EDT
Sandy - I suppose he'll make a chunk of change from this book, but he was careful not to let out anything that would cause permanent estrangement with Madonna.

seniorita fish - I'm a fan of Madonna's music, not so much a fan of the person. But I thought, if anyone has some juicy secrets closeted away, Madonna would. Her brother was careful not to say anything she'd take offense at.

Apryl - I saw him on Larry King and ordered the book. Little did I know he wasn't holding back the "good stuff" on Larry King. There is no "good stuff."

Vikki - I think this turkey will be on the $5 table in a month.

jennifer - I usually don't buy them, I get them at the library. Wish I'd done that with this one.

Ron - Anytime :)
The two biggest "revelations" in this book are that Madonna has a large ego and that she is cheap, as in frugal.

I'd also say she's "cheap," as in "trashy," but I don't need a book to confirm that one, either. =)

Vicky, your last line KILLED me! Hahahahahaha -- too funny.
Sue * Jul 28, 2008, 5:01pm EDT
I saw Christopher on televison, and he seemed way to sleezy to be honest. Thanks for letting everyone know to save their money.
Amanda "middle of nowhere" C. Jul 28, 2008, 5:10pm EDT
I think he's just trying to make money off his sister. Thanks for being so honest.
Marianne R. Jul 28, 2008, 6:00pm EDT
This isn't something i would have had on my to read list anyway, but I appreciate your honest review. Sounds like a piece of crap designed to make some money.
Dawn S. Jul 28, 2008, 6:23pm EDT
I was curious about this book also, but not anymore. Thanks Vicky!
Adina P. Jul 28, 2008, 6:30pm EDT
very good review ! thanks for the heads up:)
Thanks to you, Vicky, I won't waste my time and money on this book.
Lance L. Jul 28, 2008, 9:22pm EDT
Thanks for taking the bullet for us Vicky, not that I was anywhere near the line of fire.
Rose H. Jul 29, 2008, 10:01pm EDT
Well, I might have bit the bullet of $17 sine I love Madonna and loved her in the movie Argentina. She's a celebrity - she's gotta have it together or she'll lose it.
A big ego is essential to making it in the first place and knowing the value of money - nothing wrong with that.

Thanks for he heads up - I'd have been disappointed - no - actually felt cheated if I'd bought it.
Phyllis R. Jul 30, 2008, 2:52pm EDT
I am not a fan of Madonna, -- she does look cheap and sleezy. Thanks for your honest review!!
Christine Zibas Aug 1, 2008, 4:10am EDT
I guess you need a real biographer to tell the inside story. Strange because no doubt her brother has lots of secrets, or maybe he was in his own alcohol/cocaine haze to see what was up. I might have gone for this on the remainder table. I did buy a book on Martha Stewart (pre-prison days), and enjoyed it. And I read Kitty Kelley's book on the Bushes...very interesting indeed! But I think you need someone who talks to a lot of people and gets a rounded portrait of the person.
Christine Zibas Aug 1, 2008, 4:11am EDT
Did you ever see the "Truth or Dare" movie she made a long time ago? If not, you might like it. I did.
Andrea "slackermom" R. Aug 6, 2008, 1:26am EDT
I wouldn't have read this book even without your review but I'm always happy to see honest book reviews.
Erin P. Aug 8, 2008, 3:47pm EDT
You know, whenever I hear about an 'estranged' family member writing a book about someone, I figure they're just trying to cash in on their fame. I can remember thinking, 'Yeah, he must be out of money' when I heard about it's release.
jolita sakmanaite Sep 5, 2008, 3:23am EDT
thanks for the review. i just would like to ask what he writes about the fact that she did not started in NYC with 35 dollars and the balley shoes?? and what about that childhood fact that she actually had everything she wanted from her father? Thanks.
Karen G. Oct 21, 2008, 2:20pm EDT
not very loyal. I wouldnt want him around either.
Jonathan S. Feb 27, 2009, 2:53pm EST
Jolita, actually, most of Madonna's early years were fictionalized by her in her own "mythology" as Christopher describes it. I actually found the book very interesting, as it shows his own insecurities, and points out a number of different ideas and reasons for why Madonna acts the way she does. I did post my own review of the book, which does differ.

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