Customer Reviews: Read 13 more reviews...
 Collector's Item August 21, 2008
I bought this when it came out.
Some of the photography is good and in most cases, the background and props/costumes used for the pictures are far more interesting than Madonna and the "sexual" themes she is painstakingly trying so hard to portray.
Cold and calculating or at the very least distant. Nothing erotic happening here, but a must for Madonna fans/collectors.
The Most Overrrated Breasts and Body of ANY Sex Symbol January 11, 2008
3 out of 9 found this review helpful
Ridiculous! A friend of mine has this book and as gay man he finds madonna sexually attractive along side men...it's not surprising as this she, who set fitness trends and single handled created the personal trainer fetish, is built like a short small framed boy. For sex fantasies through history women have been shown with AN HOURGLASS figure-HIP TO WAIST RATIO and big breasts-Madonna has none of the three but worst of all NO HIPS- I don't find that a turn on, I also think it's interesting how she's always been hyped as much more curvaceous then she actually she is. The cones come of and she has no nipples and a natural propensity for a the oppiste of Jlo's luscious behind...ok Madonna has an AAcup behind-no backside at all! But once again this would feed into a Gay male fantasy of a woman very well because she looks so boyish and tiny in many photos.A Lucy Pinder spread in a back issue of NUTS or any Russ Meyer photo spread from the 50's blows madonna's Sex book away and (irving Klaw's pics of Bettie Page smoke madonna's attempts) Plus the imagery is very Catholic, generic and very ugly. Meisel is a rookie photographer and makes people look waxy-heavy retouching is a Madonna trademark but he goes too far. BDSNM was great until it was mainstreamed and mass marketed by Madonna who gives it all the lyrical nuance of an IKEA catalog.
Still it does explain why she had to get so raunchy, (precursor to Britney's vaginal displays) it's all she knows how to do-be vulgar and manipulative. It's the true sex symbols :Sophia Loren, Raquel Welch, Uma Thurman who don't have to run around in leotards or nothing, exposing body parts because frankly they have the complete package and don't need to, madonna can't measure up to those standards of raw natural sexuality. An unattractively produced and tacky not too mention VERY DATED schlocky book.
Dad? Dad! You don't give me the attention I need! July 7, 2007
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
This is 2007. I give this book two-stars for those of you interested in pop icons and photography. I'm not too thrilled about purchasing anything by Madonna brand-new, and generally won't. She is lucky to have a large venue of professionals behind her to make her look good. At the time the book was published, many local artists who are photographers, dancers, writers, performers, etc., here in Seattle said Madonna was ripping off their (underground) culture. It's a fine product, simply because you have celebrities and a great photographer. But Madonna was tossing around for attention and in state of desperation when the book was executed. The binding simulates a popular, personal style of the S&M crowd at the time... Which would be to document one's activities and bind it in steel, usually, with a lock and key. (BTW: the binding is notorious for FALLING APART. Smile! So watch what you're doing with it...) I think Madonna was exploring her bisexuality, not too long after a big falling-out with Sandra Bernard. Both were obsessed with getting photo'd in the nude before they got "too old" and their boobs drooped.
The Erotica album is one of her best, however this project didn't go over well in the general media. And other than being jacked-up about getting old, Madonna could never truly speak to WHY she did it. She used a cop-out excuse that she was playing a character. Well, she's a cute woman and photographs well, but she could never act. With her Erotica video, she was shown power-tripping and whipping a bunch of gay-boys on leashes, pretty much the same thing she does in the Confessions tour (sans the the tooth-bling).
Since her main concern came across as being one of aging, the critics jumped on that and queried - will she still be exploiting her music with sex when she's in her 40's and 50's? Isn't this unseemly for an adult? (She gives her daughter much to look forward to.) Well, I think her father threatened to disown her, possibly. (He was also not too thrilled with the out-of-wedlock births of her children. Or the chasing around of Dennis Rodman. But ya know, Madonna put him into retirement with a nice vineyard, so how can the old man complain?)
Madonna overcompensates for all this with her constant yapping about the "truth" and spirituality. But she only seems to be acutely aware of her own truth, which is actually repressed and loaded-down with lots of denial in order to continue do her "work". She does not come across as being the most emotionally available person. Again, so much for the acting! I don't feel she has the authority to discuss spiritual truth until she gets real about her own, relative truths and issues. Sad, because we know money is more important. Probably, this book is the closest representation of who Madonna is: a Catholic who hates being one. With her mentality, nothing comes easily; therefore it must be worked for and slaved for in the form of "sacrifice" and "suffering". (Hmm... What's inside your wallet?) But I think the message comes through loud and clear in this project. Madonna lives in what I would call the man-trap. Her message continues to be redundant. Is it just me, or does it seem that the men in her life simply don't respect her? Think of monetary pay-offs to hang-in there with her. She must also hate and deeply resent what she's creating, if she is so compelled to compete with men like her husband, Ritchie-Rich, and direct. I bet he thinks that's cute! "Bottom" line? Madonna does not do anything (including kiss Britney Spears) unless it's in self-interest. She continues to see others as an extension of herself. She has NOT changed!! And that's the confession. She's a fun and excellent live performer, not worth the bucks she wants you to lay out.
 Title didn't lie May 28, 2007
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
ok i have mixed feelings about this. I was wondering what's the hype about this book, and now I've read it, I still don't quite understand why people are giving too much hype over a bindful of Madonna in erotica poses? It's not even porn. I guess Madonna's point when she thought about this book flew over most of people's head. From what I see, she's telling how women are mostly associated with sex. how they are subjected. There's a topic somewhere and I doubt she was piling this just for people to yell banned for.
Oh, I applaude Madonna for having the guts this book together cause I am sure she expected what came after, the mostly bad response of the public. I guess the title really covers what's the whole book is about. I must say it's a good art form.
Overall, if you're pretty much close-minded and not quite into graphical erotica, I say you should stay away from this book.
 A unique and memorable book February 18, 2007
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I bought and read this book, back in 1992. My girlfriend was really surprised and she said that she's been discussing this book with her friends, but nobody actually owned it.
The book is amazing, both outside and inside. Outside, it has a shiny wrapping and a hard alumium cover. I have never seen a book with such a cover.
It had a CD too, with the song "Erotic, erotic, put your hands all over my body".
It describes Madonna's life, from her early sexual experiences, to where she is today. It has pictures of Madonna nude, and it explains some of her views on sex.
She thinks that if you are a guy with lots of money, you can have a pretty girlfriend, even if you are not handsome.
It is a remarkable book and it will impress all of your friends to whom you show it.
So, don't hesitate, buy it. I did.
|
