Life with My Sister Madonna | 
| Creator: Christopher Ciccone
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $9.97
You Save: $19.98 (67%)
New (47) Used (14) from $8.00
Rating:  203 reviews
Sales Rank: 608688
Format: Abridged, Audiobook
Media: Audio CD
Edition: Abridged
Pages: 256
Number Of Items: 5
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 5.8 x 5.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 0743580044
Dewey Decimal Number: 782.42166092
EAN: 9780743580045
ASIN: 0743580044
Publication Date: July 14, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Audiobook. New, still in the shrink wrap. 5 CD set. Ships the next business day, with tracking and delivery confirmation sent to your email.
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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 facade. 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 198 more reviews...
 A Touching, Shocking and Gripping Tale by Christopher Ciccone. January 6, 2009
J. Pryce (New York, NY)
This book is one of the best I have read in recent years and is THE best Madonna book I have ever come in contact with. I have read them all, so that is a big statement!
As a Madonna fan, I should be disgruntled and angry with Christopher for painting this narcissistic star in such a bad light. However, the book is balance, fair and optimistic leaving me feeling refreshed and inspired. This confirmed everything that has already been said about Madonna but also gives a depth and insight into the life of a huge star more than any other book could do. This is perhaps ever more insightful than an autobiography as it covers all content, bitter and sweet, as well as showing an onlookers perspective to such a diverse character.
I read this book in 2 days flat and could not put it down. Even if you are not interested in Madonna (despite 80% having Madonna based stories) the book is still appealing as it describes the breakdown of a relationship, the behavior of a intriguing artists (both Christopher and Madonna), family life in a conservative Catholic household, coming-of-age homosexuality and friendship.
I felt so touched by this book and wish I hadn't read it...just so I could re-experience the story from a fresh perspective!
Thank you Christopher.
 Very Interesting & Informative Book January 4, 2009
Anna V. Carroll (New York, New York United States)
Let me begin by saying I have never been a Madonna fan. I am almost old enough to be her mom, so that may be the problem. Had her mother lived, I sincerely doubt Madonna would have chosen the route to stardom she did, out of respect for her. This is a very well-written book by someone who knows the truth. He is obviously very talented in his own right. Unfortunately, he had to suffer enormously along the way to find his own niche in the world. It was no great surprise to read in the book that Madonna is a control freak. Really? Gee, I never would have known. Right. She evidently is not a happy camper and probably never will be if the book is accurate. Her children will grow up and leave the nest (If they're able to) and she will be old and alone. I do not feel sorry for her. I am not sure why he wrote the book but it probably saved his sanity. One of the sad moments in the book is when he becomes very devoted to Kabbalah and goes to the meetings out in LA and befriends people who attend. And when he and Madonna have a falling out, he is dis-invited to their homes and Kabbalah meetings. That doesn't sound like a caring group of people. Consider the source. I am sure the new paperback edition will have a section in it that talks about what has happened since the hardback came out. I'd be interested to read that. After I finished the book I had a better picture of his life, her life, their life through the years. I really like Christopher, and I hope his life continues to be happy and productive. He ends the book by saying he is sure her marriage to Guy will survive because they love each other. Sadly, no, it doesn't. I did not think much of Madonna before I read the book and think even less of her now. The other brothers and sisters in the family apparently live normal lives far out of the spotlight. I am sure there are times when Christopher wishes he had taken that route, too. I really enjoyed his book. I'd like to see him write other books in another genre. Maybe murder mysteries? He definitely has a talent for writing.
 I finished it, but December 29, 2008
Thomas Bowen (North Bethesda)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I vowed that I would never read this book as I have been a fan of Madonna's from the start, but there I was, picking it up. The book was full of information, but it was if this book was rushed to publication. The information read like that of a gossip column. For someone who lived this life, it seemed very surface. It seems that Mr. Ciccone has an axe to grind. I never thought that Madonna was not self-absorbed or greedy, but her brother seems a little bitchy and jealous of her from childhood until now. Make a drinking game of the words spelled wrong! Rush job from start to finish. If he is anything like he is in the book, Mr. Ciccone needed the money and the book was his best bet. Shame on you, Christopher. If you are a true fan, you will probably just laugh it off. It is an okay read...just okay.
 whose ego is bigger? December 27, 2008
Y. C. Sinder (south africa)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Fashioned after the writing style of Rupert Everett's biography,
"Red carpets and other Banana Skins" this account of brother Ciccone's so-called life with his sister Madonna includes generous portions of empty celebrity name dropping without much purpose whilst lacking Rupert's ascerbic wit and charm. It reads as a desperate attempt to cash in on his
famous sister's fans' desire to read some fresh new dirt on Madonna's private life.
However,it comes as no revelation that Madonna has a huge ego and is obsessed with the Kabbala. We have all read this in a dozen interviews. What I found irritating and upsetting is that a sibling whose only client and employer most of his life, as if he was forced at gunpoint to work for her, has been Madonna whom he regards with a huge sense of entitlement .Therefore,it seems rather rich that when he finds himself constantly broke WITHOUT her employ, he reacts as if shocked by her distrust, disrespect and so called miserliness. His views are erratic throughout the book which leads to skepticism on the part of the reader. For example,one minute he criticises the Kabbalah movement for favoring Madonna at meetings and having her sit next to the Bergs and the next he joins the Kabbalah himself and follows their doctrine!
There are many grammatical errors and typos, it is clumsily written and he
writes "my SISTER Madonna" lest you forget that Madge is his sister, about as many times as Oprah has said "My BEST FRIEND Gail" on her show. Read the book by all means if you are a Madonna fan looking for juicy insights into her earlier childhood but be aware that most of it is a hissing " hello pot, this is kettle" account of his famous sister's ego which is not much bigger than his own without her achievement and success to go with it.
Interesting December 21, 2008
Reader
This book held my interest. It paints an unflattering picture of Madonna. Self-centered, low-self esteem, cheap, cruel. Someone who doesn't live in the real world, and doesn't want to. An aging pop star. I believe the book is accurate.
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