#26
Posted: 6/13/08 at 9:11am
Life with my sister Madonna.
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Christopher Ciccone Writes Memoir About Madge — Page 2
#27
Posted: 6/13/08 at 9:16am
"No longer? Inquiring minds want to know why"
PJ, it's one of those mysteries of life. When he relocated to LA, I'd see him on occasion when he was in NY, and it slowly tapered off to not at all. I saw Madonna at my theater several months ago and asked her to say hello to him for me but I think at that point they were no longer close.
PJ, it's one of those mysteries of life. When he relocated to LA, I'd see him on occasion when he was in NY, and it slowly tapered off to not at all. I saw Madonna at my theater several months ago and asked her to say hello to him for me but I think at that point they were no longer close.
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
#28
Posted: 6/13/08 at 12:58pm
"Madge" was started by the British press. It was meant to be short for "Her Madgesty."
Take that as you will.
Take that as you will.
http://preppylife.tumblr.com/
#29
Posted: 6/13/08 at 6:10pm
the break up was not due to anything we've mentioned. Strictly business.
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
Updated On: 6/13/08 at 06:10 PM
#30
Posted: 6/13/08 at 8:27pm
I knew Chris and sis quite well. I grew up in Rochester with them. Chris and I actually dated for awhile.
Small world! Jane!
Small world! Jane!
"It's not so much do what you like, as it is that you like what you do." SS
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." GMarx
#31
Posted: 6/13/08 at 8:53pm
Yeah, too bad we can't all catch up, lol!
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
#32
Posted: 6/14/08 at 12:09pm
Strange that I see this after I just watched Truth or Dare in it's entirety for the first time last night.
Christopher really was cute back then.
Christopher really was cute back then.
"[Gore] was widely perceived as arrogant. If you know something, you're not smart. You're a smarty-pants. It's annoying. People get annoyed with your knowledge. It goes back to high school, to not doing your homework ... 'There's something I should know, I don't know why I should know it but someone knows it and I don't. So I'm going to have to make fun of him now.'"
-Sarah Vowell, The Partly-Cloudy Patriot
#33
Posted: 8/22/08 at 10:01am
So, I finished this last night. It took two and a half whole days to get through it!
First off, I don't know what's true, I don't care what's true. There's really nothing all that incriminating about her in the book, except that she can be something of a bitch and much of her public persona is an act. No surprises there.
Secondly, Christopher clearly has his axe to grind. Again, no surprises there. I have no doubt that a lot of it really is true, and I'm sure Madonna has her side, too.
The biggest problem is the way it's written - entirely in the present tense. Madonna and I are at the VMA. Madonna and I are hanging out with Warren Beatty, etc. It gets really confusing when he's talking about something in 1985, then goes back to their childhood, then comes back, all the while in the blasted present tense. Who told him that was a good idea?
At any rate, when it was over, I felt like I'd gotten a glimpse of Madonna I never found in another book about her, but at the same time I just found it really really sad. If half of what he wrote is true, then he probably IS justified in writing the book, but it still made for sort of a depressing read.
Near the end, as the two are bickering back and forth via fax (the bickering that leads to their current - and as far as I know unresolved - estrangement) he writes to her that he gave up his life to work for her, which pretty much does seem the case, no matter how you slice it. While he's enjoyed the perks of being her brother, he's also kind of been destroyed by it. Sigh.
First off, I don't know what's true, I don't care what's true. There's really nothing all that incriminating about her in the book, except that she can be something of a bitch and much of her public persona is an act. No surprises there.
Secondly, Christopher clearly has his axe to grind. Again, no surprises there. I have no doubt that a lot of it really is true, and I'm sure Madonna has her side, too.
The biggest problem is the way it's written - entirely in the present tense. Madonna and I are at the VMA. Madonna and I are hanging out with Warren Beatty, etc. It gets really confusing when he's talking about something in 1985, then goes back to their childhood, then comes back, all the while in the blasted present tense. Who told him that was a good idea?
At any rate, when it was over, I felt like I'd gotten a glimpse of Madonna I never found in another book about her, but at the same time I just found it really really sad. If half of what he wrote is true, then he probably IS justified in writing the book, but it still made for sort of a depressing read.
Near the end, as the two are bickering back and forth via fax (the bickering that leads to their current - and as far as I know unresolved - estrangement) he writes to her that he gave up his life to work for her, which pretty much does seem the case, no matter how you slice it. While he's enjoyed the perks of being her brother, he's also kind of been destroyed by it. Sigh.
Updated On: 8/22/08 at 10:01 AM
#34
Posted: 8/22/08 at 10:13am
All of what is written while I was on that scene was TRUE. I went through it all with him. He really dedicated his life to her. True, no one twisted his arm to do it, but he was committed to a strong work ethic and did his best.
It all started when he was working as a receptionist in a soho art gallery. He asked me to meet him for lunch because he was excited about his new plan-to ask Madonna if she would sponsor him as an artist, so that he could pursue painting instead of working 9-5. She eventually agreed, but on the premise that he worked for her to earn the money. The rest is history.
I read most of the book but found it a little boring, so I quit. I gave it to my mother who also found it a bit of a boring read.
Well-good for Christopher. The book has been on the NY Times best seller for several weeks now. I guess he's making good money.
I'm a bit sour on him since he relocated to LA (back a while, I believe he lives in FL) and cut ties with me. I guess in a way, he did a similar thing to me that M did to him.
It all started when he was working as a receptionist in a soho art gallery. He asked me to meet him for lunch because he was excited about his new plan-to ask Madonna if she would sponsor him as an artist, so that he could pursue painting instead of working 9-5. She eventually agreed, but on the premise that he worked for her to earn the money. The rest is history.
I read most of the book but found it a little boring, so I quit. I gave it to my mother who also found it a bit of a boring read.
Well-good for Christopher. The book has been on the NY Times best seller for several weeks now. I guess he's making good money.
I'm a bit sour on him since he relocated to LA (back a while, I believe he lives in FL) and cut ties with me. I guess in a way, he did a similar thing to me that M did to him.
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
#35
Posted: 8/22/08 at 10:16am
Jane, I'm waiting for your book, "Life with Madonna's Brother"!
Updated On: 8/22/08 at 10:16 AM
#36
Posted: 8/22/08 at 10:19am
LOL! I've thought about writing a book so many different times but the amount of work involved is not in my ken~
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
#37
Posted: 8/22/08 at 10:20am
Girl, give me the dirt and I'll ghost-write it for you!
#38
Posted: 8/22/08 at 10:32am
OK, but I should mention it wouldn't primarily be about Christopher Ciccone, but my life in general. He was just a chapter!! 
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
#39
Posted: 8/22/08 at 10:38am
That's okay. I'm going to write a book called "Life on the Message Board with Jane2," but it's mostly gonna be about me!
#40
Posted: 8/22/08 at 10:43am
Kinda like Gypsy is mostly about Mama Rose...
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#41
Posted: 8/22/08 at 10:44am
Except Jane and I BOTH strip.
#42
Posted: 8/22/08 at 11:02am
I liked the book. I agree with Phyllis. The book really paints a picture of Madonna as something we all in a way knew-a work-a-holic diva with high standards. I mean, we've all heard the expression that if a man asks for what he wants, he is esteemed, but if a woman does she is a bitch. That what it feels like. Madonna is deemed a bitch because she wants the best for herself and her fans. The truth is Madonna does not ask anything of anyone that she does not do herself. I think the rift occurred because Christopher does nto hold himself to the same high standards as Madonna. Some of the salacious details (Madonna can't sing or act well consistently) are no surprises to her fans and Madonna has admitted these things already.
I like the simplicity of the book, it makes it believeable. I truly enjoyed it. I dont think Chris really shares that much about Madonna. His childhood anecdotes are cute. Chris does not paint himself out to be a saint-he takes drugs, cheats on his partner, etc. so it is his story.
Honestly, I think the book had to written. His whole life he has been in her shadow and everyone he ever met had questions about her. He never knew why they were being his friend or boyfriend. Now, he has made it very easy to have his own life with true friends-anything they want to know about Madonna he can tell them to read the book and since he and Madge are no longer speaking, the star-f#@kers will stay away from him.
I think it was a good move and an entertaining read.
I like the simplicity of the book, it makes it believeable. I truly enjoyed it. I dont think Chris really shares that much about Madonna. His childhood anecdotes are cute. Chris does not paint himself out to be a saint-he takes drugs, cheats on his partner, etc. so it is his story.
Honestly, I think the book had to written. His whole life he has been in her shadow and everyone he ever met had questions about her. He never knew why they were being his friend or boyfriend. Now, he has made it very easy to have his own life with true friends-anything they want to know about Madonna he can tell them to read the book and since he and Madge are no longer speaking, the star-f#@kers will stay away from him.
I think it was a good move and an entertaining read.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
#43
Posted: 8/22/08 at 11:09am
"I think the rift occurred because Christopher does nto hold himself to the same high standards as Madonna."
Of course you're entitled to your opinion, but it simply isn't true about Christopher. He holds himself to the same level of standards that Madonna holds herself.
I know how the rift started, it's in the book.
Until the rift, he interior designed all her homes. He worked on every tour in a major position and was quite important on the Truth or Dare, as is clear in the documentary.
If she wasn't happy with his work ethic or results, she wouldn't have kept hiring him.
I have no reason to support him here, but the truth is the truth.
Of course you're entitled to your opinion, but it simply isn't true about Christopher. He holds himself to the same level of standards that Madonna holds herself.
I know how the rift started, it's in the book.
Until the rift, he interior designed all her homes. He worked on every tour in a major position and was quite important on the Truth or Dare, as is clear in the documentary.
If she wasn't happy with his work ethic or results, she wouldn't have kept hiring him.
I have no reason to support him here, but the truth is the truth.
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
