Madonna: The Book (Hardcover)

by Norman King (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Celebrity biographer King dutifully details Madonna's mythic origins and rise to colossal status in the music industry. Both King and Christopher Anderson ( Ma donna: Unauthorized , S. & S., 1991) seem to have drawn from a common pool of information. King's book lacks the enthusiastic voyeurism found in TV's Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous , and there are few original insights in spite of boring quotes from academics. What's missing is real curiosity and conjecture about Madonna's persona and work. King offers little discussion of the role pre-existing cinematic icons and photographic imagery (Marilyn Monroe, Horst's photos, etc.) play in her changing projections of self. The parade of boyfriends and public ambitions is here, but Madonna's own comments at the end of the book do the most to convey her vigorous ambiguities. For libraries with large pop culture collections. (Photos not seen.)-- Susan Wexler, formerly with "Library Journal"
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co; 1st edition (December 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688103898
• ISBN-13: 978-0688103897
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,197,203 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Madonna Reviewer, May 28, 2004

By	Clementine Sanchez (California) - See all my reviews

Madonna: The Book is a biography of Madonna Ciccone's life and her stardom to fame. In the beginning, the book talks about her strict Catholic childhood without a mother, and her rebellious teenage years to stand out and differ from the rest in her hometown of Pontiac, Michigan. She traveled to New York to become a dancer and ended up living in the slums because she wasn't having much success. Madonna becomes famous when she meets a DJ who ends up sending one of her demos out to a record company, who like her demo and end up letting her make an album. The book then talks about her new found fame and her new found boyfriend and then husband Sean Penn. Sean Penn was the love of her life, but Madonna's career is hitting it big and so was his, they end up divorcing 3 years later to reconcile differences. The book talks about Madonna's movies, album's, boyfriends, controversial music videos, and critics quotes about her work. To find out what happens at the end you must read the book!

There were a few things I did not like about this book. The book didn't really go into much detail about anything. The author seemed to just get everything down about Madonna's career and really didn't let you visualize much. I felt that the author, Norman King, could of added some more to the book to give it that extra something that made you very interested. It seems you could get more out of a book from Madonna's life than what is portrayed in this biography.

The thing I liked about this book is Madonna in general. She had a very interesting life, which I wouldn't say is very normal. I liked how Madonna didn't take what anyone said about her life or her work personal. She has a lot of strength in her character that made her as tough as she was to take all what was said about her. I like how she had many fans who just adored her and wanted to be like her. I also like the fact how she was a very smart business woman and made millions of dollars in the music and movie industry.