Advertisement If you were an only child, you might have dreamed about the fun you’d have in a houseful of other kids. Maybe you even gravitated toward friends with siblings, a little covetous of their raucous households.
If you had siblings, you might’ve wistfully thought about never having to share toys, the bathroom or Mom. Though you loved them, there were times, perhaps, when you would have happily shipped your brother or sister to another planet, no questions asked.
Undoubtedly, Christopher Ciccone felt like that, especially when his sister was hot-and-cold with him over the years. In his book, “Life with My Sister Madonna,” written with Wendy Leigh (c.2008, Simon & Schuster, $26, 343 pages), you’ll read about the pop star’s peccadilloes, her rise to fame, her demands and the brother who loves her, always.
Born two years after his big sister, Ciccone says he and Madonna weren’t close as children. Motherless at 3, he claims few memories of his early childhood. He does recall, though, that Madonna was their father’s favorite; even after their Dad remarried and there were more additions to the family, Madonna was singled out and treated specially.
Mythology says Madonna went to New York for the first time with $35 in her pocket. True or not, it didn’t take her long to hone in on what she wanted, or to get it. Ciccone says she invited him along for the fame ride, repeatedly yanking away the invitation and then extending it again. Still, he went running when Madonna called, partly because he was awed by her but mostly because he loved her.
Just before her first tour, she asked him to be her dresser. Later, he decorated her homes, her sets, her clothes and he protected her, both physically and mentally.
In this book, which takes readers from the beginning through to Madonna’s latest tour, Ciccone has everything to say about his famous sister: her loves (thumbs down to Sean Penn, thumbs up to Warren Beatty, thumbs down to Guy Ritchie) and her friends, both male and female; her passions, ego, tantrums and embarrassments; the things she really did, that which she only pretended to do, and the truth behind the rumors and their spat.
I was a bit taken aback at this book. I was expecting another blah-blah-blah praise-filled star bio. Instead, what’s inside “Life with My Sister Madonna” is a thoughtful, warts-and-everything, not-quite-tell-all from a brother who alternates between adoration, gleeful tattling, outraged pain, snarkyness and pouting. While this is definitely a
book about Madonna, artist/designer Ciccone also seamlessly includes his own story of life as a gay man living in the shadow of the famous, beloved sister who infuriates him sometimes.
If you have a sibling, you occasionally might recognize yourself in this book (minus the billion dollars, of course), but even if you don’t, you’ll enjoy this gossipy, star-studded, behind-and-in-the-scenes book. Not for the whole family, “Life with My Sister Madonna” is still high-living fun to read.
Send Terri Schlichenmeyer messages via etcetera@lacrossetribune.com.
