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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
Too much info and detail and not interesting enough to keep going another 600 pages.
Great and thorough book on a pop legend that gets bogged down in too much detail at times. Gave me a deeper appreciation of Madonna’s connection to gay culture. Loved the early days in NYC section. The later parts felt like reading a Wikipedia page, though.
Watch the Blonde Ambition tour on YouTube!!
Watch the Blonde Ambition tour on YouTube!!
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
This really between two and three stars for me but I wasn't feel that generous so there.
It's always hard to write a biography when you don't have cooperation or free access to the subject (or the subject's friends and family) so you end relying on lots of third party sources and/or prior biographies- I get that. But Gabriel also spent so much time providing context for each time period that I felt that it was perhaps cover up for the fact that her text though voluminous was missing so much.
Also when describing an album release party in September 2000 mentioned that "Divine posed for pictures outside" - not sure what editor missed that gem. Divine passed away in 1988- so it was not them.
It's always hard to write a biography when you don't have cooperation or free access to the subject (or the subject's friends and family) so you end relying on lots of third party sources and/or prior biographies- I get that. But Gabriel also spent so much time providing context for each time period that I felt that it was perhaps cover up for the fact that her text though voluminous was missing so much.
Also when describing an album release party in September 2000 mentioned that "Divine posed for pictures outside" - not sure what editor missed that gem. Divine passed away in 1988- so it was not them.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Mary Gabriel has written the definitive Madonna biography. In showing both Madonna's humble beginnings in Michigan in 1958 up until the COVID-19 pandemic that abruptly ended her Madame X Tour, Gabriel enlightened us on not only Madonna's artistic influences but also the broader socio-political contexts for the last 70 years. Highlights such as the civil rights movement, the AIDS crisis, sexism and ageism in the entertainment industry, 9/11, and the rise of far-right populism, Gabriel rightly positioned Madonna as an uncomprising artist-activist in the middle of it all.
This was such a joy to read and I am so grateful that a history as storied as Madonna's and her impact on music and popular culture is handled so beautifully. I repeat, this is the Madonna biography - unless the Queen herself makes one, of course.
This was such a joy to read and I am so grateful that a history as storied as Madonna's and her impact on music and popular culture is handled so beautifully. I repeat, this is the Madonna biography - unless the Queen herself makes one, of course.
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
I started this book as a casual Madonna fan, and ended it fully obsessed with her. If you love pop music, art, spectacle, or strong women, you won't need to be a massive Madonna fan to enjoy this book.
And what an absolute joy this book was to read. I took my time with it, going back and forth between the audiobook (which had a wonderful narrator) and the physical book treating it like an activity book. As albums or music videos were mentioned, I'd stop and listen/watch accordingly, and it was so much fun to both read and watch her artistry evolve. 850 pages, and not a single one was boring.
I found myself also really appreciating the author and the way she takes the reader through Madonna's life and accomplishments. This book is written with such love and appreciation, and I found so much value in the way that she'd take the time to ground the reader in the political/social climate of the times and places being covered. I don't think Madonna's full impact and power could be illustrated without those moments.
Overall, I'm absolutely floored by Madonna's impact, and will absolutely be checking out Mary Gabriel's other books for her thoughtful, comprehensive writing style.
And what an absolute joy this book was to read. I took my time with it, going back and forth between the audiobook (which had a wonderful narrator) and the physical book treating it like an activity book. As albums or music videos were mentioned, I'd stop and listen/watch accordingly, and it was so much fun to both read and watch her artistry evolve. 850 pages, and not a single one was boring.
I found myself also really appreciating the author and the way she takes the reader through Madonna's life and accomplishments. This book is written with such love and appreciation, and I found so much value in the way that she'd take the time to ground the reader in the political/social climate of the times and places being covered. I don't think Madonna's full impact and power could be illustrated without those moments.
Overall, I'm absolutely floored by Madonna's impact, and will absolutely be checking out Mary Gabriel's other books for her thoughtful, comprehensive writing style.
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
It's funny. Even though it took me a long time to read the book, it still felt short...
It' not a fan book but a biography , thus the book focuses on Madonna's life events, encounters and the historical context of her lifetime. Of course it also discusses her huge body of work, but a real deep dive is not something you should expect here. There is a certain focus on social issues that affect Madonna or those that she's occupied with.
After reading this, I feel like I gathered a deeper understanding of what makes Madonna the artist unique. Contrary to some public opinions, Madonna is a hard-working talented singer-songwriter who stays in touch with her environment, many other artists/ musicians and political social issues. Those inspirations and collaborations serve her to create Momentum, scandals and put out cutting-edge stuff until today.
In the end Gabriel vindicates her, not only as an artist, but as a human being that can be very misinterpreted at times.
Still, Madonna remains a inaccessible and mysterious figure at times. The author couldn't communicate with Madonna or her inner circle directly, so she had to resort to different othe people. Sometimes (seldomly so) you notice that Madonna's real perspective/ actions are missing and then the whole picture feels incomplete. Besides, the book ends in 2020 and, but obviously Madonna is still active and alive. Hence the ending feels quite open. It seems like Madonna is starting over, but we cannot read about it because the story of her life reached our present day and we have to wait what she is up to by ourselves.
It' not a fan book but a biography , thus the book focuses on Madonna's life events, encounters and the historical context of her lifetime. Of course it also discusses her huge body of work, but a real deep dive is not something you should expect here. There is a certain focus on social issues that affect Madonna or those that she's occupied with.
After reading this, I feel like I gathered a deeper understanding of what makes Madonna the artist unique. Contrary to some public opinions, Madonna is a hard-working talented singer-songwriter who stays in touch with her environment, many other artists/ musicians and political social issues. Those inspirations and collaborations serve her to create Momentum, scandals and put out cutting-edge stuff until today.
In the end Gabriel vindicates her, not only as an artist, but as a human being that can be very misinterpreted at times.
Still, Madonna remains a inaccessible and mysterious figure at times. The author couldn't communicate with Madonna or her inner circle directly, so she had to resort to different othe people. Sometimes (seldomly so) you notice that Madonna's real perspective/ actions are missing and then the whole picture feels incomplete. Besides, the book ends in 2020 and, but obviously Madonna is still active and alive. Hence the ending feels quite open. It seems like Madonna is starting over, but we cannot read about it because the story of her life reached our present day and we have to wait what she is up to by ourselves.