Life With My Sister, MadonnaBy: Christopher Ciccone & Wendy Leigh
Format: PDF
Christopher Ciccone’s “breathless tell-all” (Time) based on his fortyseven years of growing up with, working with, and understanding one of the most famous women of our time—Madonna.
Only Christopher can tell the full scale, riveting untold story behind the woman who has intrigued, scandalized, and entertained millions for half a century. In Life with My Sister, Christopher reveals the real woman behind Madonna’s carefully constructed mythology and glittering faÇade. From their shared Michigan childhood, which Madonna transcended to whisk Christopher to Manhattan with her in the early eighties—Christopher was with her every step of the way, experiencing all her incarnations firsthand. 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.
About the Author
Christopher Ciccone began his professional career as a dancer with La Groupe de La Place Royal in Ottawa. He art directed Madonna's Blond Ambition tour and directed her The Girlie Show tour. He has directed music videos for Dolly Parton and Tony Bennett. He is an artist, interior decorator, and designer in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles.
Wendy Leigh is the New York Times bestselling author of eleven books, including True Grace: The Life and Times of An American Princess.
The Secret Life of Marilyn MonroeBy: J. Randy Taraborrelli
Pan Books | 2010 | ISBN: 0330461354 | 512 pages | epub
Starred Review. After half a century of Marilyn Monroe books, beginning with Maurice Zolotow's interviews of her for his 1960 biography, it's hard to imagine any revelations about the actress, but Taraborrelli—who's written bios of Grace Kelly, Diana Ross, Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra—tackles that problem with what he refers to as fresh research. For instance, thanks to files released in 2006 under the Freedom of Information Act, Taraborrelli details the truly extraordinary three-page document in which an unnamed FBI agent described the romance and sex affair between Monroe and RFK. Rather than the usual bibliographic listings, Taraborrelli cites only a few key books. Instead, he itemizes 30 pages of interviews explaining how he contacted sources close to the subject (e.g., approaching Dean Martin in a restaurant; talking with the historians he calls the true experts). In addition to interviews with everyone from Janet Leigh to Secret Service agents, Taraborrelli read the unpublished notes and interviews of reporters from the 1950s. As Taraborrelli brushes away cobwebs of myth and rumor, his remarkable research and fluid writing captures Marilyn's élan, sensitivity, desperation and despair with a haunting intimacy. (Aug. 25)
Marilyn Monroe and The Camera - Georges Belmont & Jane RussellSchirmer Art Books | 1989 | ISBN: 3888144817 | 176 pages | PDF
The most beautiful photo book on Marilyn ever published! All iconic images from Avedon to Weegee. Marilyn Monroe posed for nearly every major photographer of her day. This pictorial chronicle features pictures by Richard Avendon, Cecil Beaton, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Elliott Erwitt, Philippe Halsman, Weegee, and thirty other artists: her early days as a model for ads and pinup calendars, film stills that follow her career from a minor actress to a major star, famous master portraits and shots by paparazzi who trailed her every move.
Marilyn emerges in all her moods - young and carefree, sexy and serious, glamorous and girl-next-door. In a fascinating and revealing interview with French writer Georges Belmont Marilyn sets the record straight about her early life, her ambitions, fears, and dreams. Jane Russell, a friend of Marilyn's and her co-star in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, wrote an affectionate foreword.
From the Publisher
Many different, often contradictory, things have been written about Marilyn Monroe, but one truth remains constant—the camera loved her. Whether posing kittenishly in a pinup shot or dramatically for a classic portrait, this shy, vulnerable, enormously insecure woman was transformed by the lens.
Marilyn posed for nearly every major photographer of her day, and this pictoral chronicle of her affair with the camera, featuring shots from Richard Avedon, Cecil Beaton, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Alred Eisentaedt, Elliott Erwitt, Philippe Halsman, Weegee, and thirty other artists, brings together the most beautiful and unusual images available. From her early days as a “fashion model” for ads and pinup calendars, through the film stills that follow her career as a minor actress and then major starlit, to the now-famous portraits by Avedon, and Cecil Beaton, as well as the paparazzi shots from the hordes of photographers who trailed her every move—Marilyn emerges in all her many moods: girlish and gay, sexy and serious, glamorous and girl-next-door. And, in a fascinating and revealing interview with French writer George Belmont, Marilyn sets the record straight about much of her early life, and about her ambitions, fears, and dreams. Jane Russell, Marilyn’s friend and costar in!
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, enhances this portrait with an affectionate foreword that describes what it was like to work with the young actress. Although we will never know the “real” Marilyn, this sumptuous volume goes a long way toward preserving the memory of an utterly unforgettable woman.
Oprah - Kitty KelleyPublisher: Crown Archetype; 1 edition (April 13, 2010) | Language: English | ISBN-10: 0307394867 | EPUB
The tables are turned on Oprah Winfrey, as celebrity biographer Kelley digs deep to uncover the secrets of the talk show host and humanitarian. Kelley weaves her revelations from interviews with those who knew Oprah best--relatives, former lovers, and coworkers. Kelley's reading is inspired and professional, and her voice brims with remarkable selfassurance, making for a convincing presentation, despite the fact that this is an unauthorized biography. Although Kelly gets a bit breathy at times, she brings things back to the ground with a steady rhythm and energy.
Diana, Princess of Wales: A BiographyAuthor: Martin Gitlin | Publisher: Greenwood | 2008 | 160 pages | ISBN: 0313348790 | PDF
Long before her tragic death, Diana, Princess of Wales was a beloved modern icon, relatable to the general public in a way that transcended the barrier between royal and commoner. As a member of the royal family in an age of mass media, her fairy-tale wedding to, and painful divorce from, Prince Charles was played out on the world stage. Later, her humanitarian work for the Red Cross, her campaigns against landmines, and her work with the sick, especially AIDS victims, added a compassionate element to the royal family in the eyes of the world -- and the world, ten years later, still hasn't gotten enough of Lady Di. This objective, accessible volume explores Diana's fascinating life, including her aristocratic upbringing, her whirlwind engagement to Prince Charles, her rocky marriage, her post-divorce status as global humanitarian icon, the media's frenzied treatment of her death, and her charitable legacy, including her sons' coming-of-age and their attempts to honor her memory.
Angelina Jolie's: Notes from My TravelsFormat: EPUB
Three years ago, award-winning actress Angelina Jolie took on a radically different role as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Here are her memoirs from her journeys to Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Ecuador, where she lived and worked and gave her heart to those who suffer the world's most shattering violence and victimization. Here are her revelations of joy and warmth amid utter destitution...compelling snapshots of courageous and inspiring people for whom survival is their daily work?and candid notes from a unique pilgrimage that completely changed the actress's worldview -- and the world within herself.
Angelina Jolie - Kathleen TracyFormat: EPUB/PDF
Did she or didn't she have a hot romance with her brother? The tattoo-sporting, bee-stung-lipped Angelina Jolie likes it with both men and women. She and her new husband, Oscar winner Billy Bob Thornton,'t get enough of it. And she especially likes it if daggers are involved. We're talkin' sex, of course, and the actress revels in revealing the most intimate details of her rough 'n' tumble life in freewheeling interviews. No wonder she's being touted as the Web's most wanted, fronting Premiere Magazine's Top Ten list of the Internet's biggest stars for her cool roles and edgy talent. Her popularity recently reached new heights after she won a Best Suppor-ting Actress Oscar for her turn as a troubled young woman in Girl, Interrupted. "I'm so in love with my brother right now," she said in her acceptance speech, setting off frenzied media speculation about a possible incestuous affair. Jolie will appear in a number of upcoming films, including Dancing in the Dark, Original Sin, and Beyond Borders. The buzz on her next movie, Tomb Raider (based on the enormously popular computer game), is predicting a 2001 blockbuster and an electrifying performance by Jolie as cybersex symbol Lara Croft. Author Kathleen Tracy takes a look at Jolie's early years, including her childhood growing up as Jon Voight's daughter, her crush on Dr. Spock, and how she once dreamed of becoming a funeral director. The book traces Jolie's meteoric rise to fame fueled by the actress's eccentric behaviour and a reputation for being bold and slightly nuts that fans find endearing.
Johnny Depp (People in the News) - Kara HigginsLucent; 1 edition | April 30, 2004 | English | ISBN: 1590185382 | 95 pages | PDF
his book is wonderful in seeing the real Johnny Depp. I found this book to be so fascinating.He is an extrodinary person. It took you from his childhood all the way through to today. I would recommend it to anyone who is even slightly intrested in it. You will learn a lot.
Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography - Rob LoweFormat: EPUB
A wryly funny and surprisingly moving account of an extraordinary life lived almost entirely in the public eye
A teen idol at fifteen, an international icon and founder of the Brat Pack at twenty, and one of Hollywood's top stars to this day, Rob Lowe chronicles his experiences as a painfully misunderstood child actor in Ohio uprooted to the wild counterculture of mid-seventies Malibu, where he embarked on his unrelenting pursuit of a career in Hollywood.
The Outsiders placed Lowe at the birth of the modern youth movement in the entertainment industry. During his time on The West Wing, he witnessed the surreal nexus of show business and politics both on the set and in the actual White House. And in between are deft and humorous stories of the wild excesses that marked the eighties, leading to his quest for family and sobriety.
Never mean-spirited or salacious, Lowe delivers unexpected glimpses into his successes, disappointments, relationships, and one-of-a-kind encounters with people who shaped our world over the last twenty-five years. These stories are as entertaining as they are unforgettable.
All That Is Bitter & Sweet: A Memoir - Ashley JuddFormat: EPUB
Ashley Judd is an award-winning film and stage actor known for her roles in both box-office hits and art-house gems, and the daughter and sister of country-music royalty. In 2002, drawing on a deep well of empathy, she found her true calling: as a humanitarian and advocate for those suffering in neglected parts of the world.
Asked why she was opting out of a successful career, walking away while she was one of the highest-paid women in Hollywood, Ashley herself could not provide an answer. She simply knew that after her first trip to the notorious brothels, slums, and hospices of southeast Asia, her own life depended on advocating on behalf of the vulnerable. Promising each new sister, “I will never forget you,” Ashley began writing extraordinary diaries—on which this memoir is based—expanding her capacity to relate to, and to share with a global audience, stories of survival and resilience.
Along the way, Ashley realized that the coping strategies she had developed to deal with her own emotional pain, stemming from childhood abandonment, were no longer working. Seeking in-patient treatment in 2006 for the grief that had nearly killed her, Ashley found not only her own recovery and an enriched faith but an expanded kit of spiritual tools that energized and advanced her feminist social justice work.
Now, in this deeply moving and unforgettable memoir, Ashley Judd describes her odyssey, as a left-behind lost child attains international prominence as a fiercely dedicated advocate. Her story ranges from anger to forgiveness, isolation to interdependence, depression to activism. In telling it, she resoundingly answers the ineffable question about the relationship between healing oneself and service to others.
Prairie Tale: A Memoir - Melissa GilbertFormat: PDF
A fascinatiating, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting tale of self-discovery from the beloved actress who earned a permanent place in the hearts of millions when she was just a child.
To fans of the hugely successful television series Little House on the Prairie, Melissa Gilbert grew up in a fantasy world with a larger-than-life father, friends and family she could count on, and plenty of animals to play with. Children across the country dreamed of the Ingalls' idyllic life -- and so did Melissa.
She was a natural on camera, but behind the scenes, life was more complicated. Adopted as a baby into a legendary show business family, Melissa wrestled with questions about her identity and struggled to maintain an image of perfection her mother created and enforced. Only after years of substance abuse, dysfunctional relationships, and made-for-television movies did she begin to figure out who she really was.
With candor and humor, the cherished actress traces her complicated journey from buck-toothed Laura "Half-pint" Ingalls to Hollywood starlet, wife, and mother. She partied with the Brat Pack, dated heartthrobs like Rob Lowe and bad boys like Billy Idol, and began a self-destructive pattern of addiction and codependence. Left in debt after her first marriage, and struggling to create some sense of stability, she eventually realized that her career on television had earned her popularity, admiration, and love from everyone but herself.
Through hard work, tenacity, sobriety, and the blessings of a solid marriage, Melissa has accepted her many different identities and learned to laugh, cry, and forgive in new ways. Women everywhere may have idolized her charming life on Little House on the Prairie, but Melissa's own unexpectedly honest, imperfect, and down-to-earth story is an inspiration.
sTORI Telling - Tori SpellingFormat: PDF
She was television's most famous virgin -- and, as Aaron Spelling's daughter, arguably its most famous case of nepotism. Portraying Donna Martin on Beverly Hills, 90210, Tori Spelling became one of the most recognizable young actresses of her generation, with a not-so-private personal life every bit as fascinating as her character's exploits. Yet years later the name Tori Spelling too often closed -- and sometimes slammed -- the same doors it had opened.
sTORI telling is Tori's chance to finally tell her side of the tabloid-worthy life she's led, and she talks about it all: her decadent childhood birthday parties, her nose job, her fairy-tale wedding to the wrong man, her so-called feud with her mother. Tori has already revealed her flair for brilliant, self-effacing satire on her VH1 show So NoTORIous and Oxygen's Tori & Dean: Inn Love, but her memoir goes deeper, into the real life behind the rumors: her complicated relationship with her parents; her struggles as an actress after 90210; her accident-prone love life; and, ultimately, her quest to define herself on her own terms.
From her over-the-top first wedding to finding new love to her much-publicized -- and misunderstood -- "disinheritance," sTORI telling is a juicy, eye-opening, enthralling look at what it really means to be Tori Spelling.
Mommywood - Tori SpellingFormat: EPUB
If you thought Tinseltown was tough...
Tori Spelling might have grown up with everything a girl could wish for, but these days she's just another suburban working mom...whose toddler regularly recognizes her in the pages of Us Weekly. Welcome to Mommywood, where the stars are two feet tall and your neighbors know who you are before you move in.
Like most parents, Tori wants her children to have the one thing she didn't have as a kid -- a normal family. On their hit Oxygen reality show, Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood, the starlet and her husband Dean McDermott regularly wrestle dirty diapers, host the neighborhood block party, and tackle temper tantrums on the red carpet. But when the cameras aren't rolling, Tori's still having awkward run-ins with a former 90210 costar at a laser tag birthday party, scooping rogue poo out of the kiddie pool on a resort vacation, and racing to win back her pre-baby body before the media starts calling her fat. For all her suburban fantasies, Tori Spelling is no June Cleaver.
With the same down-to-earth wit that made her entertaining memoir sTORI telling a #1 New York Times bestseller, Tori tells the hilarious and humbling stories of life as a mom in the limelight. From learning to be the kind of parent her own mother never was to revealing what it's like to raise a family while everyone is watching, Mommywood is an irresistible snapshot of celebrity parenthood that you won't get from the paparazzi.
Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley By Peter GuralnickPublisher: B a c k B a y Books 1995 | 576 Pages | ISBN: 0316332259 , 0316332208 | PDF
There's no mention of sequins, drugs, or peanut butter in this understated biography of the teenaged Elvis, a serious and worthy attempt to answer the question, "Who was this guy before he was an icon, the voice of a generation, the King?" The essential clarity and honesty of Guralnick's prose clearly limns the eager, malleable boy whose immense talent changed the course of American music.
Baby, Let's Play House: Elvis Presley and the Women Who Loved Him By Alanna NashPublisher: I,t Books 2010 | 720 Pages | ISBN: 0061699853 | EPUB
Nash culls reminiscences from long-term girlfriends, starlets like Ann-Margret and Cybill Shepherd, and assorted strippers, showgirls and groupies for this gossipy, besotted biography of rock's original sex god. They attest to the allure that had females lining up for access to the young Elvis's bed: devastating looks, pelvic gyrations and a bad-boy sneer combined with a romantic soul, sublime kissing technique and a courtliness that lulled parents into handing over their underage daughters. (He was attracted to 14-year-old brunettes, Nash argues, like future wife Priscilla.) And there's the indefinable magnetism—i.e., celebrity—that kept them coming through the drugs and debauchery, the bizarre monologues and random gunplay, the impotence and incontinence and vomit and bloat of the King's declining years. Nash's mix of breathless melodrama (his voice was soft and sensuous, and he had a mischievous grin on his face, and he was looking straight at her) with rote psychoanalysis (Elvis could never really let go of [his mother] Gladys) often reads like a fan magazine. Her shallow but vivid portrait nonetheless manages to evoke much of what made Elvis so enthralling.
Poker Face: The Rise and Rise of Lady Gaga - Maureen Callahan
Maureen CallahanFormat: PDF
"Stop feeding me bullshit. Tell me the truth."
--Lady Gaga, 2009
"I hate the truth. I hate the truth so much I prefer a giant dose of bullshit any day over the truth."
--Lady Gaga, 2010
In little over a year, Stefani Germanotta, a struggling performer in New York's Lower East Side burlesque scene, has become the global demographic-smashing pop icon known as Lady Gaga. She is a once-in-a-decade artist, a gifted singer, composer, designer, and performance artist who mixes high and low culture, the avant-garde with the accessible, authenticity with artifice.
Who is Lady Gaga? She is a twenty-four-year-old woman whose stage mantra--"I'm a free bitch!"--is the polar opposite of who she is offstage: isolated, insecure, and unable to be alone. She is an outré artist who wanted to be a sensitive singer-songwriter, whose musical heroes include Britney Spears, Billy Joel, and Bruce Springsteen. She is a woman who says no man can ever compete with her career, but who still isn't over the ex-boyfriend who said she was too ambitious. She claims not to care what people think, but spends her downtime online, reading what people have to say about her. She claims to be a con artist and utterly authentic. She is never less than compelling.
Based on over fifty original interviews with friends, employees, rivals, and music industry veterans, Poker Face is the first in-depth biography of the extraordinary cultural phenomenon that is Lady Gaga.
Quotes from POKER FACE:
"It's a privilege to be here tonight to open for Lady Gaga. I've made it."
--President Barack Obama, October 2009
"I remember thinking, `That could be her. But I hope it's not.'"
--Producer Rob Fusari
"Her `crazy' outfit was putting suspenders on her jeans."
--former classmate
"She is perfectly, almost genetically engineered to be a twenty-first-century pop star."
--Eric Garland, CEO, BigChampagne.com
"If you looked at her, you'd think she was a jam band chick. She had a heady, grimy vibe."
--former NYU classmate Jon Sheldrick
"She's not progressive, but she's a good mimic. She sounds more like me than I f---ing do!"
--Singer/rapper M.I.A.
"You won't be able to order a cup of coffee at the f---ing deli without hearing or seeing me."
--Lady Gaga to an ex-boyfriend, 2008
