Note: Lian Dolan will be appearing at Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing on Thursday, June 27, at 7 p.m. I was lucky enough to have a fantastic...
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"As freelance writer Valenti observes in the intro to this collection of essays, 'When it comes to Madonna, there's nary a woman who lacks for an opinion.... She's not stagnant, so why should any of our thoughts about her be?' Jamia Wilson condemns the efforts of Catholic organizations to 'crucify Madonna,' noting, 'I respect the way she has transformed our culture and changed our conversation about the inextricable linkage of religion, sexuality, and the feminine divine.... She is a saint and a sinner, the mirror of us all.' Kristin McGonigle reflects, 'We both came from a Catholic upbringing where sexuality was oppressed and women came into adulthood with a confused and shameful sense of their relationship to their bodies and sex.' Marisela Huerta recalls, 'Even mentioning sex in our house was taboo, but Madonna showed me it was OK for a woman to express her sexuality, OK for a woman to be successful, independent of a man.' Such redundancies abound in these essays, but they amplify the influence the performer had on a generation. She rose to fame when many of these women were entering their teens, and these memoirs reveal that Madonna's mix of spirituality and raw sensuality had a considerable impact in shaping attitudes." Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Synopsis:
For nearly 30 years, Madonna has been at the center of the media spotlight. She has sold more than 200 million records worldwide, launched her own record label, headlined an Oscar-award-winning film, authored bestselling books for both adults and children, inspired global street-fashion trends, and instigated international debates over a range of feminist issues from sexual fetish to adoption ethics. Masterfully harnessing her talent and power to navigate her ascent to stardom, she has become the very definition of iconic.
She has also been a constant companion. In Madonna and Me, more than forty women write about Madonnas influence on their lives. No subject goes unexplored—from sex and money to fashion and identity, the stories are just as brazen, bold, and balls-to-the-wall as Madonna. They explore the evolution of her chameleonlike personas—material girl and “boy-toy” tartlet, kooky Kabbalist and savvy businesswoman, siren and mother—and her impact on culture as a groundbreaking feminist.
Of course, not all women worship at her altar, and likewise the essays in Madonna and Me are brutally honest, funny, engaging, and real. They delve into the hearts, souls, memories, and moments of contemporary women, celebrating the ways in which Madonna has inspired us and challenged us, pushing us to be bolder, edgier, braver versions of ourselves.
"Publishers Weekly Review"
by Publishers Weekly,
"As freelance writer Valenti observes in the intro to this collection of essays, 'When it comes to Madonna, there's nary a woman who lacks for an opinion.... She's not stagnant, so why should any of our thoughts about her be?' Jamia Wilson condemns the efforts of Catholic organizations to 'crucify Madonna,' noting, 'I respect the way she has transformed our culture and changed our conversation about the inextricable linkage of religion, sexuality, and the feminine divine.... She is a saint and a sinner, the mirror of us all.' Kristin McGonigle reflects, 'We both came from a Catholic upbringing where sexuality was oppressed and women came into adulthood with a confused and shameful sense of their relationship to their bodies and sex.' Marisela Huerta recalls, 'Even mentioning sex in our house was taboo, but Madonna showed me it was OK for a woman to express her sexuality, OK for a woman to be successful, independent of a man.' Such redundancies abound in these essays, but they amplify the influence the performer had on a generation. She rose to fame when many of these women were entering their teens, and these memoirs reveal that Madonna's mix of spirituality and raw sensuality had a considerable impact in shaping attitudes." Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
"Synopsis"
by Firebrand,
For nearly 30 years, Madonna has been at the center of the media spotlight. She has sold more than 200 million records worldwide, launched her own record label, headlined an Oscar-award-winning film, authored bestselling books for both adults and children, inspired global street-fashion trends, and instigated international debates over a range of feminist issues from sexual fetish to adoption ethics. Masterfully harnessing her talent and power to navigate her ascent to stardom, she has become the very definition of iconic.
She has also been a constant companion. In Madonna and Me, more than forty women write about Madonnas influence on their lives. No subject goes unexplored—from sex and money to fashion and identity, the stories are just as brazen, bold, and balls-to-the-wall as Madonna. They explore the evolution of her chameleonlike personas—material girl and “boy-toy” tartlet, kooky Kabbalist and savvy businesswoman, siren and mother—and her impact on culture as a groundbreaking feminist.
Of course, not all women worship at her altar, and likewise the essays in Madonna and Me are brutally honest, funny, engaging, and real. They delve into the hearts, souls, memories, and moments of contemporary women, celebrating the ways in which Madonna has inspired us and challenged us, pushing us to be bolder, edgier, braver versions of ourselves.
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