Cheap Michael Jackson : The Magic and the Madness (Book) (J. RANDY TARABORRELLI) Price

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Customer Reviews of Michael Jackson : The Magic and the Madness

THE BEST BIOGRAPHY EVER WRITTEN!
J. Randy Taborelli has written a compelling and engrossing biography of Jackson and his family. Taborelli is obviously a huge fan of Michael and his brother's music. His analysis of their career is brilliant. Taborelli's insight into the record business is fascinating. Especially interesting is his knowledge of Berry Gordy and Motown. I really enjoyed reading about The Jackson 5's split from Motown to go to Epic records. Taborelli tells truth about the jacksons; warts and all. But unlike sleazy talentless biographers, Taborelli puts heart and humor into his work. Taborelli, like the people who would want to buy his book, obviosly cares a great deal about Michael and his music.

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Engrossing and very convincing.
Michael Jackson: The Magic and the Madness is pretty sensationalistic. Then again, so is the star who's the focal point of this book. J. Randy Taraborelli's notorious biography of Michael Jackson is very well written, with plenty of sources and documentation to support its assertions as well as an authorative tone of investigative journalism which really leads me to believe that what it describes is true.

Some of the book's most interesting points are about Michael and the Jackson siblings' relationship to Joe and Katharine Jackson. Taraborelli's thesis about the domination of Katharine Jackson over the Jackson children is fascinating stuff, as is his probe into the relationship between the two superstars, Michael and Janet. His analysis of Michael Jackson's music is also detailed and convincing, and he has many small anecdotal touches which add immensely to the flavour and make this book a very fast read indeed. Examples include a fan of the Jackson 5 who was allegedly seduced by Jackie Jackson; a secretary who claimed she was beaten up by Katharine and Janet Jackson; and a Soul Train dancer who may have taught Jackson his signature "Moonwalk" move but says that Jackson's version is not really a "Moonwalk".

I only have one criticism of this book, which is directed at the final few paragraphs of this book where Taraborelli steps out of objective mode and tries to state his thesis about how Michael Jackson became who he is. I felt that he had made his points well and clear before this without having to moralize about it. Nevertheless, it's a small flaw in what is otherwise a highly engaging biographical work. I've been hoping that Taraborelli would add some new chapters which would cover the turbulent decade in Jackson's career since this book's publication -- the Dangerous album, HIStory, "Scream", Blood on the Dance Floor, the marriage to Lisa Marie Presley...given his authority and smart writing, Taraborelli's observations and research into this material would be essential reading. But it's never too late, and one can always hope...

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A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
I bought this book about two years ago. I consider myself a fan of Michael's and sometimes wondered why does he do the things that he do? But after reading this book, mostly everything that was said or published about him were fabricated by his people to make him seem more interesting. However, it backfired in the worst way. I realized that he has alot of insecurities, and tries too hard to live up to everyones expectations of him. Also, he's been hurt and betrayed quite often. Not to say that he didn't also betray a friend(ie. Paul McCartney). Even through his current legal troubles, you still get a better understanding of him in this book. On a serious note, if he can ever get out of this situation, he definitely needs to talk to a professional about his past and present, so he can move on to the future.