In my family (and I expect many other families as well) there was an unwritten sibling rule. It was understood that no one else, in my presence, could pick on any of my siblings. It would be a punnishable offense to pick on one of my siblings; if i was around…no one was allowed to do that…unless it was me, of course.
Oh to be sure, we had our differences…every family does. However, on the school playground, in the neighborhood, on the buses or anywhere for that matter…we protected one another. It was a matter of loyalty.
So, I guess when i first heard about Madonna’s brother writing a book about his very famous sibling…i thought….what rubbish. How could he do that to his sister in public? I mean…what about the unwritten sibling rule? Where is his loyalty? Are there any boundaries that are “normal or typical” in their relationship?
I thought, if you have issues with each other…work it out privately. Then, after i heard some of the interviews that her brother has given…i thought, you know what…i would probably read the book. There is a whole multiple layer level of “knowing” someone famous when you get to know them through the eye’s of someone who was or is close to that person. This is what the publisher is counting on to make the book a best seller, I am sure.
Madonna is a complex woman. She is always changing her public personna. She has done and said such outrageous things that it is almost like unraveling a mystery; trying to understand what makes her do some of the things that she does. Many of her achievements are to be admired. Many of the things she has done are revolting to me personally. She is a mix of cutting edge and yet, thrown in, are fascinating details about her “mixed” messages of religion. Throw in the terrible personal loss of her mother when she was a young girl, and the effects of that on the rest of her life; and it will shed some light on some of the areas of he psyche.
That being said, as much as i hate to say it…i will read Christopher Ciccone’s book, “Life With My Sister, Madonna”. Madonna has had a large impact on our society and culture over the years. It is as much an effort to understand that influence; as it is, to understand what makes Madonna tick that propels me to read the book.
Mr. Ciccone should be forewarned…those of us reading the book will not only understand Madonna better; we will also understand him and what makes him tick. You see, in my mind, for a sibling to break the unwritten rule…he/she has to have felt violated/taken advantage of/rejected/dismissed/or disrespected in such a way that they feel justified in breaking the rule.
However, I won’t support him financially for crossing the line regarding the unwritten sibling rule…I will “borrow” the book from my local library. There is no sense in rewarding him for trading memories for cash about his sister; when it is something that I would expect from one of those school bullies …not a loving, loyal family member. Would you write about a family member, or honor the unwritten sibling rule? If so, why?
Write where you are 
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