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Rating: Summary: This Is Still The Definitive Bio Of The Legendary Ross Review: 512 Fantastic PAGES of the Diva--Miss Ross. Even the pictures are reason enough to get it. For true fans, THIS is the bio to read, NOT EVEN Secrets of a Sparrow (Diana Ross 250 PAGES) comes even close to the revelations put forth about Ross. CALL HER MISS ROSS and two other books, 'All That Glittered' (Tony Turner), 'Dreamgirls/My Life As A Supreme (Mary Wilson) can come close to this one. The relationship b/w Ross, Berry Gordy and her first husband Bob Ellis (Silberstein) are exposed for the first and only time. Not even Ross talks about this touchy subject in her book.Ross claims that she was controlled by Berry but J. Randy uncovered the truth. He shares with the world how Ross used the power she was given to step all over members of The Supremes and most of the Motown family. Martha Reeves, Gladys Knight-even Patti Labelle confirms this in their respected bio's. Even though the very, very bad is displayed-so is the very, very good. The author does an excellent job of painting both sides. He gives insight into Ross's business's, her children and her relationship with her undying fans (me included). This book only made me want to know more about the diva. If you are already a fan...don't listen to what you might have heard about this book. Pick it up; you're sure to enjoy it!
Rating: Summary: Inside out...Round, Round! Review: After reading this book, I'm sure "The Boss" was not pleased, but this unauthorized account of Ms. Ross' life and career will keep the reader interested throughout. In honesty, I think Tarabollerri did a tasteful job in depicting, Diana, the good witch vs. Diana, the most wicked. While many passages in the book attempt to defame Ms. Ross' character, I found these moments comical at best. It has always amazed me that Diana, seventy pounds at best in her early years, managed to evoke so much fear amongst her peers- why didn't anybody just slap her? I think artists point Diana out as the target due to their fear of confronting the man behind the monster- Berry Gordy. I am not a big Diana Ross fan, but after reading this book, if you like her or not, you will have to agree that she is a very driven, hard working individual, who, ultimately, got everything she strived for- and then some. I have an immense amount of respect for her. She was thinking like a man way before it became fashionable. Great read.
Rating: Summary: you can still call her miss ross !!!! Review: After reading this book, I'm sure "The Boss" was not pleased, but this unauthorized account of Ms. Ross' life and career will keep the reader interested throughout. In honesty, I think Tarabollerri did a tasteful job in depicting, Diana, the good witch vs. Diana, the most wicked. While many passages in the book attempt to defame Ms. Ross' character, I found these moments comical at best. It has always amazed me that Diana, seventy pounds at best in her early years, managed to evoke so much fear amongst her peers- why didn't anybody just slap her? I think artists point Diana out as the target due to their fear of confronting the man behind the monster- Berry Gordy. I am not a big Diana Ross fan, but after reading this book, if you like her or not, you will have to agree that she is a very driven, hard working individual, who, ultimately, got everything she strived for- and then some. I have an immense amount of respect for her. She was thinking like a man way before it became fashionable. Great read.
Rating: Summary: MISS ROSS IS STILL THE BOSS! Review: An unflattering and backstabbing book about this legendary soul diva which does have some interesting stories but you can't help feeling that Taroberelli tends to focus on all the negative things and somehow is trying to discredit Ross. This book should have more of a balance to it as as a mother of five who has helped a lot of her colleagues out in times of need and someone who has opened doors for several of todays new artists, is she all that bad - no! It may come across that Ross used the other supremes as stepping stones for her own career but if the situations were reversed and Mary Wilson or Florence Ballard had the same opportunities would'nt they have taken them? Also we should have had a detailed breakdown year by year of what Ross was doing musically including chart details and critical opinions on her albums as after all its the music that made her famous. To me this has done nothing to alter my opinion of Ross as the good always outshines the bad and after all dont we all make mistakes! Worth reading once for its pure trashiness!
Rating: Summary: Diana Ross is great. This book is ridiculous! Review: I am reading this book still, but I can see many things missed in it! Diana Ross is a great singer, he (J.Randy Taraborrelli) didn't show her career, her recordings, her prizes. I don't believe in all facts. I don't know what he thinks about Diana Ross, but he only showed facts unlikely! I like her, Diana is Diana, can you understand? Or don't you want understand?
Rating: Summary: Great book about the real Ross Review: I loved this book. It was well written and objective, not just trashing Ross, but pointing out the good things about her as well. It had its humorous moments as well as its tragic ones, too. It tells the story of Diana's childhood, her rise to fame as the lead singer of the Supremes, her ruthless and cutthroat behavior to get to the top at the expense of others, Flo Ballard's demise and much more. However, Taraborrelli's book did much harm to Diana's reputation, much more than Mary Wilson's books ever did. This is why Ross didn't want this book to be published...because she did not want people to know how she really was/is. What I find to be so amusing now is that these days, Taraborrelli is trying to get back into Ross' good graces by trashing Mary Wilson. So, so tacky, don't you think? But it's a good read. We see Ross as she really is, and I suppose that's what she was afraid of.
Rating: Summary: A rich, complex, intriguing portrait of a fascinating woman Review: I've been a Supremes fan for longer than I care to remember. I've read numerous books about the Supremes and Diana Ross (including Diana Ross's own hugely disappointing book)-- and this one, by far, paints the most in-depth, layered, comprehensive portrait. At the end, I had a new appreciation for this talented, complex diva. Thank you, Mr. Taraborrelli!
Rating: Summary: A Dramatic Tell-All Book Review: This book is not all sugar-coated and sweet, but one that truly gets down to the nitty-gritty and tells what (if we can believe what we read) Miss Ross is all about. For anyone who is a product of the 60's and is wondering whatever happened to the fantastic group known as "The Supremes," this is an in-depth account. From the growing years of the group, the aches and pains, glitz and glamour, tragedy and sorrow, to the solo career of Miss Ross, every page of this very lengthy book is worth reading. The book often portrays a self-centred, critical side of Miss Ross, for example, her actions at Flo Ballard's funneral. However, one must also bear in mind, we all deal with grief in our own way. If one reads between the lines, Miss Ross definitely appears to be carrying around her own share of hurt and insecurities - there are two sides to every story. Overall, the book is informative and enlightning. Whether you agree, or disagree, with the author's portrayal of Diana Ross's true character, the book will take you through a whirlwind thirty year span of her legendary and illustrious career.
Rating: Summary: True side of Ross Review: This is a great and thorough read of the life and career of Motown's appointed DIVA, Diana Ross. I've never been very impressed by her, but she did have star power (not to say the others at Motown didn't because they most certainly did!) and the best supporter in the business: Berry Gordy. What is unfortunate is how she got to the star magnitude. Throughout the book I wondered why did it have to be this way. 20/20 hindsight, but I'm positive others at Motown were thinking the same thing. Quite an ugly mess behind the glamour and very unfortunate.
Rating: Summary: Ross like she does not want to be seen Review: While clearly admiring her career and musical achievements, Taraborelli effectively did ruin Ross's personal reputation: everyone could read that she is not a very nice person. Well written, the book gives a good look on the sacrifices required by a career like Ross had. Many Ross fans did not like the book at all; they should stick to the book Ross wrote about herself. Taraborelli also wrote the excellent Michael Jackson biography. These both books are a must for everyone who is seriously interested in pop music.
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