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Post by Liberian Girl on Jan 27, 2018 20:13:24 GMT
I haven't read any MJ books for years...I've read his own work (Moonwalk, Dancing the Dream) and the J Randi bio. One of my favourites was the Visual Documentary. The only other one I read was that one by the bodyguards (can't remember the name)...
Anyway...
Have there been any decent, respectful books about MJ worth reading, in recent years? What are the best ones? Are there any that focus on MJs last years or even the court case and his death etc?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2018 23:13:33 GMT
I can recommend 2 more - one I am reading now by Frank Cascio is pretty decent and he sounds sincere, what I never knew was he went from being a playmate in 1993 and 1996 to being his manager from 1999 to 2003 and did a pretty good job of it. It was Frank's brother who made the fake songs, but it is obvious the whole Cascio family were true friends and were sincere not star struck or anything, the whole relationship starting in the Thriller era when his father made Michael very welcome at his hotel and avoided the star struck crap.
Frank was always concerned at the drug use and hangers on and this is what led to their falling out, but still there was a lot of love and its the best book that proves Michael was a 100% normal hetero guy being hounded by the paparazii, his record company and parasite hanger ons including his family. It also says how Michael was regualrly drinking wine with him and the Jesus Juice story comes from that, Michael would put wine in soda cans, so it would not look like he was a public drunk. He never gave it to anyone underage and only drank a lot when he was relaxing, although his consumption increased after 2000. I actually have a lot of respect for Frank, he was the oldest of the 5 Cascio children and unlike the others Michael expected him to act like an adult after 1999 (There was some kiddie stuf in 1993/96 and he even met Jordy Chandler), even when the others were being his playmates and the youngest Cascio, Aldo was young enough to be Prince's playmate. Frank gave up girls and his social life to be on call for Michael and he was demanding to say the least. I haven't finished it, but are up to the stage when Michael decides to invite the Arvizio family back to Neverland....
Jermaines book is pretty decent too, and again presents Michael as a normal guy and is great talking about the J5/Jacksons day. It avoids the ugliness of the later period but is like the Cascio book, unusually sincere and lacks the usual "He was a star and his aura shone all over me crap". Still Jermaine was a Jackson and its good to see Michael from the period of his earliest days long before he was Michael Jackson - global icon.
I also read a book by someone called J Randall Sullivan, comprehensive but very gossipy and I can not recommend it, as it is too wordy and I suspect the author sees Michael as a freak. Still it details well his movements between 2005 and 2009 and also 2 years of squabbling between the Jackson clan, the unhappiness of Michael's kids at Hayvenhurst (Which by 2009 was a dumping ground for his brother's kids and Jermajesty harassing Prince and Paris and the rest, along with Katherine being kidnapped, Rebbie trying to indoctorinate Paris and its just bizarre). Read if you like, but it shows Michael as some spaced out weirdo who could not cope.
I also have another one out of my library which is called Jacko by Darwin Porter and just looking at it, you know it will be gossipy and silly - so no recommendation there. As I have limited money and income I get these books out from Library and then take them back.
I do have my own copies of Moonwalk, Visual documentary and a few photobooks and magazines, but would not buy any more. The Taraborelli ones I had read several times and they are bordlerline, he gets good detail, but I still think he gossips (Camp over the top Italo American) and his biography of Diana Ross was better.
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rhilo
Wondering Who
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Post by rhilo on Jan 28, 2018 7:28:21 GMT
Yes, IMO the following: Remember the Time: Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days - gives a glimpse of his final few years You Are Not Alone: Michael, Through a Brother's Eyes - no fan of Jermaine, but the first few chapters were interesting in terms of the Gary days and start Man in the Music: The Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation - OK, this is somewhat intrusive and never would've got Michael's approval, but I loved reading Michael's thought on a variety of topics minus Boteach's irrelevant commentary. Never bought it but downloaded the free fan version with Boteach's commentary censored, all the better! Michael Jackson: Before He Was King - gorgeous candid pics of Michael from pre-Thriller - Thriller time and some cute stories to go along with it. Private Conversations in Neverland with Michael Jackson - loved this little book done very respectfully Michael Jackson, Inc.: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of a Billion-Dollar Empire - probably the only book that focuses on Michael's business acumen I may have missed a few and will add on if I remember, but you know what I would've loved? If there was an updated memoir from Michael himself that covered the latter part of his life. Oh well...
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Post by jaywonder on Jan 28, 2018 7:37:36 GMT
The Maestro Volumes 1 and 2 by Chris Cadman
Making Michael by Mike Smallcombe (currently reading this one)
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Post by Thriller on Jan 28, 2018 7:38:42 GMT
I'm currently reading Mike Smallcombe's Making Michael which chronicles MJ's adult studio career. It's a great read so far. I think it's held in high regard among fans. It has a five star rating on Amazon.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2018 11:47:59 GMT
One to stay away from "Jacko" his rise and fall by Darwen Porter, it is great if you like lies. I stopped reading it halfway through - full of lies and foul language, badly written aaarrggghhhhh!!!
Only an updated edition since his death but you will NEVER go wrong with "Michael Jackson a Visual Documentary" by Adrian Grant 1994 (Updated 1999, 2009), lots of photos dates and stories and he is a very sincere fan - so its no gossip just pure respect and gorgeously illustrated.
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Post by suzie on Feb 3, 2018 6:13:21 GMT
The best are: Margaret’s Book LaToyas first book Jernaines book for the period up to the 90s Cascio’s for the period up to about 04 The bodyguards book for the final days. I want to warn you that it’s depressing
The best part of Sullivan’s book was the trial information. Tom Meserau was his source. It’s very detailed and I learned alot. Also there was good information from after the trail through after his death. His prespective is from the outside, lawyers, assistants, manager, etc. The bodyguards is more intimate. If you have good discernment skills you can piece together the fuckery that was going on and the sources for many of the tabloid stories during the years..
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