Rating: 
Summary: Memories of Margaret's Madness
Review: Honestly, I don't know what does this woman think. She has no respect for others or for herself, and if you read her book neither will you feel any respect for her. She begins her story by writing about her teen years spent as a drug addict, now I don't want to judge her by this, nobody is perfect, but it doesn't make me have a high opinion about her. Then she wrotes about how her relationship with Mr Jackson began. Without feeling any shame she describes how she dated a man who was MARRIED with children, then writes about the birth of their first son (Jermaine Jackson was still married to Hazel Gordy then). Now I don't know about Ms Maldonado's standards but if I had morals like hers at least I wouldn't publicly announce it in a book. (I don't say everything is only her fault, though. The book reveals that BETWEEN the births of their two sons Mr Jackson also had a child by his wife.From the book we get some interesting tidbits about the Jackson family, but those you can find in other books too. We also learn that she is suffering from the infidelity of her common-law husband (I guess nobody has ever told her that what goes around comes back around), then they finally break up. From then the whole book is about Ms Maldonado's endless wailing about not getting any money and her trying to pose as a good mother. She's badmouthing the whole Jackson family, with the exception of Michael (who -- what a strange coincidence -- is the only one who supports her financially).
This book was written as a revenge against the Jacksons. If you love them, don't buy it. Don't support this woman. Go and buy "My Family, the Jacksons" by Katherine Jackson, or if you want a less varnished one, try the unauthorized biographies, maybe not everything is true in them but at least their pages aren't filled with hate towards our beloved entertainers.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty good
Review: I only put down this book twice, because it was that good. Page turner doesn't describe how enthralled you become in the lives of the Jacksons. I always wondered why Janet and Michael rathered distanced themselves from the rest of the clan, now I know. However to state from what I read in this book that the family is dysfunctional would be a compliment, because from some of the accounts they are insane. The questioned was answered as to why Jermaine all of a sudden became jealous of Michael and his fame.
Also I discovered the reason the Jacksons are so broke is that Berry Gordy owns all the rights to their music which means they have no income except for what Michael and Janet provide.
Rating: 
Summary: COULD'NT PUT IT DOWN!
Review: I received my copy in the mail from Amazon.com today and I'm already on page 149. This book is something else. Everything from suicides, various children out of wedlock, STD's to Katherine, Janet, and Randy marching in Joe's office and beating his mistress bloody. And I'm not even half way done yet, This book is EXPLOSIVE. A great read and a must have for Jackson fans and collectors who want a glimpse into the REAL life of the Jackson clan.
Rating:
Summary: Sense out of NO sense
Review: I will start off by saying book has the ring of truth to me, whatever the motives for writing it. Margaret Maldanado Jackson doesn't spare herself, Jermaine, or the Jackson/Maldanado families of her criticism. The fact that she addresses her past drug addiction, affair w/ a married man, remaining in an emotionally/physically/sexually abusive relationship way past it's sale by date, and struggles to move forward as a single mother (at that time at least, don't know about the present) manages to explain some of the behaviors we see from the Jacksons w/o demonizing them in the process. IOW, she seems to have tried to tell of her experiences in a fairly balanced way. The mistakes the author's made are common ones that MANY women make, no matter who the man in their life is, how much money they have, or what they look like. I THINK this was her point in writing this book. By the end, one feels as if she has learned from her experiences. However, I digress.....
Despite the terrible proofreading and typesetting of the book (hardback edition), it's an intriguing and sometimes hilarious read. You really feel as if you've entered the gates of Havenhurst and are dealing w/ flesh and blood people.....as opposed to stars and legends. She does an excellent job of portraying everyone as extremely human while at the same time showing us how different the celebrity world is from our own. While she portrays Jermaine almost as "her favorite mistake", she does so w/in the context of his upbringing and celebrity. She does not excuse his bad behavior (or hers, for that matter), but putting it w/in the context of this surreal world paints a vivid picture. IOW, the Jacksons are NOT your "average family" in ANY way! Knowing this is one thing, but this book addresses the extent and the nature of how celebrity affects everyone and everything around it.
Margaret and Jermaine's involvement came at very interesting points in their (respective) lives......she was at the beginning stages of recovery from drug addiction and he was facing the ending of his career (as he knew it) and of his marriage. While one can question HER morals for being involved w/ a married man, it's a fact that HE was the married man......who had both his wife and Margaret pregnant at the same time. The start of this relationship was all about (from her presentation) seeking new lives, both for Jermaine and herself.....and this they got, new lives.
The initial stages of going from "a nobody" to "a Jackson woman"/ mother seem to go by in a blinding flash. They literally went from "just met" to prospective parents in a matter of months...all while he was still married! She was obviously starstuck and he struck by her looks and neediness. This relationship seemed to happen in the reverse of what's normally expected.....they only get to know each other AFTER they had a child (as permanent linkage), rather than the opposite. What they got to know about each other was apparently not appealing to EITHER of them. This MAY explain alot wrt how this relationship ultimately ended up, IMHO.
Margaret's situation w/ Jermaine gives alot of insight into how this family really lives vs. how they like to portray themselves. There was apparently very little condemnation of Jermaine in this religious family for the having made 2 women pregnant (apparently he and his wife at the time, Hazel, actually show up at his parents house w/ Margaret's baby son.....Hazel about to deliver her own son any minute), little condemnation for leaving his wife for her, they allowed them to live UNmarried for several years at Havenhurst, and supported him in his lack of (financial) support of his children. This same sort of "family culture" seems to have been extended to the other brothers as well. IF this is true (have no reason to believe otherwise), it says alot about how the Jackson's REALLY operate and perhaps explains a bit of why they are facing what they presently are (tho Margaret defended MJ in the 1st allegations). One thing that's clear is she was expecting the PR Jackson family and got something ENTIRELY different. For all of author's apparent neediness, the sense of isolation unique to celebrity comes clearly thru. It's obvious that she had a difficult time adjusting (as well as some of the other wives/girlfriends), but the Jacksons haven't fully come to terms w/ it either. This overall lack of adjustment played a part in her finally leaving and taking control of her life. Unlike the Jackson's, w/ this book, she's seemed to have opted out of the celebrity machine.....Margaret took her two sons (Jeremy and Jourdynn) and left the big top....seemingly w/o many regrets.
"Jackson Family Values" was written in 1995, so what's happened in her life since isn't known to me. As for Jermaine, not too long after Margaret moved out of Havenhurst, he took up w/ his brother Randy's ex girlfriend (and mother of Randy's 2 kids) and apparently remains w/ her to the present.
This book is a good read if you could get it at the library or a cheap copy. For nothing else, the stories about Madame Bongo of Gabon and her somehow relative Leah Bongo are worth the 2nd hand price for the laugh factor alone. LOL....this part CAN'T be anything but true.....it's just too weird and hilarious!
Even if you are a diehard Jackson fan (which I am no longer...still like them OK), this book really gives some insight that has never come to light before. The author is the only Jackson "wife" to publicly speak/write in depth of her experiences and interactions w/ the man in question and his extended family. Whether or not you choose to believe everything/anything she says, her unique position makes for a very interesting read.
Rating: 
Summary: Confused and Wondering
Review: I've been an admirer of the Jacksons for many years, and it's so sad to hear of the layers of dysfunction that exist in this family. At the very least, this book talks about the other Jacksons besides Michael, which is a refreshing change. It is also the story of a woman who discovers that even celebrities are not immune from problems, and that fame and fortune are no substitutes for a healthy home life. What is WRONG with these folks? According to the author, it seems that Marlon and Tito are the only ones among the 'other' Jacksons who have made a life for themselves apart from sponging off of Michael and Janet (thank God Marlon and his wife Carol are still together; the smartest thing they did was to leave the whole dysfunctional bunch to themselves at Hayvenhurst!).
I have seen Jermaine Jackson on Feed the Children Informercials, defending his famous brother in interviews, and heard of his supposed conversion to Islam. I sincerely hope that by now he has dealt with his issues of abuse and womanizing, and that he is paying child support for the two sons he had with the author. I would love to see Margaret Maldonado write a revised version of this book, with updates as to whether or not things have improved between her sons and their father, as well as how she has rebuilt her own life.
Rating:
Summary: This family needs SERIOUS prayer and counseling!
Review: I've been an admirer of the Jacksons for many years, and it's so sad to hear of the layers of dysfunction that exist in this family. At the very least, this book talks about the other Jacksons besides Michael, which is a refreshing change. It is also the story of a woman who discovers that even celebrities are not immune from problems, and that fame and fortune are no substitutes for a healthy home life. What is WRONG with these folks? According to the author, it seems that Marlon and Tito are the only ones among the 'other' Jacksons who have made a life for themselves apart from sponging off of Michael and Janet (thank God Marlon and his wife Carol are still together; the smartest thing they did was to leave the whole dysfunctional bunch to themselves at Hayvenhurst!).
I have seen Jermaine Jackson on Feed the Children Informercials, defending his famous brother in interviews, and heard of his supposed conversion to Islam. I sincerely hope that by now he has dealt with his issues of abuse and womanizing, and that he is paying child support for the two sons he had with the author. I would love to see Margaret Maldonado write a revised version of this book, with updates as to whether or not things have improved between her sons and their father, as well as how she has rebuilt her own life.
Rating:
Summary: Margret tells the story's of the "Memories Of Madness
Review: This is a wonderful story on how Margret tells the tails of her ''memories of madness'' while being married to Jermaine Jackson and her experiences while living in the Jackson Family home in Encino California. For people who are or have always wanted to know what it would be like to live in the Jackson family home or who have always wanted to know what the Jacksons are like,this book is a must read for you. I am 13 years old and was still intrested in it. So if it can please me. I am absolutly,positivly sure that you will like it too.
Rating:
Summary: Confused and Wondering
Review: This book left me kind of confused and wondering about some of Ms. Maldonado's statements and motives. First, why does she use the last name Jackson? Jermaine never married her. Second, I don't understand why she didn't use some of her producer's fee she received from the miniseries to move herself and her children from the "house of hell". Instead of paying Jermaine's back child support, storage fee, etc., which was well over $65,000.00, she should have used the money to leave. Third, she claims to have suffered physical, mental and emotional abuse, then why did she stay in this relationship for so long? There were organizations that she could have turned to for help. When she first found out that Jermaine was still a married man, that should have been her clue not involve herself any further. Not only did she have one baby by this married man, but she allowed herself to become pregnant the second time! I think she thought she would live the life of glitter and glitz when she found out who Jermaine was, but unfortunately, she didn't prosper as well as she thought she would because he was not the Jackson with the money ... Michael was. Ms. Maldonado sounds like she is extremely bitter, vindictive, suffers from a bad case of low self-esteem and in desperate need of cash (as she alludes to in the closing lines of her epilogue). She is also a notorious name-dropper and this book was filled with many typos and grammatical errors. Some of it just didn't make sense and I question some of her accounts. She REALLY tried to make herself sound like a saint! Hmmmmmmmm...... I presume her telltale account of some of the Jacksons' private affairs and "dysfunctionality" did little to heal her relationship with the Jackson family. I think her overt viciousness only served to further distance the Jacksons from her boys ... how sad for the children.
Rating: 
Summary: Scandalous reading!
Review: This book made me feel like a fly on the wall in the Jackson household. The author does a great job of revealing Jermaine's dysfunctionality. Yet she still did so without bashing him, keeping in mind he is the father of her children. A must read for Jackson curiosity-seekers. The book is a bit one-sided. The author freely discusses Jermaine's infidelity, but fails to go into detail about her adulterous relationship with him during his union with Hazel Gordy-Jackson.
Rating:
Summary: Margret tells the story's of the "Memories Of Madness
Review: This is a wonderful story on how Margret tells the tails of her ''memories of madness'' while being married to Jermaine Jackson and her experiences while living in the Jackson Family home in Encino California. For people who are or have always wanted to know what it would be like to live in the Jackson family home or who have always wanted to know what the Jacksons are like,this book is a must read for you. I am 13 years old and was still intrested in it. So if it can please me. I am absolutly,positivly sure that you will like it too.
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