Well, first of all, the thing is that I absolutely, positively, no question about it, LOVE Rosie. I admire the way she voices her opinions, however controversial and questionable those opinions may be. I admire how she speaks the truth, her truth, in anything and everything she says. It’s just one of those things; I couldn’t care less what anyone else says about her, I see something so real and powerful in her that I am completely drawn to, and I really do love her and what she stands for.

So anyways, when her book came out, and the media had such a field day with it, twisting everything in the book around and around until it sounded completely deranged and whacked-out, I just knew there had to be more to the story than what was being portrayed. And of course, I was right. This book is, in my opinion, a very powerful statement about how celebrity-ness is sort of like a drug - it messes with even the most innocent of people and makes them want more, and apparently can truly alter and change who a person is. Rosie spoke about how fame has interfered with her life but also changed her life in wonderful ways that she obviously appreciates. She also wrote about her childhood - and how when a person with such an iffy childhood as she had gets put into the spotlight for people to either adore or detest you, it can really mess with your mind and the way you deal with things.

She also talked about Barbara Walters - now this is the stuff that really got attacked by the media. But the thing is, nothing she said about BW was actually negative. It was simply Rosie’s observations as she interacted with her throughout the year they worked together. And in Rosie’s opinion, the two women are actually friends - Rosie says she loves BW and BW loves her as well. The problem with what she wrote in the book is that she wrote some things people don’t really want to hear, such as Barbara is getting older (she is like 73 I think) and there comes a point at which people need to relax and basically, retire, and that BW has no intention of doing so and Rosie just thinks she is worn out and should be thinking about quitting. I mean, in my opinion, this is not a controversial statement - it’s completely accurate. How many 73 year olds work full time jobs? Not many.

Anyways, the point is that I really loved this book - Celebrity Detox did not disappoint. I’d highly recommend reading it, especially for anyone remotely interested in Rosie or the whole fame thing itself. ( )

As far as celebrity memoirs/autobiographies go, this one seemed to just fall flat. I don't think it accomplished it's intended goal, which, if you believe the blurbs on the cover, is that it "...illuminates not only what it's like to be a celebrity, but also what it's like to be a mother, a daughter, a leader, a friend, a sister, a wife...in short, a human being."

I am all of the things described by the blurb (well, obviously not a celebrity!), and yet, I simply didn't feel that this book resonated with me. Maybe I had unreasonable expectations, but I had hoped that while writing about how she is just a normal person, who got wrapped up in the celebrity game, she would show how there is a commonality between me, a heterosexual wife and mother in Texas, to her, a homosexual wife and mother in California; unfortunately, I just didn't feel that connection. ( )

I like Rosie O'Donnell. I had a hard time reading the book, though. Her writing style is very stream of consciousness and fragmented. It seems true to who she is as a person and fits what she was trying to write about - fame, her two B's, the difference between money and society. While my personal taste left me wanting a little less emotion and more anecdotes, I have a great deal of respect and compassion for the person who's just trying to move in the world with peace and calm and understanding. ( )

Love her, love the book. ( )

Very Exposed and Raw. I admire her for showing the reader her soul. Few celebrities who write the story of themselves give me anything more than a peek into there world. Rosie gave me the front row on opening night. ( )