Madonna: The Ultimate Compendium of Interviews, Articles, Facts and Opinions From the Files of Rolling Stone

The latest set of Rolling Stone files, a sort of pop festschrift in honor of the Material Girl, is long on admiration for Ms. Ciccone's career management, long on buzzwords and catchphrases, and short on restraint, which may be the perfect rock 'n' roll marriage of style to subject matter. Anyway, the book collates the magazine's previously published record reviews, interviews, articles (including even tidbits from RS's 'Random Notes' feature), and other things Madonnical. Fans of Madonna will be thrilled; others will at least be well served by the book's extensive videography and annotated discography (sadly--inexplicably? foolishly? bizarrely? cheaply?--no index seems to be forthcoming). An excellent companion to Encyclopedia Madonnica (1995), albeit not as excellent all by itself. - Mike Tribby; 288p - YA/M: Gossipy fun, with a bawdiness and a salacious edge; for fans of the Material Girl. LM-