Jackson Family Values

Memories of Madness

By: Margaret Jackson, Richard Hack

Narrated by: Margaret Maldonado Jackson

Length: 2 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

For years, Margaret Maldonado Jackson was a celebrant of the good life, living with her Prince Charming - Jermaine - at the Jackson family estate in Encino, California. A former teenage runaway who had barely survived life in the fast lane, she had felt fortunate to be welcomed into the Jackson clan.

So why, in 1993, was she running for her life with her children? What had happened to this young woman to make her feel so threatened and so alone? What had she done to make Jermaine and the other Jacksons commit acts of verbal, physical, and legal terrorism upon her, when she only wished to be part of their family?

In Jackson Family Values, she tells about the ongoing hostility, paranoia, backbiting, and jealousy that pervades the family, and how suspected or acknowledged instances of rape, murder, abuse, and adultery have touched all their lives: how the greed and sexual swordsmanship of the Jackson males continually erodes the family fabric, and how physical violence is considered a negotiating tool.

Told with anecdotal humor and honesty, this is the story of how one young woman transcended years of betrayal and disillusionment to regain independence for herself and her children.

©1995 Margaret Maldonado Jackson (P)2009 Phoenix

Fame and disfonctionality

Margaret pictured the Jackson family disfonctionality Michael despised the most.
I am glad MJ left Encino for Neverland to build his own kingdom far from this mental mutilation.
As for Jermaine ,his portrait in this book is not flattering and uneventful. I believe being single parent is the most painful family ordeal ever. I too is supportive of these men and women that face the misconduct and irresponsibility of their spouse or intimate.

Smh at those Jackson men

Those Jackson are something else. We knew the Joe was bad but Jermaine deception are ruthless.

Great book

Great book so proud that you were able to get out and was able to tell your story. An inspiration to any woman that feels trapped

Intriguing

This book was so purely written. I believed Margaret 's account of events. It's good to know that Michael is ad good a soul ad I always thought.

believable

Where does Jackson Family Values rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

you always can get the real scoop from the ex's. i wouldnt buy a book that was written from any of the jackson brothers or parents because you dont know what to believe. they are going to water down alot of info or make themselves out to be how they perceive themselves rather than how they realy are.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Jackson Family Values?

what she said about michael. i believve is true.

What about Margaret Maldonado Jackson’s performance did you like?

she should become a narrator in books you would have never known the book was not from an experienced narrator. i really didnt think it iwas her that was narrating the book. they way she peformed it made you focus on the story than the person telling the story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

i was planning to listen to it in parts but it was so interesting that icouldnt put it down.

Facts destroy fiction

This book destroys much of the mystique that the Jackson family has mesmerized the public with for years. Although the book is mainly centered on the author’s marriage to Jermaine Jackson, one gets a nice view into the rest of the Jackson family. Jermaine is depicted as a jealous, abusive (physically and psychologically), stubborn tyrant in this book. Many fans have always speculated that Jermaine was always jealous of MJ’s success, and this book certainly outlines this as well as the rest of his neurotic behaviors. The patriarch, Joe Jackson is seen as one to be feared (as most fans also suspected). This is clearly evident when the book describes a scene where Joe had his hands around Latoya Jackson’s former husband Jack Gordon’s neck. Latoya is seen as one who communicates the most and confides in the author. The matriarch, Katherine Jackson is seen as one who stands by her son Jermaine, despite the abuse the author is complaining to her about by his hands. In fact, she eventually hides from the author due to not wanting to fully address the abuse. The other brothers (and Rebbe Jackson) are seen as free-loaders, living off of MJ’s allowance money to his mother and refusing to seek employment, along with their wives. Janet and MJ are untouched with any negative press from the author. Janet is untouched due to not living at the compound with the rest of the family at this time so she is largely out of the picture. MJ is praised as being charitable, loving, and innocent.

Boringly spoken

The tone of voice, thought it would be better. Wish I could get my credit back. Biased

A Woman Scorned

I enjoyed the story about this mysterious family. But it should have been read with expression. The author read in a total monotone voice. It put me to sleep many times. As I listened, I felt like Jermaine's wife was a gold digger. She stayed in the marriage because she loved the limelight. She did not want to work. She was always looking to Katherine for something rather than stand on her own two feet. This wife chose t be a victim. So many of her stories read like a "poor pitiful me" story. The book was well written. But boring to hear. The only thing I would say to Margaret Jackson is- you are only a doormat when you lay down and let people walk all over you, Her lifeSTYLE was more important to her than her QUALITY of LIFE! Money can't buy you love.