Elvis and Me by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Elvis and Me
Book Review: Priscilla rewrites Elvis history.
Summary: 1 Stars
A highly anticipated book of its time. Will Priscilla finally divulge the truth about her time with Elvis? Well, sadly, the answer is no. There are alot of stories in here that are possibly true, and some that are verifiably true. And then, there are many that are recreated to secure Priscilla's place in the Elvis legacy as the grieving widow ( of which she is not. She left in 1972) There is also not much talk of her affairs, except a little about Mike Stone. The entire novel is slanted to give the impression that Priscilla was this sweet innocent girl the entire time and was taken advantage of, used and then tossed aside. This is not the case. Sure Elvis did some unsavory things but if you want to know the real truth read "Child Bride". That writer has evidence to back it up. Priscilla, to this day, is still contradicting her stories in this book and has , on a couple of occasions, when presented with irrefutable evidence,had to recant. A sign of a truth teller? This book was written for one reason only, to rewrite and secure Priscilla's place in the immemorial legacy of Elvis Presley.Book Review: Priscilla writes a better version of "The King and I"
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm no "Elvis-Priscilla" expert, but I think some people aren't cognizant of something: In 1981, "Elvis", a bio of Presley written by Albert Goldman, was released. I've read the book, and its sequel and, say what we will, Goldman was a briliant writer, but he totally despised Elvis, and boy- did it show! ANYway, Priscilla also read the book, and was deeply upset. If you've not read it, it calls Elvis a child molester, a pervert, a junkie, a coward, a racist, a lousy husband,father, and singer, basically, a terrible human being. Priscilla said, "I just CAN'T let this be a book my daughter reads about her father." So, "Elvis and Me" was a REACTION to Goldman's acid account. Did Priscilla gloss over her own misconduct? I don't think so- because she even admits to an affair that no one, including Elvis, knew about, with her dance instructor, Steve Peck. As for Mike Stone, the karate instructor, EVERYone knew about that one, again, including Elvis- and no one, not even the "Memphis Mafia" confronted her about it. In fact, they ALL, even Priscilla's detractors within the group, say that they did not blame her for cheating on Elvis, a few of them even covering for her whenever her husband couldn't find her. That should tell us something, if nothing else will.
One of the people who reviewed this tome was outraged that Priscilla wrote about her indecision regarding giving birth to Lisa Marie- please don't get me wrong- I am pro-life, totally against abortion, so, it bothered me,too. But you have to look at Priscilla's mind-set at the time. Elvis forbade her to use any form of birth control, and Lisa Marie was conceived on their wedding night. Priscilla was afraid that if she had a child, Elvis would not allow her to travel with him, would have affairs with slender women, and would lose interest in her sexually, as he'd told her beforehand that he had a serious "Madonna complex"- that is, he'd never been able to make love to any woman who'd given birth. These were Priscilla's fears, and, as any Elvis fan knows, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM CAME TRUE! Elvis even asked her for a separation when she was seven months along... She's recently said (in the book "Elvis by the Presleys") that it was never the same after that.
People also speak of Priscilla's "coolness", and lack of emotion. Well, look at her background. She was a military child, moving from base to base and even country to country. She'd form attachments, only to never see the person, place or thing again. I DO agree, she is very guarded in interviews, and she doesn't often show emotion- which is precisely why Elvis was so crazy about her! He was a man that was met with screams just for walking into the room, and was mobbed and clawed at every time he stepped out the door- naturally, he chose women who were the polar opposite of that behavior (think Ginger Alden). Re: the lack of emotion, he said he had enough problems of his own without dealing with someone else's. So, she learned to internalize her true feelings, which resulted in an ulcer while she was a teen-ager- not that it's Elvis' fault.
Alot of the reviews are contradictory, as well. People chastise Priscilla for sanitizing her image, yet they criticize her for revealing too much dirt. Well, which is it?
After all is said and done, Priscilla Presley had to be a special person in my mind, if for no other reason that Elvis picked her. There's a reason we're intrigued by Michelle Obama, Jackie O., Coretta Scott King, et al. We subconciously know that great men usually marry great women. He was the King, she was once upon a time his Queen, and Suzanne Finstad (author of "Child Bride") and other people who are bitter over Priscilla landing Elvis need to just get over it! It's history, and history cannot be changed.
Priscilla once said that she and Elvis were just two people, and two very young people at that. They were not trying to be icons or live up to some mystical "Camelot" , and I think she was right on the money (no pun intended, folks!) We, the reader, the students of history, often forget that we have an advantage the people we're studying did not have. We KNOW the way the story will end, and WHEN it will end. Priscilla had no idea that Elvis would die within five years of their divorce, and that he would never re-marry- for all she knew, he might have gone on to have 6 more wives and 8 more children. She didn't have to maintain a caring relationship with him after the divorce. She didn't cite adultery, or drug abuse in her divorce petition; in fact, she let Elvis be the petitioner.She really could have blown his world sideways, before the "Bodyguard" book happened, yet she didn't.
I am grateful to anyone who shares their story of life with Elvis, because it gives me a picture of the man himself, piece by piece. We should solicit the stories of his intimates now more than ever, as time is robbing us of first-hand witnesses to his life.
FYI: did you know that, aside from Jerry Schilling's recent book, "Me and a Guy Named Elvis" (which I've already read, of course!)that the only book Lisa Marie has ever read about her famous father IS her mother's book? She has said that she doesn't want anyone else's opinions about her father to contaminate her own memories of him- I think that would make Elvis happy, don't you? His biggest fear surrounding the release of "Elvis- What Happened?" was "What will my daughter think when she grows up and reads this?" Rest in Peace, dear Elvis. She never did.
Book Review: Recommend as a basic Elvis book
Summary: 3 Stars
Somehow I feel this is just the surface and not the total story I know that will never come out because Elvis is gone, we will never know that only her side. The book had a lot of information in it about her life with him on a basic level.Book Review: Representation of herself
Summary: 2 Stars
I couldn't put the book down because of the way in which it was written. I knew that she cheated on Elvis, the details of which she skipped over. I am new to Elvis material, so I don't know much about him. I thought that her book might be helpful for a start. It was and it wasn't. It seems very dramatic and moving, a woman who desperately loves a man she ultimately cannot win away from his dead mother, fame, and child-like emotional stability. I would give this a five if I had never come across another source, but I have. Elvis is a mass market for biographies and video documentaries. I don't blame this woman. But my overall impression of the book, even after consideration of it, is this: If you like a good, turbulent romantic fantasy with a woman's abiding love winning out over all, read the book. If you want to learn about Elvis, this book may not hold its own.
I know nothing about Priscilla nor her enterprise. Therefore I take no personal stance for or against her. She may claim to love Elvis. That's her business. However, as a representation of Elvis, she should have compared her own memories with those of others. Sometimes people who did know someone will write a book simply to get their emotions out. She has some very conflicting ones represented. So, as a representation of Elvis, it isn't one. It is a representation of herself and her emotional state at the time rather than an accurate picture of Elvis. And when someone is speaking from emotion, then the story is definitely highly biased and distorted. But, if she says she loves Elvis, then how can we counter that?
Book Review: So first of all best book
Summary: 5 Stars
Ok so this is such an interseting book for any true elvis fan.I can not believe how gay some of you people are.I think its cool how this bookgoes into as you people call 'a darker side' even thought its not,because shes letting his fans know another side of him,and you get to know more about elvis.Priscilla loved him with all her heart,anbd she isnot negative at all towards him.Maybe you people are just used to'are ytou lonseome tonight' well as far as im concerned that book is complete and total fiction.She doesnbt sayd anything bad about elvis,because its her fantasyu and she tries to make it like everything went well for them,excpet thqt they coulkdnt be together.First of all EVERY relationship hasd problmes.There is not certain thing as a problem free relationship,that author needs a fducking reality check,.Priscilla knows what really went on seeing as she was his wife,and with him for numeral amounts of yeatrs so stop being homos.