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_saturnsrings_'s review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
lurker_stalker's review
3.0
Interesting but a good chunk of the book is much more of a tell-all which I guess I didn't expect. I didn't know much about Ms. Peterson except she's Elvira, a vegan, and recently came out regarding her long-term relationship with a woman but, wow, she's been in show business forever and done a lot!
bargainsleuth's review
4.0
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Yours Truly, Elvira, is the perfect book to read during the Halloween season, when classic and not-so-classic horror films are shown on cable and over-the-air on the sub-channels.
I grew up in the 1980’s, when excess and horror was king. My brothers and sisters and I were involved in the March of Dimes Haunted House every year, taking a dilapidated house and turning it into a house full of frights and sights. So you could say I had a keen interest in anything horror related: we watched all the horror movies, combed stores for costumes (Spirit Halloween was not in business back then and if it was, it didn’t make its way to Green Bay.)
Elvira was something special. A sexed-up version of my favorite, Morticia Adams, I became an instant fan whenever I saw her on TV. In fact, just last week her show, Movie Macabre was airing on the Comet channel here in the U.S. What a blast from the past! It certainly added to my enjoyment to the book, to see Elvira in her prime, doing her schtick, at the same time as reading about it.
Cassandra Peterson had a very eventful life before becoming the Mistress of the Dark. In fact, I dare say that her life leading up to her most famous gig was more interesting than the actual Elvira bit. That’s not to say that her life was boring as Elvira, far from it, but that just goes to show you how extraordinary her life was before fame and fortune struck. I mean, among other things, she was a Vegas show girl, which gives one a wealth of stories to begin with. She toured Europe as a singer of a pop band. And this was during the 1970’s, when life was a lot different.
Even if you’ve never heard of Elvira, all you need to know is that Peterson’s character hosted late-night b-movies on TV during the 1980’s and 1990’s, much like you find Svengoolie today on MeTV (which was just taken off the air in our market and for which I’m cheesed.) Or if you were a fan of Mystery Science Theater (the original host was from neighboring Ashwaubenon, so it was fairly big cable show here), Movie Macabre was like that. We even had our own local late-night host, Ned the Dead, who still gets into character from time to time to this day.
Frank and candid, with a little name-dropping when necessary, Yours Cruelly, Elvira was a great trip down memory lane, as well as learning a lot more about the woman behind the boobs and bad jokes.
Yours Truly, Elvira, is the perfect book to read during the Halloween season, when classic and not-so-classic horror films are shown on cable and over-the-air on the sub-channels.
I grew up in the 1980’s, when excess and horror was king. My brothers and sisters and I were involved in the March of Dimes Haunted House every year, taking a dilapidated house and turning it into a house full of frights and sights. So you could say I had a keen interest in anything horror related: we watched all the horror movies, combed stores for costumes (Spirit Halloween was not in business back then and if it was, it didn’t make its way to Green Bay.)
Elvira was something special. A sexed-up version of my favorite, Morticia Adams, I became an instant fan whenever I saw her on TV. In fact, just last week her show, Movie Macabre was airing on the Comet channel here in the U.S. What a blast from the past! It certainly added to my enjoyment to the book, to see Elvira in her prime, doing her schtick, at the same time as reading about it.
Cassandra Peterson had a very eventful life before becoming the Mistress of the Dark. In fact, I dare say that her life leading up to her most famous gig was more interesting than the actual Elvira bit. That’s not to say that her life was boring as Elvira, far from it, but that just goes to show you how extraordinary her life was before fame and fortune struck. I mean, among other things, she was a Vegas show girl, which gives one a wealth of stories to begin with. She toured Europe as a singer of a pop band. And this was during the 1970’s, when life was a lot different.
Even if you’ve never heard of Elvira, all you need to know is that Peterson’s character hosted late-night b-movies on TV during the 1980’s and 1990’s, much like you find Svengoolie today on MeTV (which was just taken off the air in our market and for which I’m cheesed.) Or if you were a fan of Mystery Science Theater (the original host was from neighboring Ashwaubenon, so it was fairly big cable show here), Movie Macabre was like that. We even had our own local late-night host, Ned the Dead, who still gets into character from time to time to this day.
Frank and candid, with a little name-dropping when necessary, Yours Cruelly, Elvira was a great trip down memory lane, as well as learning a lot more about the woman behind the boobs and bad jokes.
kaleymph's review
4.0
I loved everything about this, especially her. I had a lot of fun reading about her life before Elvira. The ending was almost sad, but I was really happy to read that she had ended up finding such a loving partner.
ksweatt84's review
5.0
A wonderful read! Cassandra Peterson has had a very interesting life. There were so many things that I didn't know about her & Elvira, until reading this book. I really enjoyed all the stories that she shared, the good & the bad. I found it to be very relatable & inspiring. It is a very heart-felt & funny memoir. Most of all, I love how she ended the book. "We all have our own scars. Let them be a blessing & not a curse."
gothicgirlhood's review
5.0
This incredible recollection of Ms. Cassandra Peterson’s life and times as an actress, a woman, and a dancer was a true inspiration. This book made me fall in love with the often-overlooked memoir genre, as well as the ‘movie macabre’ Queen herself. Cass’ wild and unbelievable life stories is a true treat to read. I enjoyed the insight into her early life, as well as; the lore of the American ‘horror host’ concept, her shocking times in Italy, and of course, the 1970’s Las Vegas scene.
I recommend this book to absolutely any horror fan, as well as anyone who’s looking for an easy, fun and interesting read.
If I was able to create a film based off a famous person’s life: this is it.
I recommend this book to absolutely any horror fan, as well as anyone who’s looking for an easy, fun and interesting read.
If I was able to create a film based off a famous person’s life: this is it.