Reviews tagging 'Death'

Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark by Cassandra Peterson

11 reviews

funkykong313's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny reflective fast-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Miscarriage

Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, and Death

lizacorn's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Murder, Sexual violence, Animal death, Misogyny, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Death, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Drug use, and Sexism

Minor: Alcohol, Addiction, Cancer, Homophobia, Infidelity, War, Animal cruelty, Abortion, and Trafficking

grey_jayne's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

5.0

This memoir does what the best of them do: I now feel like I know who Elvira is. Yours Cruelly, Elvira is a fearless tell-all of both a life of showbiz and a tireless journey into the spotlight and acceptance. The narrative covers 70 years of her life and is candidly thorough. This book is also fantastically queer throughout and should be read by both horror fans and lovers of queer memoirs. Check the content warnings though.

I chose to listen to the audiobook because Cassandra Peterson read it herself. I really don't know if there could be a better way to experience it, if possible. Elvira does the voices, like all great storytellers. Loved it and love her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Miscarriage, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Death, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Animal death and Animal cruelty

leahkarge's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Sexual content, Body shaming, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

marigoldgem's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

*PLEASE check the trigger warnings before hand* 
I grew up loving Elvira and all things strange and unusual. Now I just love her more and admire Cassandra so much for being so bad ass. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Addiction, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Grief, Murder, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

doomluz's review against another edition

emotional funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I loved this! Mostly I checked this out because I had heard how she came out as being married to another woman, but that doesn’t come up until the last few chapters. Peterson recounts her childhood and adolescence, but also a lot of the celebrities she’d met throughout her life. It had humor and some interesting stories, but she also went into some of the hardships she's endured.
The only thing that bugged me was in Chapter 15, when she spoke about sexual assault and rape. She used a hypothetical example for men to understand how rape can be terrifying by describing being overpowered by a man. Then she explained that she used a man in the example because if it was a woman it would actually be more of a fantasy for most men. The hypothetical example felt unnecessary, but the main problem is that this kind of logic makes it harder for male victims to find support, especially if the woman is more conventionally attractive.
Other than this, I loved hearing about how she got the role of Elvira and what that was like.
I also recommend listening to the audiobook. My partner made me realize that memoirs read by the author feel more personal. Peterson has a great voice and I think the humor and emotions come through a lot stronger.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Body shaming

Minor: Cancer, Death, Death of parent, and Drug use

vixenreader's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

Elvira is the vamp we need, but do not deserve. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Rape, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Bullying, Alcohol, and Fatphobia

Minor: Grief and Abandonment

Elvira survived a lot, and we are happy to have her around.

lunarxcross's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Murder, Sexual content, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infertility, Rape, Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

volcanogirl's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

This book is a whirlwind from start to finish. Peterson's life before she even became Elvira reads like a movie. From go-go dancing at 14 to becoming a Vegas showgirl by 17, it's about as bonkers as you'd expect the Mistress of the Dark's life story to be. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Death

Lots of discussion of the AIDS epidemic as Elvira had many friends in the gay community who she lost during that time

imstephtacular's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Racism

Minor: Biphobia, Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Cursing