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honeymoonreads's review against another edition
4.0
The writing style is utterly immersive and descriptive, you really can envision everything and it paints a very detailed picture of Priscillas life she shared with Elvis. The descriptions and stories about Graceland are so enthralling. As for Elvis, It’s clear that when writing this Priscilla was (and probably still is) still in love with him, but despite a lot of this book focusing on Priscilla and Elvis connection and how much she loved him, it also shows his manipulative side and highlights the real reality of their dynamic. Priscilla being a child when they first started their relationship, the book does explore their strange dynamic and how Elvis in many ways was like a father/mentor to her alongside being her lover. It is a love letter to Elvis in multiple ways, but it definitely doesn’t glamourise their relationship or the life they shared. It depicts the good and the bad.
I’ve seen some reviews saying she’s awful for how she paints Elvis in this and that this book is slanderous toward Elvis character but let’s not forget she was a child and he was a grown man when they began their relationship…that dynamic is already peodophilic , exploitative and morally (and legally) wrong. Its clear when reading this that as a partner Elvis was just selfish and wanted his partner to be truly dependant on him and to cater to his every need, and a starry eyed 14 year old girl is the perfect candidate.
I personally felt that she showed how their dynamic was harmful but she did also show how strong their love was and how much they loved one another.
I just think that everyone who defends Elvis dating Priscilla when she was a child is blinded by his star and the influence he holds over pop culture (especially in America).
I think he was a amazing artist, the impact he made on society was profound (still is) and I do think he had his own demons and was a complex man, but I will never sit and defend or justify him pursuing and grooming a little girl.
I’ve seen some reviews saying she’s awful for how she paints Elvis in this and that this book is slanderous toward Elvis character but let’s not forget she was a child and he was a grown man when they began their relationship…that dynamic is already peodophilic , exploitative and morally (and legally) wrong. Its clear when reading this that as a partner Elvis was just selfish and wanted his partner to be truly dependant on him and to cater to his every need, and a starry eyed 14 year old girl is the perfect candidate.
I personally felt that she showed how their dynamic was harmful but she did also show how strong their love was and how much they loved one another.
I just think that everyone who defends Elvis dating Priscilla when she was a child is blinded by his star and the influence he holds over pop culture (especially in America).
I think he was a amazing artist, the impact he made on society was profound (still is) and I do think he had his own demons and was a complex man, but I will never sit and defend or justify him pursuing and grooming a little girl.
batmanbussy's review against another edition
5.0
there are no words to formulate how this book made me feel. i can't put in a review how this made me think about so many different things, formulate varying psychological explanations for behaviour, and how it tore me up inside as i tried to navigate my feelings towards him and her. but towards the end of the book, as i decided to listen to the songs priscilla mentioned, when i got to "always on my mind", i was CRYING, because this extremely significant story of the cultural canon just can't seem to leave my mind, to not be a situation i think about often, and i believe that 5 stars is the only way to articulate the lasting impression this has on me, and how it makes me feel.
Maybe I didn't treat you
Quite as good as I should have
Maybe I didn't love you
Quite as often as I could have
"Sattnin"
Maybe I didn't treat you
Quite as good as I should have
Maybe I didn't love you
Quite as often as I could have
"Sattnin"
brookieebeth's review against another edition
5.0
this book was truly amazing. i couldn’t put it down.
erinbrook's review against another edition
I actually own the 1986 edition of this book thanks to a library book sale, but I hadn't actually read it. I love nonfiction read by the author, so I jumped at the cha de to get copy of the audio.
I'm not one to give a negative review on a memoir--who am I to judge their life. I will, however, say that her choice to overly simplify her thoughts was interesting. I understand when the book starts, she's 14 years old. But at the time she wrote it, she was in her 30's, so the immaturity of the writing sounded super bizarre. This makes me want to go back and watch interviews to see if this is really how she speaks.
I refuse to say anything bad about Elvis because I LOVE HIM (I even walked down the aisle to one of his songs at my wedding) but this book did leave me feeling a bit icky. Was it normal for a 24 year old to date a 14 year old back then? I honestly don't know, but i doubt it right? The fact that her parents were so on board. Oof.
This is a super quick read, so I'm glad I picked it up. Now don't mind me while I travel down a rabbit homes of Pricilla Presley interviews.
I'm not one to give a negative review on a memoir--who am I to judge their life. I will, however, say that her choice to overly simplify her thoughts was interesting. I understand when the book starts, she's 14 years old. But at the time she wrote it, she was in her 30's, so the immaturity of the writing sounded super bizarre. This makes me want to go back and watch interviews to see if this is really how she speaks.
I refuse to say anything bad about Elvis because I LOVE HIM (I even walked down the aisle to one of his songs at my wedding) but this book did leave me feeling a bit icky. Was it normal for a 24 year old to date a 14 year old back then? I honestly don't know, but i doubt it right? The fact that her parents were so on board. Oof.
This is a super quick read, so I'm glad I picked it up. Now don't mind me while I travel down a rabbit homes of Pricilla Presley interviews.