Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley

12 reviews

rosamaria's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, Death of parent, and Alcohol

ellie_rowo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Violence, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

carolinecash's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Death of parent

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

emotional funny informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Grief, Classism, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Death of parent, Drug use, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Death

Minor: Abortion

mari1532's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

2.5

I was interested in reading this book because of the new Sophia Coppola movie that just came out. So, I took advantage of the audiobook being included in my audible subscription.

Now before reading this book, I knew that Priscilla was significantly younger than Elvis, but I did not know that he had essentially groomed her from her early teens. I find the rating and review of this book to be incredibly hard. It was well written in terms of a memoir and I appreciated how open Priscilla was about her story. However, reading it I was a little concerned that she didn't have any understanding that some of the things she was describing were abusive. I am trying not to project my opinions about the events she describes onto her story, but this book feels like it was written to absolve Elvis of sins rather than a reflection of her lived experiences.  

For instance, she seems to take no issue with the fact that there was a massive age difference. Or that he sexualized her as a teenager while also making her guilty and threatening her should she be sexual with anyone else. There is also a moment in the book in a later chapter where it felt like she was describing marital rape. 

I did listen to the entirety of this book, but I honestly wish I hadn't. I kept waiting for some self-reflective moments where she mentioned therapy or any indication that Elvis might not have been that great, but it never came.  Unfortunately, I would not recommend this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Eating disorder

issyd23's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

Dying to see the Coppola biopic! The story of her relationship with Elvis is that of a dark fairytale. I am now repulsed by him. Also Elvis high key stole music from black artists 4👧🏻

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

kelseyr713's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

I read this after watching the excellent Priscilla because I wanted to read the source material. I was surprised that there were many scenes in the movie that were adapted exactly, down to the conversation. This is a poignant memoir that showcases the deep and complicated love that Priscilla had for Elvis. It is difficult to read at points because she is only fourteen when their story starts while he is a grown man, so please keep that in mind before you read. 

Something that's included here but was removed from the film adaptation is the period of time when Priscilla, Elvis, and everyone in their circle gets really obsessed with horses, which I found very funny.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Alcohol

Moderate: Physical abuse and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

skelleybean's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Addiction, and Alcohol

Minor: Grief, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Death, Physical abuse, and Body shaming

honeybeewitched87's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Infidelity, Addiction, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Death of parent, Grief, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content

Minor: Child death and Body shaming

randimcphee's review against another edition

challenging emotional fast-paced

3.75

The writing itself isn’t anything mind blowing, but the story is absolutely fascinating. Reading a first hand experience of Elvis’ life, troubles, addictions, and attitude had me questioning a lot about what I thought I knew about him. This story is their love story, but also how he transformed from a sweet, generous, Southern boy with too much money, to a controlling, manipulative, borderline monster.

I think the lowest point of this book is that the author, his only wife, Priscilla, never seems to understand just how deeply terrible Elvis’ actions were. It was just so heartbreaking and scary, and I found throughout the book that I wasn’t rooting for the love story.

Even after their divorce, she said they were friendly, held hands, kissed, and acted like a family when they were together. It seems like she was never truly able to get out of his grip, even after everything and divorcing him. It was an interesting story, but also felt like whiplash. A good story, but disappointing to know the truth and see Priscilla be taken advantage of way too much.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexism, Pedophilia, Drug use, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Infidelity, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Sexual assault