Scan barcode
kelseyr713's review against another edition
5.0
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.
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
3.5
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
emmablue's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Gaslighting, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, and Rape
Moderate: Death of parent, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Body shaming
theextensivereader's review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Rape, Violence, and Adult/minor relationship
honeybeewitched87's review against another edition
3.0
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
3.75
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.
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
theveronicareview's review against another edition
Likewise, so many of us have our own perception of who Elvis was: cool, suave, annoying, proud - whatever it is, the majority of us are likely wrong. So few people knew the real Elvis and, arguably, one of the people who knew him best was his only wife, Priscilla.
I am not the type of person to rate/judge a memoir, but Elvis and Me was one of the most fascinating books I've read.
Constantly toeing the line between condemning & condoning the actions of Elvis, her parents, & herself, Priscilla recounts how she was courted by the singer at just 14 years of age. She spent late nights at Elvis' house in Germany, she was allowed to travel to another country to be with him, & she finished school in another country from her parents just so she could remain near the singer. Elvis taught Priscilla how to dress & how to act. She was given drugs so she could keep up with his demanding lifestyle. Priscilla went from being her parents' child to Elvis' child bride (though they actually married when she was 21), & it would be years before she'd realize she could be her own person, separate from Elvis.
Reading this memoir with modern eyes, it's baffling how their relationship was accepted. In her memoir, Priscilla does note that her parents were hesitant & insinuated that Elvis knew it was inappropriate, but that didn't make this read easier to digest. Obviously, it's now difficult for me to think of Elvis, the person, & not be repulsed. Reading other reviews of Priscilla's memoir, it's clear her words injured some who love/loved Elvis & who want his legacy to remain intact. Others are baffled by Priscilla's romanticization of their time together - some to the point of nausea and others with the desire to know more.
What appalled me more is that I went the majority of my life thinking they were the same age and that their relationship was respectable. It may be impossible to know or perceive how all the world's idols behave behind closed doors (although Elvis left that door opened just a crack, I'd say), but I think Priscilla's memoir is just another example of why we should always admire celebrities and their work with an objective eye. We don't truly know any one of them.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Infidelity, Drug abuse, and Misogyny
nerdinthelibrary's review against another edition
Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Drug use, Addiction, and Physical abuse
kamrynkoble's review against another edition
3.5
This was written in the 1980s and I would be very curious what she thought of it now. I’m a little horrified by all Priscilla was put through, and it seemed a bit like she hadn’t even acknowledged the magnitude of what grown adults did when she was a literal child.
This paints in pretty broad strokes. There’s some honesty, but everything is so big picture that it never dives too deeply into anything. I did love the glimpses at the end about her finally discovering more of herself beyond who Elvis wanted her to be, but this whole book is definitely more focused on him.
It’s honestly very sad how loving/concerned about each other they were during and after their divorce. It just did not have to be this way. I frequently wished I could’ve hugged Priscilla—someone should have. It seemed like she was terribly alone even in rooms full of other people.
I’m very excited for the upcoming A24 movie based on this. It was my final push to read this.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Drug abuse
cinderellasbookshelf's review against another edition
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual harassment, and Infidelity