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A review by tirwinreads17
Elvis and Me: The True Story of the Love Between Priscilla Presley and the King of Rock N' Roll by Priscilla Presley
3.0
As a mid-90’s baby, I didn’t know much about Elvis beyond references from Lilo and Stitch, where the MC was obsessed with “the King.” I recently saw Elvis: the Movie in theaters and I thought it was an incredible memorial to him and was enamored by it. I started listening to his music often and seeking out more opportunities to learn about his life. So I was really excited when I saw this title hit NetGalley.
Priscilla reads her own memoir, which is really neat, especially given she is now almost 80 years old. The substance of the story is actually really disturbing, though. Of course, now I am learning that a lot of the movie was for entertainment value and hid a lot of the shortcomings of Elvis and his life and career. I felt like at moments during this audiobook, I was listening to a age gap erotica/obsession novel instead of a memoir of Elvis’ ex-wife. I did not know she was 14 when they first became involved or that she moved in with him while she was still in school and began engaging in the drugs, alcohol, and hardcore lifestyle he had. She also put up with him being physically and mentally abusive, misogynistic, a cheater, and incredibly controlling, changing her into what he wanted. These sides of Elvis and the details of their relationship she reveals is extremely disturbing and concerning. Very hard to hear. Although I do realize back then, things were a little different with women’s rights, sex and drugs.
Regardless, I still commend Priscilla for being honest about what real life with Elvis was like, including the embarrassing and disturbing moments which we would judge them on, instead of romanticizing life of the deceased music icon. It takes courage to do that and that is what makes this story feels so real and so raw.
Thank you to Blackstone, Priscilla, and NetGalley for the advance listener’s copy of the first audiobook release of this title.
Priscilla reads her own memoir, which is really neat, especially given she is now almost 80 years old. The substance of the story is actually really disturbing, though. Of course, now I am learning that a lot of the movie was for entertainment value and hid a lot of the shortcomings of Elvis and his life and career. I felt like at moments during this audiobook, I was listening to a age gap erotica/obsession novel instead of a memoir of Elvis’ ex-wife. I did not know she was 14 when they first became involved or that she moved in with him while she was still in school and began engaging in the drugs, alcohol, and hardcore lifestyle he had. She also put up with him being physically and mentally abusive, misogynistic, a cheater, and incredibly controlling, changing her into what he wanted. These sides of Elvis and the details of their relationship she reveals is extremely disturbing and concerning. Very hard to hear. Although I do realize back then, things were a little different with women’s rights, sex and drugs.
Regardless, I still commend Priscilla for being honest about what real life with Elvis was like, including the embarrassing and disturbing moments which we would judge them on, instead of romanticizing life of the deceased music icon. It takes courage to do that and that is what makes this story feels so real and so raw.
Thank you to Blackstone, Priscilla, and NetGalley for the advance listener’s copy of the first audiobook release of this title.