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Shakin' E

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A wealthy ad executive gets the shock of his life when his world collides with the most famous and beloved "King" in history. This hilarious adventure takes gut wrenching turns and exploits the full emotional spectrum of any reader daring enough to take the journey with them. Marvelously witty and philosophically insightful, it's charm and impact will "go marching on" long after this truth story has been told. ------------------ Roger Cardinal wakes up one morning with a winter storm raging outside his Chicago brownstone, and an emotional storm raging within. He is on the brink of personal and professional collapse ... meanwhile, on the "other side", the "King of Rock and Roll" is planning his greatest comeback ever, and bringing secrets of the universe with him. --------------- Women readers get an intimate glimpse into the male psyche. Men will experience a reconnection with womankind and their little boy lost. And everyone will love Elvis

618 pages, Paperback

Published July 24, 2002

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69 reviews3 followers
June 16, 2015
The fact that Elvis fans genuinely view their idol as a source of inspiration and positivity is hardly anything new. As an Elvis fan myself, I can truly testify that I feel inspired every time I hear a song of his. I get a huge kick out of his rock n’roll songs, and I am often moved to tears by his slower ones. He’s the first artist who succeeded in making me cry as a teenager, with “In the Ghetto”, he’s a cover master, having performed gems like “My Way” or “Bridge over Troubled Water”, already well-established in their original versions by Frank Sinatra and Simon and Garfunkel, respectively.

Elvis is an icon, and one does not need to go in search of too much evidence to see that.

As an avid reader, I was thrilled to find out, by pure chance, about an AWESOME novel, called SHAKIN’ E, in which Elvis, referred to as E throughout the story, plays a pivotal part, plot wise. I had the honor of receiving a signed copy of this novel from the author, Canadian comedy legend Peter McCowatt, who wrote the book as Peter T. Cow, and I’d like to take a moment to utter a wholehearted “Thankyaverymuch” for the huge privilege.

The plot of the novel is absolutely mesmerizing. Meet Roger Cardinal. He’s this middle-aged ad executive whose life isn’t exactly going the way he wants it to go. Of course, this leads to a midlife crisis, which is hilariously and tenderly exploited throughout the book. Having succeeded in coming up with a crazy idea for an ad, Roger goes to a Japanese karaoke bar in Chicago, where he’s asked by a friend to perform an Elvis song, as the King. During his act, he gets zapped by the microphone, and that’s when things start going crazy. Why? Because the spirit of Elvis, of whom Cardinal is a huge fan, like yours truly, possesses the guy and starts taking control of his life.

If you’re an Elvis fan, there’s a lot to like about this book. There are nods to many aspects pertaining to the King, including the lucky blue suede shoes Roger wears for his every meeting with his boss. But there’s also something else about this novel that makes it worth anyone’s while. It is the best fictional representation of Elvis I’ve read in any book. Why? Because it contains bits and pieces of timeless wisdom from the soul of the King, trapped inside the mind of the protagonist. For example, in E’s view, there are no mistakes in life, only lessons to be learned, reincarnation doesn’t belong to one religion or another, being a manner in which God lets a soul know they didn’t do their job right, and finding their inner little boy is a must for all men. E serves as an inspiration, a guide through life, as well as a source of humor. Cameos from Ringo Starr and the Memphis Mafia will thrill music enthusiast, and the entire story of a man in search of his inner freedom, guided by the soul of someone adored by millions, but who ended up not loving himself, will inspire any man and woman who reads this book. If it didn’t have a few instances of profanity, I’d recommend this to kids as well. I think it’s suitable for anyone who loves books that make one laugh, cry and think, and it’s definitely a must for Elvis fans. They will discover a King making a comeback much more personal and spectacular than the one in ’68, a King greatly concerned with the environment, a King who is bent on not allowing ignorance to be an excuse for inaction, as he very well puts it himself in the novel. Out of all the books on Elvis I’ve read, this one made me love him even more than I did before, and feel him closer to my heart than ever. Thus, a galaxy of stars wouldn’t do it justice. I love this book, a 618-page tribute to my idol! Thankyaverymuch, Mr. Cow! Stellar job!
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