Graceland: Going Home with Elvis

by Karal Ann Marling

An interpretation of the places and the look of Elvis's life, from shotgun shack to mansion, presenting it as a dialogue he conducted with himself, family and fans. The book incorporates a guide to Graceland, with directions, admission prices and a detour into Southern literature and culture.

266 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Karal Ann Marling is professor of art history and American studies at the University of Minnesota. She is the author of numerous books on topics including American mural painting of the Depression era, illustration of the 1940s, the architecture of theme parks, and the influence of television on visual culture in the 1950s.

Reviews

[Garrett Cash · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful, awful, awful. What in the world was the point of this? Errors abound, the purpose is never made clear, and worst of all is the tone of the writing. Marling must think she's William Faulkner (why does she go on and on about him in an Elvis book? I love the guy too, but ay carumba), from her astoundingly pointy-headed prose that's repulsively out of place in this work. It's just abominable.

[Victoria · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only read 2 chapters and I had to stop. The languge was so pretencious that I just could not get through reading this book.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Karal Ann Marling, from up on her pedestal, the great advancer of stereotypes, run on sentences and repetition.

[Dawn · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author writes like she has a chip on her shoulder. Does she hate Elvis? Graceland? People? She doesn't like his decorating taste, his taste in clothes, his music, his friends, his heritage. Yet she wrote a book about all these things that is just a personal opinion about which no one really gives a good GD. Wow, what a horrible taste this left in my mouth!!!

[Maria · Rating 1 out of 5]

Are there minus stars??? Because one star is waaay too much for this one...