Elvis ja minä

by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley, Sandra Harmon, Anna-Maija Pursiainen (Translator)

The inspiration for the major motion picture Priscilla directed by Sofia Coppola, this New York Times bestseller reveals the intimate story of Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley, told by the woman who lived it.

Decades after his death, millions of fans continue to worship Elvis the legend. But very few knew him as Elvis the man. Here in her own words, Priscilla Presley tells the story of their love, revealing the details of their first meeting, their marriage, their affairs, their divorce, and the unbreakable bond that has remained long after his tragic death.

A tribute to both the man and the legend, Elvis and Me gives Elvis fans the world over an unprecedented look at the true life of the King of Rock ‘N’ Roll and the woman who loved him.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Audiobook, Music, Autobiography, Biography Memoir

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 19, 1985

About the author

Priscilla Ann Beaulieu Presley is an American model, actress and author. She is the rock 'n' roll singer and musician Elvis Presley's ex-wife and the mother of singer Lisa Marie Presley.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was never someone who revered Elvis. I like some of his songs enough.

However after reading this book I have to say I have little respect for the man. Good singer or no, he had the morals of a hyena.

At 24 he met a 14 year old girl who he would eventually marry. His emotional manipulation of Priscilla is pretty sickening. Of the myriad of things that pissed me off, the following were the biggest offenders:

* Plys a teenaged Priscilla with prescription drugs including dexedrine.
* After leaving the heartbroken (still teenaged)Priscilla in Germany after being released from the army he promises to call the minute he was back to the states AND continue to call and write her and arrange visits. The next time he calls her is 23 days later. Talk about playing with a little girls emotions.
* After years (!) of jerking her around sneaking behind her parents back and doing god knows what behind hers he finally decides to marry her. But he doesn't ask her. Instead he gives her the ring and says "We're going to be married". Ummmmm.... ya ever heard of asking dickwad?

The sad thing is I don't think she ever fully realizes how manipulated she was. The book itself is not terribly detailed. It jumps over huge amounts of time and never paints a full picture of their relationship. I think the reason it's such a shallow look at their lives is if she went into any depth, there is no way anyone could walk away without losing some respect for Elvis. While this isn't a hagiography, it's clear Priscilla did her best to portray, and excuse Elvis as a good man, guilty of being a product of his era.

[*TUDOR^QUEEN* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually one of my favorite books. I had the original paperback copy which is probably dog-eared because I re-read it several times. I was a teenager in high school when Elvis passed away, but had no particular interest in him. But when I watched the television series (based on the book) in 1988 starring Dale Midkiff as Elvis and Susan Walters as Priscilla, I was transfixed. It was a blockbuster hit with the public and probably prompted me to buy the book. It introduced me to the world of Elvis, and from that point on I greedily would read any book that came out about him. I finally visited Graceland in 2019, and was reminded of this book. I now prefer to read on kindles, and noticed that this book (which originally came out in 1985) was not available digitally. I guess Priscilla decided to finally re-release it, almost four decades later, because of all the increased interest about Elvis with the new movie
starring Austin Butler as Elvis. Now, with a new cover depicting their wedding day, it is finally available in all reading formats.

I was fortunate to have experienced this book on audio, delightfully read by Priscilla Presley herself. This was a real treat. I don't think I could have enjoyed an audio version if she hadn't given it the personal touch and authenticity by reading it herself. She genuinely laughed recounting many stories, and transformed her voice when narrating dialogue from other characters in Elvis's circle (her experience as an actress helped here, I imagine).

When I first read this I was a newly married working woman in my twenties back in the eighties. It was a different world back then. My reaction to Priscilla's revelations is a lot different now, obviously. I'm a bit surprised that she re-released this book, because at this time with the "Me Too Movement" and all, and the reality that Elvis invited Priscilla into his life romantically at the age of 14 and basically groomed her to his liking until he was finally prompted to marry her when she was old enough...mmmm. She is very honest in this book about so much, and didn't censor anything in this re-issue. Don't get me wrong, I love as a voyeur reading this incredible memoir, but I'm surprised she wouldn't be afraid to open up a can of worms about the improprieties considering their age discrepancy. In any case, this is one of the greatest memoirs I've ever read as far as being interesting, and Priscilla was incredibly forthcoming in the details. For anyone who has never delved into Elvis history, this would be a great launching pad for further exploration.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks who provided an advance digital audio copy via NetGalley.

[Connor Stompanato · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to review this book without feeling like you are reviewing Elvis as a person. I'm going to focus on the actual book itself first, and then talk about the story within it separately. Priscilla Presley's writing style is simple and honest, she makes you feel like you are right there in the room with her as everything is going on and she doesn't beat around the bush with metaphors or poetic descriptions. This made 'Elvis and Me' extremely addicting to read - I couldn't put it down. She acknowledges herself that there are things she excluded and things she could have expanded on, but everything that she did include paints a very real depiction of her love and life with Elvis Presley. Out of pure entertainment and the fact I couldn't put it down, I'm giving the book five stars. Online there are questions about the validity of the stories she tells in this book, but it is impossible to ever know the real truth.

The relationship described in this book is not healthy in the slightest. I already knew about the age gap and although at first you can fool yourself into thinking 'it was a different time', it is acknowledged within the story that even then almost everyone was very wary of what was going on and thought Prscilla's age (14 when she met Elvis) was an issue. Adding this on to the fact that he controlled every aspect of her life - fashion, makeup, hair, how she walked, how she talked, when she slept, what she did during the day, who she spoke to - and isolated her from her family and made it hard to make any friends, it just doesn't paint him in a good light at all.

He also gives her drugs, mostly sleeping pills, and at one point gives her enough that she overdoses and doesn't wake up for two whole days. At this point she is 16 and he is 26. At other times he is physically violent towards her, punching/hitting her in the side of the head so hard that her eye bruises and another time throwing a chair at her. His anger issues are a huge problem in not just their relationship but Elvis's relationship with everyone, they all seem to be afraid of him. Finally, she describes him as being a master of manipulation who can easily control everyone around him and their emotions.

I am an Elvis fan and although I still love his music and what he represents in American culture, this book definitely changed my perception of him as a person. Sometimes though that is exactly what we need - a reminder that celebrities are not Gods, they are as complex and troubled as everyone else, if not more so.

[persephone ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

there is something highly disturbing in witnessing how priscilla never really clearly saw through elvis' manipulative attempts to control her, only sometimes gaining clarity but never enough to truly criticize him and see him for who he really was : a glorified piece of shit.

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite interesting!

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Priscilla met Elvis when she was an innocent and naive 14 year old, but did not marry him until she was 21. The whole relationship (not just the age) seemed weird to me. One - I question the Beaulieu’s parenting and judgment or maybe they were really just gold diggers looking to marry their daughter off to someone who had money. It didn’t seem fitting that her parents would let her go to another country when she was 16 years old to “live” with a rock and roll legend. When they were in Germany they always seemed to let her visit him and stay out late whereas you would think the strict military background of her father would ask Elvis to court her at their home most of the time. Many times he did not even pick her up, someone else did! Also, for all the love Elvis had for Priscilla he didn’t seem to spend the majority of his time with her – there was always his entourage around (also strange) when they were in the same location. Anyways, it seemed that once she had Lisa Marie she realized this lifestyle wasn’t normal for a relationship and after her affair she decided to be her and changed her looks and finally became her own person. She definitely molded herself to please Elvis. FINALLY (from page 297/320) “I still loved Elvis greatly, but over the next few months I knew I would have to make a crucial decision regarding my destiny. I knew I must take control of my life. I could not give up these new insights. There was a whole world out there and I had to find my own place in it.”Interesting, but like I mentioned a very odd relationship. While I found the book entertaining, it seems like she wanted to be remembered as blameless in the relationship.

[alba · Rating 3 out of 5]

every One Direction fanfiction that I read as a thirteen-year-old has led to this moment

[Suhailah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think most all of us have been captivated by Elvis Presley at one time or another. Be it with his voice, his fame, his generosity, his charm, or his riches…

“He was the sex idol of millions and could choose whomever he wanted, whenever he wanted….

….but don’t be fooled. What was really lurking beneath the surface?

What was it really like being married to the King of Rock and Roll? What was it like standing in the shadows of a cultural icon? What price did Priscilla have to pay in order to do so?

Ultimately, there is always a price to pay, and NOTHING is ever truly as glamorous as it may seem.

“I quickly learned, for my own survival, not to ask too many questions.”

This is Priscilla’s Story

As told from Priscilla’s perspective, Elvis and Me is a compelling memoir written in 1985. Truthful yet carefully crafted, Priscilla walks readers through a timeline of highlights throughout her life/relationship with Elvis. She was just 14 years old when she met him; he was 24 years old. He molded her into the exact woman he desired, making her apply dark makeup and wear only specific clothing colors, so much so that I imagine Priscilla never even had the chance to develop her own image and understanding of who she was as her own person.

“He taught me everything: how to dress, how to walk, how to apply makeup and wear my hair, how to behave, how to return love his way.”

"Over the years he became my father, husband, and very nearly God."

“I was Elvis’s doll, his own living doll, to fashion as he pleased.”

Despite the problematic aspects of the relationship and the tumultuous consequences, I admire how Priscilla never once depicted Elvis negatively or portrayed herself as a victim. This was never her intention. I am convinced this woman is an angel. I listened to this on audio narrated by Priscilla herself. It was such a treasure. So full of emotion. She’s such a beautiful person, and her laugh is just the sweetest. ♡ She was so forgiving. So devoted. So dedicated. But again, at what price?

There was such an unspoken yet evident power imbalance between them along with complete insensitivity toward her as a woman.

“He’d reminded me that his was the stronger sex, and as a woman, I had my place.”

“It’s either me or a career, Baby. Because when I call you, I need you to be there.”

Elvis made it clear that no one was to tell him what he could and couldn’t do especially when it came to other women. Various references are made regarding his unfaithfulness even when he expected Priscilla to remain “untouched” just for him. She was constantly humiliated. Constantly left in doubt. Constantly deprived in every humanly way possible in a relationship. My heart just shattered to pieces for her. It’s such a haunting relationship. So many reflections she made about her past experiences will stay with me forever. Many are disturbing but none of which I’ll divulge and spoil here. You should read and digest it for yourself.

Though the divorce and Elvis’s death were so heartbreaking and had me sobbing, especially the scene where Priscilla decided to end things permanently….

“I have to go….If I stay now I’ll never leave.”

….I still loved the moments at the end where she described her transformation. I’ll always hope Priscilla truly found herself and encountered peace within her own existence, leaving behind all the abuse she endured in her past.

Disclaimer: My rating of this book is solely based on Priscilla’s perspective and not about Elvis as a person himself. Though I’ve always been a fan of his music, love so many of his songs dearly, and dream of someday visiting Graceland I am also not blinded by the fact that he had a very dark side to his personality. However, as with anyone, we all have our flaws and make mistakes. It just deeply saddens me that someone as precious as Priscilla had to suffer through it.

{I read this book in honor of the release of the 2023 film adaptation Priscilla. I was already familiar with the events of the book as I had watched the 1988 miniseries Elvis and Me based directly on the memoir years ago.}

◇ A word about the new film Priscilla:

I am in awe with the selection of the film title. I think it was a bold and meaningful decision. I can only hope they did it justice. I know you can’t write Priscilla's story without a huge focus on Elvis, but I hope it gives viewers the opportunity to imagine what it was like to be in her shoes. I found out their daughter Lisa Marie strongly objected to the film due to the negative image it portrayed of her father, but Priscilla was an executive producer and allowed the content to be based on this memoir. If it reads anything like the book Priscilla’s intentions were to always strive to give Lisa a positive image and good memories of Elvis, but Lisa will never ever truly know or understand what her mother lived through and experienced. And it was not right for her to intervene. The truth needed to be told; Priscilla’s feelings needed to be expressed and finally matter.

2024 Monster Mash Challenge
|Bride of Frankenstein Category|
◇ Read a book with a female on the cover. ✔️

[Grapie Deltaco]

This was a difficult read in how it explores the details of how Elvis groomed and manipulated a young child (actively being failed by her parents) into marrying him. Even more difficult is the denial Priscilla lived in at the time of writing this memoir 38 years ago.

She brushes over chunks of time and in the minimal detail she gives on specific moments in their relationship, Elvis’ treatment of her is undeniably disturbing and horrific. For this man’s pedophilia to shine so brightly through Priscilla’s rose-tinted glasses makes me sick to my stomach thinking about the things she might’ve sugarcoated or left out in order to better maintain his image.

His desire for her was not only one heavily rooted in pedophilia, but also what appears to be a fantasy of incest in calling her “his little girl” and pushing for her to make physical changes that would result in a physical resemblance between the two of them. He didn’t just groom this little girl to be his ideal partner, but a daughter he could share a bed with and it’s nauseating.

It hurts and I hope she has healed or is, at the very least, healing.

CW: grooming and pedophilia, descriptions of sexual experiences between adult and child + creation of child pornography, descriptions of partner abuse, death, grief, attempted rape, addiction and drug abuse, infidelity, parental neglect

[Jeff Schrembs · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an Elvis Presley Expert, and Collector with OVER 100,000 photos/items since the late 1960's, I know all of the "resentment" about Priscilla (and the Estate).
The fact remains that Elvis loved her...until the day he died.
Priscilla did NOT have to write this book. She shared many aspects of her life that were, prior to this book, only "implied" and/or talked about behind her back. I APPLAUD her for her honesty and for sharing her insight into the man and their relationship.
Priscilla LOVED Elvis and within a year (i.e. 9 months to the day of their marriage) she was raising their daughter...Lisa Marie. The days of traveling off to Las Vegas, or Hawaii, "unplanned" were over. However, Elvis' desire to travel "spur of the moment" remained "alive and well".
Elvis, in spite of his love for Priscilla, slept with many other women. For better or worse these are facts. In order to fully respect, and appreciate, the genius of Elvis Presley we have to adhere to the facts while never judging them...or defending them.
Priscilla is a beautiful, intelligent, loving, and caring woman and her book is a MUST READ for every Elvis Presley Fan.
I have enjoyed this book since the first day it was available for sale. As much as I respect what she wrote in the book I have even more respect for...what she left out.
Priscilla Presley had the GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY cast upon her when Vernon Presley died thereby leaving the entire Estate to Lisa Marie (who Priscilla had to care for and make business decisions accordingly).
I do NOT "agree" with every decision that she made...but I respect her decision.
Priscilla Presley was the greatest love of Elvis' adult life and this book clearly conveys many reasons to justify Elvis' love. Her words are heartfelt, sincere, and as "objective" as one could "hope for" under the circumstances.
This is NOT a "tell all book" but from page 1 to the last her love, questions, and details come to life. This book leaves you with a sense of "satisfcation" and a desire for more. However, no book or series of books can ever justify the life/legacy of Elvis but this book is/was a "classic" as it enables light to be cast upon one of America's greatest (and thanks to Germany as well) Love Stories...Elvis and Priscilla.
Elvis and Me is a book worthy of being read by Elvis Fans...and others looking for a "good read" that shares details about a complicated relationship between a young woman and a man suffering from the lost of his beloved Mother while in the Army in another land. Their love overcame geography, age, and much more.
THANK YOU Priscilla Presley for giving us "Elvis and Me".
Jeff Schrembs, Elvis Presley Expert/Collector
www.ElvisCollector.info

[Jocelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just learned this book was made in to a movie and is available on YouTube.

I posted some pics along with my review on IG if you’re so inclined 😃 - I just love the old pictures. They go hand in hand with my general nosiness.

When it comes to reading a biography… I feel a little unfair when I rate the book anything under 5 stars unless I hate it. This is the persons own words, on their own experience - their life. Reading older biographies is sometimes complicated, and it sure was in this case. I read through contemporary eyes; things that shouldn’t have been ok then… shouldn’t have been tolerated were. “It WaS a DiFfErEnT tImE” - yeah, idgaf. A lot on this book was hard to wrap my brain around (I’ve compiled a short —- ehhh… short-ISH list below of those points). Elvis and Me was published in 1986, and written about a time in the 60s and 70s. The societal shift on what’s acceptable and what isn’t is showcased in this book.

So, with the understanding that I am a woman of *MY* time, I’ll continue with my review…

I think Priscilla was a victim, a groomed child; that Elvis was toxic, verbally abusive, gaslighting, possessive, controlling and that eeeveryone around them, especially Priscilla’s *parents* should have seen and *acted on* all those red effing flags 🚩 for their 14 year old child! Who am I to say if the love was real… but I have a hard time grappling with the fact that it was allowed to happen. That no one stepped in. Sorry, but I DONT believe they waited for marriage to do the ol’ hanky-panky.

Decently written. Spans a large chunk of time. Easy to follow. Easy (if you get past the content) to read, I finished it in a day. Very interesting for a nosey person like me. I feel like I know Elvis and Priscilla a little from reading this.

- “compromising my own taste” for Elvis. Girl, what?
- Elvis calling Priscilla his “little girl” (gag) is gross because she was in fact A LITTLE GIRL
- where were the adults, parents, friends, anyone protecting this CHILD from an ADULT?!
- Elvis’s blatant manipulation… lord, girl, RUN “He was truly a master at manipulating people.” If that isn’t cringe, I don’t know what is.
- Is no one going to talk about the fact that Elvis was giving Priscilla drugs?! A 14 year old? And basically OD’d her at 16?! K, what????!!!
- Priscilla putting up with Elvis’s philandering 🙄 girrrl… you’re young and gorgeous… go to college and move on!
- Priscilla’s outlook on weight gain during pregnancy. Wow. All to keep looking good for Elvis. Double wow. 😳

[Charlott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely believe that Priscilla gave the people what they wanted with this book.

It is very entertaining and a quick read. It feels scandalous to read about the very intimate details of their relationship. I did not expect so much about their intimacy and the details of their relationship to be shared.

Elvis was a very complex man and this book displays more than any other media I’ve come across what a problematic man he was. The age gap, his manipulation, and all the infidelity are so clearly stated in here, yet I’m surprised how casual Priscilla is about it and that the book ends on such a positive note regarding that. I would’ve wanted even more reflections from her side how she believes that this has affected her life and her personality. Or perhaps she had not even worked through that by the time she wrote the book. Has she even by now?

I kept wanting more. More details. More in depth analysis about them. Yet I understand that this is their story and only their story to tell. No one else can or even has the right to share this. I’m certain that there is some bias in this book and that it’s not 100% impartial.

Another big part of this book, other than their dysfunctional relationship, is the drug abuse and how early it actually started and how casual it seemed as first. It’s really tragic to read about how early in his life Elvis started taking sleeping and diet pills. Of course he is gonna have a very relaxed stance on it if it’s something he has been doing without any major consequences for 20 years.

Reading about the deterioration of his career and how it affected him mentally and physically is also very tragic. You can’t help to think “what if?” throughout the book. What if he had gotten help earlier? What if he had been more challenged in his creativity? What if he had not been encouraged to take those pills? What if? What if?

[Haley Graham]

I watched Priscilla when it came out, so of course I wanted to follow up with the memoir that inspired it!
I don't rate memoirs like this, and truthfully, I have no idea what I would give this one anyways. I really enjoyed the audiobook and the narration. I thought it was fascinating the whole way through. If you're interested in this time period or celebrity memoirs in general, I think you'll enjoy this!
I think the self-awareness and reflection in this was necessary to tell the story, and it really helped to keep me invested in the story. You can tell Priscilla Presley has really worked through a lot of her shit (and frankly, HIS shit).
I totally understand her empathy for him as the man she loved who shaped her entire world. I had to remind mySELF a few times that this relationship was fundamentally abusive, because a small part of me latched onto the romanticism of it all. I think it's important in stories like these to make the reader feel that way. Like they understand why she stayed, how she made excuses for him, how she was manipulated into believing that she needed to be controlled by him. BUT I did feel like it was overly generous to him at some points. Again, I GET IT. I just feel like there could have been more of a 'full circle' in a sense to capture the understanding that this relationship was clearly a power imbalance.
It was clearly a different time in history and I'm sensitive to that. I just felt so sad for her in some of these stories.

[anna near · Rating 2 out of 5]

read this in anticipation of the sofia coppola movie coming out soon- but jesus christ.

"elvis and me" offers an intimate look into priscilla presley' life with the king of rock and roll. immediately, i really liked the simple writing style. while its obviously ghost written, it feels much more true to who priscilla is than if they used "better" writing. the simplicity of the writing made her emotions and memories feel more relatable.

however, i do think she should have written this later in her life. the lack of introspection into the relationship was so frustrating. despite elvis preying on her as a little girl and constantly manipulating her, she maintains it was 'true love.' Which, of course, is understandable considering he did groom her for a majority of her life. but reading about it was just miserable. it felt like i was reading lolita if nabokov left out all the societal/patriarchal criticism, irony, and sarcasm.

i really hope that now, 38 years later and post me-too movement, priscilla can look back and see how she was groomed, abused, and let down by the adults in her life (her parents sucked. she spent half the book defending them. but they sucked.)

im still very excited for the movie, bc sofia coppola is mother, but this book was just gross to read.

[Marianna Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

FYI: Priscilla narrates the audiobook herself, and it's so interesting to hear her voice telling her and Elvis's story. There's a lot of personality to her voice, she laughs at certain parts as she's reading them - it's great. Definitely try the audiobook.

[Edwina Book Anaconda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never could understand the relationship between Elvis and Priscilla.
He was a control freak with a violent temper who insisted that Priscilla stay virginal and yet made her wear clothes and make-up that made her look like she was working at the Mustang Ranch.
He was insanely jealous of her, while he couldn't keep his own pants pulled up and had affairs with most (if not all) of his female co-stars.
I admire his beautiful singing voice and always will, but ...
my gosh, the man was an over-grown spoiled brat and behaved like an ass most of the time.

[Mahla · Rating 2 out of 5]

برنامه داشتم یه review بلند بالا بنویسم ولی به همین بسنده میکنم که: ستاره های دنیای سرگرمی فقط پشت ویترین همون صنعت سرگرمی قشنگ هستند وگرنه نزدیکتر شخصیت دیگه ای دارند و خیلی نزدیکتر که بهشون بشی میبینی که قربانی های همین صنعت هستند و اگر باهاشون زندگی و رابطه داشته باشی تو هم قربانی میشی.
حتی اگر الویس پریسلی ستاره راک دهه ۷۰ باشی

[kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

- this man completely groomed priscilla & it was disgusting to read abt. I can’t get further into the review without addressing that. I forgot that this was a real thing while reading bc of how gross it was. not only did he groom her from NINTH GRADE!!! but he was also abusive. this is the first i’d read abt him being physically abusive and i’m just frustrated. of course he was also mentally and emotionally abusive as well.

- I enjoyed reading the book, maybe because it was interesting to read about such a famous relationship or just such famous people. It felt like someone was telling me a story in person tbh.

- I can’t get over the reality of their relationship. elvis was a horrible person. you could tell how privileged and cocky he really was. after reading I feel like it came from his upbringing and the weird ass relationship with his mom, and then the added fame of being literally the most famous man in the world at the time. I can’t explain how shocking and frustrating it was to read about.

- with my hate for him as a person, I would marry Priscilla if I could!!!! I love her so much and have an insane amount of empathy towards her. being forced to not take birth control, being found undesirable, questioning her sexuality, and raising lisa marie on her own. my heart :’(

- I really really really recommend this book tbh I can’t explain how I felt reading it

[Lynx · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Priscilla’s friends tried to console her about having to move to Germany with her family in 1959 they said “At least you’ll be in the same Country as Elvis!”. Little did they know she’d soon be dating him! A homesick, lonely Elvis Presley was instantly smitten when he met 14 year old Priscilla and began spending every moment he could with her while off duty. Their 6 months together flew by and before they knew it Elvis was headed back to the States. Priscilla was devastated but held onto the hope that they may still have a future together. Two years later she got the call she’d been dreaming of and was soon headed to Graceland. Their love had some obstacles (Elvis’ wandering eye and Priscilla’s parents to name a few) but what Elvis wants Elvis gets! Soon Priscilla had moved in, completing her High School education in Memphis while Elvis was working on films (as well as his costars) in Hollywood.

It would be 7 years before the pair wed in 1967, finally consummating their love. The built up passion led to their only child, Lisa Marie, born one year later. But their relationship wasn’t the stuff of fairy tales. As Priscilla matured, she began to realize she’d been moulded by Elvis to be his “ideal wife”, denying the true woman within. “He taught me everything, how to dress, how to walk, how to apply makeup and wear my hair, how to behave, how to return love – his way. I was Elvis’ doll, his own living doll, to be fashioned as he pleased.”

Priscilla shares with us the brightest moments as well as some ugly truths about the man she loved and their unique relationship. She also shares interesting tidbits about Elvis' eccentricities and his career in film and music.

On Muses & Stuff my co-host Chanty and I did a 3 part tribute to The King in honour of the 40th year of his passing. You can hear all about his time with Priscilla Here and even more about the final love of his life, Ginger Alden Here

[Terry Cornell · Rating 4 out of 5]

My wife and I saw the movie 'Elvis' starring Austin Butler last year, and that re-ignited my wife's Elvis 'fan-atacism'. She read a few Elvis books, this being one of them. Since she enjoyed the book so much, and knows I'm interested in Elvis as well--she recommended that I read it.

A quick read, and extremely conversational. Really makes the reader feel like they are part of the journey. The memoir starts with their meeting in Germany, all the way through their divorce and Elvis's death. Covers all of the major event's of their life, and is told by what I believe is his one true love. Yes, there are tons of Elvis books out there, but this one is told from the heart by probably the one who knew him best. Well worth the read by any Elvis fan. Really sad that while I was finishing the book Lisa Marie Presley passed away.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

I’ve been wanting to read Priscilla Presley’s memoir for some time now. I listened to the audio narrated by Presley herself and I love her little giggles and her authentic voice. She gives us an honest look at her life with Elvis from their first meeting in Germany when she was just fourteen. She captures both the glamour of living with the “King” as well as the darker side. She’s candid about his control over her, his chemical dependency, her insecurities about the other women, and the strain of living in his world. Even with all the volatility, her admiration for Elvis still comes through. It’s a fascinating memoir that I breezed through. I’ll also be looking for her new book releasing this month called Softly, as I leave you.

[Gabrielle (Reading Rampage) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Early this year, I got a nasty cold and spent a couple of days on the couch in a NyQuil haze. This seemed like a good time to my severely addled brain to watch "Elvis" and "Priscilla" back-to-back. Both are incredible, albeit wildly different works of art. The first is bombastic, loud, glittery, and borderline hallucinogenic (or maybe that was the cold medicine) and the second is quiet, subdued and elegant. I don’t have a favorite, in case you are wondering: I never thought of those movies as competing to tell the same story, that’s really not what’s going on here. But "Priscilla" made me very curious about the book it was based on, Priscilla Beaulieu Prestley’s memoirs of meeting, falling in love with and living with Elvis. I wanted to see what Sofia Coppola had not put on the screen.

I want to clarify that while I really enjoy a lot of his music, I am a very moderate Elvis fan. His musical legacy is massive, but it’s also complicated, so I enjoy his work, but I never really idolized him.

While I read this book, I kept thinking: "poor, sweet little Cilla…"

The term ‘grooming’ is kind of weird, isn’t it? English is not my first language, and the first time I heard it, I thought of the lovely lady who used to trim my long-haired cat’s fur into a lion cut every summer. That’s not what it means, of course: it means to subtly (or overtly, in some cases) manipulate a generally young and inexperienced person into an idealized partner, the implication being that they don’t know any better, which puts them in a position where they are almost always being taken advantage of, if not simply abused. I thought about that term a lot while reading this, because dang! What Elvis did here is kind of textbook…

Priscilla was 14 years old when she first met Elvis. I tried to remember what I was like at 14, and I admit that’s far enough to be quite fuzzy now. I know I would have loved the attention, especially if it came from the biggest heartthrob of my generation. But even at that age, a ten-year difference would have felt like a lot… And while she insists, repeatedly, that Elvis was always nothing but a gentleman to her, that nothing he ever did was weird or perverted and that they didn’t have penetrative sex until they were married… she also often says that he taught her how to dress, how to do her hair and make up, how to keep house, and shared his drugs with her very liberally. I believe her when she says that he would never have hurt her or let anything bad happen to her, but at the same time, what he did was still manipulative and controlling. He didn’t like it when she talked back, when she behaved (in his words) like a man, by being strong and fighting back, he didn’t want her to go to college or get a job. Poor Cilla basically had to divorce him to have the space and the freedom to discover who she was, and I can’t help but find that tragic.

The book is strangely paced: they only get married in the second half of the book, and while they weren’t married very long, it still feels uneven. Priscilla loved Elvis with her whole heart (and probably still does) and she clearly wants to keep all her memories of him good, and that’s the way she spins – consciously or not. I don’t not get it; it must be difficult to think of such a major part of your life having been abusive. But from an outsider’s perspective, there is something off about what she thinks of as a great love story.

That said, her writing is sweet, if not terribly sophisticated, and while I often felt sad for how isolated she was during her years in Graceland, I also enjoyed learning what it was like living at the heart of this almost legendary place. It’s a shame that Elvis kept her so sheltered, because I think he might have been impressed with the woman she became.

[Kelsey Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually a very good autobiography. It is truly through the eyes of Priscilla Presley, and I don't think there's a duck in the free world that doesn't wish they could've been a fly on the wall to witness this relationship.

With that being said, I also read this when I was about 14. So the thought of some hot twenty-year old rock star picking me out of a crowd turned this book into my very own fantasy bible. I think I read it in the span of two days. Thank you, Nicole (fellow horny teenage dreamer).

[Elyse (ElyseReadsandSpeaks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I can't say I *liked* this book since I think it shed light on Elvis' grooming of Priscilla and his controlling nature, but I do think this is a book that will stick with me because it was so unsettling.

I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Priscilla herself, and I found parts of it really eerie. She chuckled at things she found endearing and each little chuckle kind of made my stomach churn because she was having fond memories of an abuser. On one hand, I get it - if I started a whirlwind romance with the biggest celebrity in the world when I was 13 or 14, I'm sure I'd be wholeheartedly convinced that our love was a love for the ages. But as an outsider reading about it, his comments about not wanting to "spoil" her, his infamous infidelity, his not *letting* her have a job, and his desire to take her away from her family are creepy and predatory.

So.... Did I LIKE this book? No. I don't want to hear someone fondly recount her days with an abuser. However, I can't deny that I was riveted and that this book will definitely stick with me.

[Donna Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Priscilla Presley is the ex-wife of the king of Rock and Roll. I was a teenager when he died, and neither I nor most of my peers were fans; in the event his name did come up, we’d invariably ask, “Wait. Do you mean young hot Elvis, or old pudgy Elvis?” But I do love a good memoir, and those written by or about musicians are high on my list. My thanks go to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for the review copy. This audio version of the author’s 1985 memoir is for sale now.

The relationship between Priscilla and Elvis took place in a completely different time, with completely different sexual mores and assumptions. That said, this was still a truly messed up pairing. Today, Elvis would probably be considered a predator, but within the context of the American South in the 1950s and early 1960s, he was regarded as a romantic, and women threw themselves at his feet. A quick online peek at old film and television clippings says it all.

Priscilla grew up in a strict but loving household. Her stepfather, the only father she knew, since her own died when she was an infant, was a military man, and so the family moved often. It was while they were stationed in Germany that one of Elvis’s employees saw Priscilla and invited her to meet with Elvis, who was doing his own tour of duty.

I have to feel for the bind her parents were in. On the one hand, she was just fourteen years old, and Presley was twenty-four, a grown man. On the other hand, if they refused to let her go, she would never have forgiven them; this was an invitation that literally millions of girls yearned for. Seeking a happy medium, her stepdad set boundaries: they were to be chaperoned, never alone together, and he wanted her home at a certain time. He groused about the fact that someone other than Elvis would be transporting her, but the reason was a legitimate one: Elvis could not drive himself anywhere without the car being mobbed. It was genuinely unsafe.

Rather than being the single event that the family anticipated, Elvis made their visits regular ones; when her parents balked, Elvis spoke to them personally, turning all of his charismatic charm on them, and telling them everything they wanted to hear. Most of it was untrue, of course, but the one thing he adhered to was not having sexual intercourse. During this time period, the Madonna-Whore dichotomy was alive and well, and any girl or woman known to have sex outside of marriage was likely to be ostracized by former friends and in some cases, family. It’s hard to imagine now, but at that time, no birth control pill had been invented, and a pregnancy outside of marriage was likely to ruin a young woman’s entire life.

Priscilla reads this memoir to us herself, and that makes it much more fun to hear. As we age our faces and our bodies change a lot, but our speaking voices change very little. Remembering some of the silly moments from that time, the author lets out a brief, girlish giggle, and it’s almost impossible to believe that she is now a grandmother.

Priscilla acknowledges that this was a monstrously unequal relationship. Elvis dictated whom she could talk to, what she wore, and sometimes even what room in the house she was supposed to be in. At one point, when he is going to be touring for months on end and she will be left at home with his grandmother, she goes out and gets a job. She’s so proud of herself. He makes her quit immediately. When he phones from the road, she had by God better be there. Priscilla compares this to Pygmalion. He has all the power, and she is in his thrall before she has even had a chance to grow up.

I have read two other Elvis biographies, and as dreadful as all of this sounds, the other authors were less gentle. In fact, this is part of Priscilla’s stated reason for deciding to tell her own story.
There are advantages to reading this particular biography. The official version of events is often what is published, but Priscilla is positioned to know the real story, more often than not. For example: when Elvis is drafted, the official story is that, although stars of his caliber are often offered soft assignments that involve singing to the troops, or making inspirational training films, Elvis insisted on doing the same job as every other American man. On the other hand, Priscilla states that this is all his manager’s doing, because it will make Elvis appear noble. Enough new songs were taped in advance for there to be regular new releases on the radio throughout his tour of duty; toward the end, Elvis feigns illness because he’d prefer to be in the hospital being swarmed by nurses than marching around and getting dirty.

Her memory of Elvis, despite everything he put her through, is mostly a tender one. The spiral that led to his death, his issues with mental health, back before much was known, coupled with the immense number of strong prescription drugs he used to wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night—or to NOT go to sleep at all, and just stay up, night after night—set him up for relationships with unscrupulous characters, and nobody could rein him in, because he was the King.

Recommended to those that like vintage rock music or well-written memoirs of famous musicians.

[Patricija || book.duo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

Man, kaip ir daugeliui kitų, sunku mintyse perlipti per faktą, kad Priscilla ir Elvis susipažino ir įsimylėjo kai ji buvo dar visai vaikas. Jo, žinau, kiti laikai, bet net ir rašydama knygą ir reflektuodama, atrodo, kad autorė nesuvokė kaip iš tiesų nedaug jai buvo ir kad ji buvo vaikas. Vertindami iš dabartinės pozicijos, aišku galim teisuoliškai aiškinti ką norim ir kiek norim, ypač kai matom, kaip viskas pasisuko, bet vis tiek nemalonu. Tačiau vertinant kaip istoriją kuri jau nutiko ir kur mūsų nuomonės niekas neklausė, klausyti Priscillos įdomu, nors smegenų kamputy ir tūno balsas sakantis, kad ji kalba per gražiai, su per daug meilės, per mažai gilindamasi į narkotikus, neištikimybę, smurtą. Ji pabrėžia, kad norėjo parodyti kitokią Elvio pusę, tačiau žmogus nėra vienpusis. Nors aišku, kai mylim, ypač kai mylim tada, kai dar nelabai ką apie gyvenimą išmanom, idealizuojam.

Klausyti Priscillos žavu vien todėl, kiek daug beskaitydama ji juokiasi ir kikena. Prisimindama smagius nutikimus ir visokius bajerius, autorė knygai suteikia nuotaiką, kurios skaitant tiesiog nepajaustum. Ir nors knyga gana stipriai koja kojon eina su filmu „Priscilla“ (kartais net žodis į žodį), vis tiek įdomu, o dabar ji turbūt galėtų parašyti ir antrą – apie gyvenimą po Elvio. Nes šioji ne veltui pavadinime į pirmą vietą iškelia jį ir ne veltui hitą „Personal Jesus“ įkvėpė šioji autobiografija – net šiurpai bėga pagalvojus, kaip kartais meilė gali įkalinti. Ir kaip gera, kai galiausiai pasirenkama laisvė ir žmogus, kuris svarbiausias – tu pats.

[Xandra Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this on audiobook and it was amazing to hear Priscilla's voice narrating her own life, her experiences and adventures with Elvis.

I found out lots of new and unexpected things and enjoyed delving into the story, into the window of their life that she allows us to experience for a while.

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoo boy.

I’ve been in a non-fiction mood since picking up Britney’s new book, so with the release of Priscilla, Elvis and Me felt like the obvious next move.

I will say, I went into this book with a lot of antagonism for Elvis. I like his music, casually, but I’ve seen a few documentaries on him in recent years that made me really dislike him as a person. Let me tell you, this book didn’t change that opinion whatsoever.

I didn’t realize until I had finished that this is quite an old book, originally published less than ten years after Elvis’ death, and now that I know that, it definitely makes me look at the book in a very certain way.

Elvis and Me simultaneously felt like a bit like a fly-over look at Priscilla’s relationship with Elvis. I definitely learned a lot about their relationship that I didn’t know, but I feel like Priscilla fell short on really examining a lot of the situations she was put into or the things she experienced during the time that she knew Elvis. Mostly, what we’re told is anecdotes showcasing Elvis to be a manipulative and emotionally immature person with the capacity for kindness and charm, his shortcomings mostly written off as character quirks. There are various points where Priscilla acknowledges how Elvis’ behavior and treatment of her is wrong and abusive, but only just so, and with qualifiers. It’s sad to read about because Priscilla really seemed to have done a lot for Elvis in the way of being a supportive partner, but she doesn’t give herself that same credit. Finding out this book was written decades ago, however, really just tells me Priscilla hadn’t quite done the reflecting she needed to yet, and definitely didn’t have the benefit of hindsight like she might have if she were to write this book in a post-#MeToo world.

I saw a lot of reviews saying they didn’t like the narration of the audiobook—which is the way I read this book—but I have to disagree, I honestly really enjoyed Priscilla’s narration! To me, it helped her voice in the writing shine through way more than it probably would have had I read a physical copy of the book, and I loved hearing her giggles here and there in places. I will say, sometimes the giggling was weird to hear solely because it would happen after stories that weren’t really funny and felt more serious in nature, and it kind of added to the idea that maybe Priscilla didn’t fully understand the gravity of some of the things that she experienced.

Priscilla said at the end of the book that she set out to write this book to showcase “love, wonderful moments, ones filled with grief and disappointments, a man’s triumphs and defeats, much of it, with a child-woman at his side feeling and experiencing his pain and joys as if they were one.” This is in contrast to the way Priscilla felt other stories about Elvis had been written where they focused on his “weaknesses, violent temper tantrums, eccentricities, perversions, and drug abuse”. In this way, Priscilla’s intent was super clear with the way she wrote this book, so, yes, it’s a very rose-tinted look at Elvis as well as Priscilla’s relationship with him. Despite this, I should say that, as a rule of thumb for myself, I don’t really rate autobiographies/biographies less than 5 stars unless the writing is, like, glaringly bad from a technical standpoint, so while the lack of ability on Priscilla’s part to really reflect and understand her relationship with Elvis and see the abuse and grooming she endured, that’s by no means something I’m going to give a bad rating for.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earlier this month, my sister and I took our mom to Graceland—a pilgrimage she’s always wanted to make, given she’s been an Elvis fan since she was 10. The trip did not disappoint, and it opened a new world of discovery for me about an artist whose music I’d always enjoyed, but now have a deeper affinity for after visiting his home. (I went so far as to start my record collection while at Graceland, picking up Elvis's first (and arguably best) album there). And curious reader that I am, there was no way I was leaving the place without snatching up SOME book about The King.

I could have nabbed one of the many biographies that were everywhere in the gift shops, but instead, I was compelled to pick up this memoir written by his wife, Priscilla. In part, it caught my attention for the cheese factor alone (that cover! the back jacket photo of Priscilla with her 1985 Dynasty hair!) but after the first 50 pages, I got so engrossed in her and Elvis’s love story, I couldn’t put it down! My only regret? Wishing I could have read it poolside because it is the quintessential vacation read—a dishy, dramatic tell-all that reads like fiction (and cost only $8 so if it gets wet, who cares?)

Here’s a related side hop down memory lane: After I started reading this, I had a flashback to being a kid, remembering watching a TV movie about Elvis and Priscilla on a tiny television set in my parents’ bedroom. Turns out that movie was inspired by this very book, and it premiered in 1988—which meant I would have been a 6 year old with no business watching it! Needless to say, I HAD to look the movie up and was delighted to rediscover it in its entirety on YouTube. Cheesy? Without question. But when you’re talking about Elvis, you accept the cheese and flash as part of his legend, knowing where he ended up in life wasn’t where he hoped to be when he rocketed onto the scene in the late 1950s and changed music as we knew it forever.

[Meh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This love was not at all tender or sweet…