Graceland

by Bethan Roberts

What happens when your only son becomes The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll?From the moment she first holds him, after his twin brother is stillborn, Gladys Presley loves her son Elvis ferociously. She will be his greatest influence, the love of his life. She will be the one by his side, when Elvis is a boy and his father is in the jail house; as the family move from house to house, skirting poverty in Tupelo, Mississippi; as Elvis’s obsession with music grows; as they move to Memphis and he begins his whirlwind rise to never-seen-before success… And he will love her back, even as his heart is turned by the blues, clothes and girls. But while he makes it big in Hollywood, brings audiences across the land to their knees and achieves unimagined wealth and fame, there is another story – of drinking and diet pills, loneliness and loss. While the heat and music of the American South in the 40s and 50s play in the background, a heartbreaking portrait of a mother’s love and a son’s devotion takes centre stage. When Elvis reaches the height of his power, he buys his family the ultimate mansion on the hill, Graceland, where he hopes his mother will be happy. The reality, though, is very different, and Elvis finds that even kings must go on alone.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Music, Fiction, Female Authors

Audio CD

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Bethan Roberts was born in Abingdon. Her first novel 'The Pools' was published in 2007 and won a Jerwood/Arvon Young Writers’ Award. Her second novel 'The Good Plain Cook', published in 2008, was serialized on BBC Radio 4’s Book at Bedtime and was chosen as one of Time Out’s books of the year. 'My Policeman' was published by Chatto and Windus in February 2012 and was selected as that year's City Read for Brighton. Her latest novel, 'Mother Island', is longlisted for the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize. She also writes short stories (in 2006 she was awarded the Olive Cook short story prize by the Society of Authors) and drama for BBC Radio 4. Bethan has worked as a television documentary researcher, writer and assistant producer, and has taught Creative Writing at Chichester University and Goldsmiths College, London. She lives in Brighton with her family.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read about Elvis's early life and the relationship/close bond he had with his Mother.
I am a fan of Elvis's music and I enjoyed thinking about his songs in relation to his life.
I liked confronting the extent of Elvis's ambitions...and the insecurities he felt that showed him to be a real and flawed person.
I thought the story was well researched and worked well but on a personal level I did find it a bit repetitive in places and it's not really the type of book that excites me.
As you can see from other reviews this is a great book if biographies are your thing.

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously I have heard about Elvis quite a lot but never really been a person I've found very interesting. But when I read the blurb of this book I was intrigued, and I'm glad I gave it a try. Ended up enjoying the audiobook quite a lot. But not sure if it would been another experience if I had been a fan of him

[Graham Sillars · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I begin?

What can I say?

I’m not entirely sure I have enough words in my entire vocabulary to justify how gorgeous this book is!

The relationship between Elvis and his mother, Gladys, was so eloquently described. None of it felt false or forced.

Reading this book has made me want to know more about Elvis, his rise to fame and his family life.

If you are a fan of Elvis... Read this book!

If you aren’t particularly bothered either way about him or his music... Read it anyway! If for nothing else but the sheer beauty of the writing!

If I could give this a million stars that still wouldn’t be nearly enough for this beautiful piece of literature!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this thought provoking. We all know Elvis and were saddened by his death. This story gives an insight into how he led his life and became the man he was. Behind the public persona was a lonely and insecure man I think. I know that it is a fictionalized account of his life but the general feeling was there. She has researched his life and she acknowledges those people at the end.

[NicoleR.M.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book comes from the author of My Policeman and when I was checking her catalogue, I came across this book. The cover spoke to me - and I know that is a dangerous thing! It might be covering up a book that's totally not for me, or it might lead me to an incredible story. I think what happened was somewhere in between. It wasn't as incredible as I hoped it would be, but it still felt like a 4 star read. The writing was just really good, and the storytelling was captivating enough. You could tell the author has done a lot of reading and research about Elvis and his life in the early days. But the overall feeling I had while reading was one of true sadness. The way his mother always hovered over him, always checking him, always in his space when possible, it felt quite toxic to me. Even when I know where she came from. Having lost one of her baby twins at birth, it's the grief for that still born little boy that makes Elvis precious to her multiple times, over and over again. She can hardly stand it when he is not around, her nerves taking its toll when he becomes more popular and his career sets off. She just wants a happy marriage for him, a woman who will love him the way she does, a woman who is good and beautiful, one who takes care of him and gives him children. And with each new step in his career, she has to acknowledge that that just isn't going to happen. Elvis has other priority's, even though with each girl he takes home, she keeps on hoping that she might be the one.

It's sad to see how she becomes addictive to pills and alcohol just so she's able to cope. Trying to hide it from Elvis too, because she doesn't want him to worry over her.
And even though she meant well, and she had so much love to give, it wasn't a healthy relationship. He couldn't fly with her presence. She desperately wanted to clip his wings and keep him close.
And all Elvis wanted was for her to be happy. All that money he finally started to earn, it was meant to give her the life she deserved. Coming from poorness and hardly getting by, it was his way of showing her how much he loved her, how much he appreciated everything she'd done for him. But I can't shake the feeling she would return every single dollar if it meant she would get her beloved son back, the one she can smother in her motherly love, the one she can keep by her side. But instead she got a lovely house, a housemaid, a cook she didn't want because she thought she was the only one who could cook Elvis's meals the way he wanted.
Like I said, a story filled with sadness and grief. Elvis's father seems to have lived his own life. He wanted the wealth, he wanted to show off how their son provided for them. He was proud to be Elvis's father, but he also took pride in what it eventually meant for all the changes in their lives. And that Elvis was the one to make them happen.

Despite all the sadness, this was an interesting read. It's a fictional story, but it's based on real life events, and I do believe Bethan Roberts did a great job with that. It reads like a fictional story, but in the back of my mind I couldn't help but wonder which one of these events were real and which ones came from the author's creative mind.

[Karon Buxton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Bethan Roberts writing but in parts I really struggled with this book ; not because of the style of writing or the way the story’s been told , it’s just we know the heart break that’s coming , has anyone lived such a tragic life as Elvis Presley ? What an evil man the colonel was , Iv also been to see the film which is truly outstanding must be some Oscar winners there !! So in my opinion this book is a must for all Elvis fans or anyone wanting to know more about his rise to fame . 3.5 stars ⭐️

[Leonie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a terrible book to read, as you already know the ending well before you begin - after all, surely everyone knows at least about what Elvis ended up being. Here the story is of the relationship between Elvis and his mother, about the shadow of his dead twin and the role of drink and drugs in yet more famous lives. I’m not sure if there is anything groundbreaking here, but the story is told with skill, a light touch and real empathy for these lives - and manages to show how those lives could have been different.

[Ylenia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagining of the relationship between Elvis and gods mother. Shows the struggle and the journey really well whilst also focusing on how important she was to him. Seems to be a factual read but who knows. Felt very real.

[Sara Cornelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

No soy fan de Elvis. Antes de leer este libro lo unico que sabía sobre él era que había una teoría de que fingió su muerte o algo asi, y honestamente no me interesaba mucho ni su vida ni su música, sin embargo, este libro me llamó la atención por la autora. Cuando leí My Poiceman una de las cosas que más me sorprendió fue el estilo de escritura de la autora y tenía muchas ganas de volver a leerla, asi que a pesar de que no me interesaba Elvis en particular, me encantan los libros sobre personas famosas, y me llamó la atención que esto está clasificado como ficción y no como una biografía, por eso me animé a leerla. Afortunadamente.

El libro cuenta la historia de la vida de Elvis y su madre Gladys desde que Elvis era un bebé hasta que Gladys muere. Es un libro extremadamente lento y me costó avanzar más de 30 páginas por día, sin embargo me encantó.

Es uno de esos libros en los que realmente no pasa mucho, pero no importa porque lo importante son los personajes y como se relacionan entre ellos. En particular en este libro, lo que destaca es la relación entre Elvis y Gladys, realmente me encantó leerla y ver cómo se desarrollaba desde que Elvis era tan solo un niño. También amé leer sobre Elvis, y me gustó la manera en la que lo pintó la autora, inseguro y con defectos que lo hacen ver como un ser humano antes que una superestrella, eso es lo que más me gusta de leer sobre personas famosas, poder ver su lado humano. Además, la historia ocurre en los 40's y los 50's y la autora hace un increible trabajo con la ambientación que me sentí completamnete transportada a esa epoca.

Mi parte favorita del libro fue cuando Gladys comienza a notar los efectos de su enfermedad que coincide con Elvis se volviendose una estrella a nivel nacional que lo tiene todo y sin embargo no es feliz, se siente como un fraude y Gladys también se siente sola y deprimida y comienza a tener problemas con la bebida; me gustó que parece que la fama de su hijo fue lo que la enferma y te deja pensando en qué hubiera pasado si la historia hubiera sido diferente.

En fin, una lectura que sin duda me llevó un buen rato acabarla pero que la disfruté desde el primer momento, por la escritura de la autora, la relación de Elvis y Gladys y el efecto de la fama en Elvis. Además aprendí un poco de Elvis y me llamó la atención lo suficiente como para escuchar algunas de sus canciones o ver alguna de sus películas.

[Christopher Renberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a compelling read. Elaine Dundy's GLADYS and ELVIS provided the facts of the bond but this book fleshes it out. Clearly, Elvis loved his mother and that is borne out vividly by the author. She also does a marvelous job of portraying Vernon. I thoroughly enjoyed this imaginative look at what precious few were privy to witness. I am always pained at the image of a bereft Elvis being pulled off of his mother's casket, but the author did a grand job of letting me know why-he missed his dearly beloved mother and felt guilty that his skyrocketing career got her everything she dreamed of except him by her side.
If you are an Elvis fan the appeal of this book is obvious, but I do think it is worth a read for its portrayal of time past and the bond between a mother and her son.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this in places and it was very insightful into the early life of Elvis and his relationship with his mother. However, I didn’t find it particularly engaging, especially the second half of the book, and didn’t feel at all connected to any of the characters - I always felt a bit detached from them. Maybe that was the point. Anyway, I’m glad I read it, as it adds a lot more meaning and understanding behind Elvis, and Graceland, but it did become a struggle to get through this towards the end.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book a little too downbeat to really enjoy it, although it's very well written and researched. You really get a sense of life in the 1950s and of what sort of person Elvis was. The early scenes reminded me a little of Donna Tartt's writing. This is the moving story of the relationship between and his mother, Gladys. It outlines the many house moves, the poverty of Elvis's early life, how he came to love music, his girlfriends and his rise to fame.

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes fascinating, sometimes repetitive and a little boring, this novel relates the very enmeshed relationship between Elvis and his mother. This is the early Elvis, before and when things started happening. Mostly I felt sorry for both Elvis and Gladys. Be careful what you wish for.

[Beth (bibliobeth) · Rating 3 out of 5]

For my review please see my Instagram post :


https://www.instagram.com/p/CDOybk2gm...

Three and a half stars from me 😊

[Karen Dwyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly tender and moving. Sure it made me cringe at some aspects of Elvis’s life but I felt such empathy for him and his mother at the end. Full disclosure: not a fan of Elvis.

[Katherine Basto · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a reader, I tend to gravitate toward authors rather than subject matter. If I love an author's writing style, I will delve into their other books. Such was the case for "Graceland." I read Bethan Roberts's novel, "My Policeman" and adored her writing style, characterizations, and crisp descriptions and dialogue.
I felt the same about the writing of "Graceland." Well-written with provocative descriptions of the characters and the setting, here is the story of Elvis and his intense, almost obsessive relationship with his mother Gladys. And of course, her obsession with him was a main focus. Almost Oedipal in nature, they were each other's true love in the purest sense.
One of the first scenes of the book in Tupelo is Glady dancing on the front porch as she and Elvis wait for his daddy Vernon to return from prison. Elvis watches his mother in amazement; she is his world....his life and he is her protector.
The first part of the novel was a page-turner. The second half not so much. I really think about two-thirds through, at least 40 pages could have been culled. I never mind reading a 400 page novel, but Roberts tends to dwell a bit too long on the girls that come and go, Elvis's host of friends, hangers-on, and other characters that just don't add much to the narrative after awhile.
I loved the writing, the way Roberts can take a simple act or gesture, and let it speak for itself. Often it's what is not said that comes forth but is expressed in a more physical manner.
Roberts did a wonderful job recreating the time periods of Elvis' s short life and did bring it to life...like the Rollerdrome skating rink, his early hang-outs at the drive-ins, his early memories and girl friends, his first try-out for a record... I really did feel like I was in the 50s.
It's just that the ending dragged on a bit. Overall, a very sensitive and well-composed book on the early life of The King.

[rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest in the fact that I don't really care for Elvis, but I love Bethan Roberts and was intrigued to find a piece of media that addressed his predatory behavior around women/taking from Black artists after watching Baz Luhrmann's Elvis biopic.

First I want to give credit where credit is due when it comes to Bethan's writing style. It is incredibly poetic and beautiful, and I was surprised by how emotional I was by the novel's ending. The way Roberts shapes Gladys' character is compelling and heart-breaking, especially in the end of her life.

Roberts also does not hold back in detailing how Elvis would treat women romantically and sexually, especially in how he selected teenagers who he would deem innocent and/or virginal. She also addressed his anger, how he was manipulated by the Colonel, and the strain fame put on his beloved relationship between him and his ma. There were aspects of the novel where I felt like she was on the cusp of addressing just how much Elvis "took inspiration" from the Black community, but it felt more subtle, which was odd in comparison to how explicit she was in addressing women. Then again, this book was truly written to address Elvis in relation to his mom.

All in all, I enjoyed this book almost solely for Bethan's writing and not for the person she was writing about.

[Karen Mace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Book 2 of my 20 Books of Summer 2022

At the heart of this story is that of the love a mother has for her son, and in this case, that son just happens to be Elvis Presley. Having lost his twin at birth, his mother Gladys shared a special bond with Elvis and that continued throughout his life, and this book really captures their relationship brilliantly as it switches from his childhood, difficult family life, through to his success and all that brings with it.

While I loved the subject matter and seeing the bond between mother and son explored, I did feel a little detached at times from the characters and the storyline kept switching randomly so that made me lose a bit of connection and continuity.

What I loved was that she would do anything for her boy, and all he wanted to do was make her proud. That conflict of having nothing and then having everything felt weird, especially to Gladys, and it also explored the relationship between Elvis and his Dad which was very hit and miss. There were such contrasts in Elvis' life that you can't help but think that led to the tragedy that ended his story.

[Garth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I adored ‘My Policeman,’ but I couldn’t get into ‘Graceland.’

The focus is on the complex relationship between Elvis and his mother which - while unusual - wasn’t all that captivating. I

I did finish it (eventually…) but there were some notable weaknesses. Despite a lot of characterization, the character didn’t feel developed. There also were no stakes in terms of plot and no real tension between the characters. Also no Priscilla and very little mention of Colonel Tom Parker. Gosh, this book needed a villain and/or a power struggle.

What was perhaps most captivating was how Elivis’ kink of underage girls was generally deemed acceptable (even normal) by everyone around him. And the descriptions of how the girls flocked to him were well-rendered.

Still, a dull book about Elvis - how odd!?!

[Catherine Morrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bethan has done it again! I highly enjoyed My Policeman and now the same has happened with Graceland.

Hopping backwards and forwards in the life of #elvispresley, up to the point his mother, Gladys, dies, you get a fully fleshed sense of his upbringing, influences, habits and in particular just how close mother and son were.

Gladys and her husband, Vernon, were a chaotic couple at a lot of odds with one another. Elvis’s rise to stardom is really quite remarkable given what was stacked against him - lack of money, stable housing and volatile parents.

I loved Bethan’s descriptive writing of food, music and the co-dependency between Gladys and Elvis:

“Gladys has baked a caramel cake to add to a table already overflowing with the congregation’s best offerings: fried pies, chicken and dumplings, stuffed eggs, apple cobblers, potato salad, fried catfish, bean pots, cornbread.”

“Then the trombone sounds. Gently, it climbs from a growl to a wail to the sweetest note he’s ever heard.”

“It’s such a relief to hear him weep for her, and to weep in return, that she almost takes pleasure in it.”

It’s also clear how drugs had got a hold over Elvis’s life from an early age, starting with sleeping pills and painkillers. It’s kind of amazing to think he lived almost another 20 years after Gladys.

The fame, money and notoriety ultimately played into Elvis’s demise and premature death.

Whether you’re an Elvis fan or not, I highly recommend Graceland.

[Meljennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very well written, it is evocative and beautiful in its details of people and places I have never seen but now feel I have. I am not an Elvis fan, I know almost nothing about his life but I was intrigued after seeing the film which I felt did not explain the details. I felt this story told the relationship between Elvis and his mother in fascinating depth but I still struggled to understand the scale and delight of his fame from this.
In both the film and this story the man Elvis comes across flat, sad and I struggle to understand how he was as popular as he undoubtedly was. However, that is a personal frustration which perhaps tainted my enjoyment of the book a little but overall I thought it was very well written.

[Daren Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having loved the way Bethan managed to bring 1950s Britain to life through her evocative prose in #mypoliceman I knew from the get go that I would soon be transported back to a similar period in the US. The food, the music and the fashions - they all leap off the page, as we follow Elvis Presley’s rise to fame. Seen largely through the eyes of his mother, Gladys, it is a heartbreaking story of the bond between mother and son, which can’t fail to lead us to question the relationship we have we our own mothers.

[Nadine Tomkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was fascinating to find more about Elvis and the relationship he had with his mother Gladys and his father. He had a tough beginning and it was interesting to read about his start in life and love of music. All the small details of his life contained in this novel made him come alive as a person. Its more like a biography than a novel and I feel Bethan Roberts has done a good job here.

[Shelby Dawson · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

Ok I am biased when it comes to Elvis Presley. My mother loved his music, like most people of her time, and I grew up with it constantly being played. I have so many warm memories that include his music and this book felt like such a downer for me. I realized I actually don't know enough about the Presley family to know how much of this was based on fact but I've heard it was very well researched. The writing was done well but I just couldn't stay interested. It took me months to get through this because I never felt compelled to pick it up and when I did I was bored. I love the cover and think the premise was an interesting point of view, I just didn't jive with this story.

It has definitely made me interested in picking up some more literature on this family though so maybe after doing that I can appreciate this a little more.

[Molly Stevener · Rating 5 out of 5]

The emotion in this book is what made me read it so fast. The details and the characters are written perfectly and you are able to see how imperfect everyone really was. Even though I knew how the book was going to end, the way it was written really stuck with me and made me rethink Elvis and Gladys relationship and why he changed so much after her death. I wish I could read this again for the first time I loved it.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was of interest to me and I felt it would give an insight into elvis Presley’s background and personality . I enjoyed the first half of the book which depicted the close relationship between elvis and his mother . The second half was repetitive and not very interesting . It almost seemed to be written by a different author .

[Dwayne Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up with Elvis through my mum I watched many of his movies & listen to his music as well. I came across Graceland in my library system, so borrowed out the book. I couldn’t put it down, the relationship between Elvis & his mum from his childhood to fame was a real bond. Bethan Roberts would of down Elvis & Gladys proud of her writing.

[Aisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought provoking but it doesn't really get into the nitty gritty. The relationship between Elvis and his mother is well explored and their reliance on one another. You start to see the beginning of Elvis's addiction and his expanding appetite. I wanted more and it felt a short of what I was expexting.

[Taramcnerney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully wriiten novel from Gladys' point of view. The passages relating to Elvis' twin Jesse are so touching and the pain his loss caused for Gladys and Elvis, something most books onlt touch on. As a lifelong fan of Elvis this novel is a worthy addition to my collection. Highly recommend.