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Elvis in the Twilight of Memory
Forty years after their romance and twenty years after his death, this fresh, intriguing memoir offers previously unpublished photographs of the King and his first true love, and furnishes a glimpse into the heart of an Elvis on the verge of stardom. Reissue.
- GenresBiography
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 1, 2022
This was an insightful read about Elvis' relationship with June in his early years. The book picks up in Part 2. It becomes fast paced because you're reading to discover what the outcome was. In many ways, it is a sad story but an interesting one too!
April 6, 2022
5/5 stars ⭐️
I loved every single minute of this! June didn’t waste any time and jumped right into the story (which I loved). I truly loved this book and found myself wishing it wouldn’t end. I do wish she would have included how she heard of Elvis’ death/her reaction, but everything else was perfect. I definitely recommend reading this!
I loved every single minute of this! June didn’t waste any time and jumped right into the story (which I loved). I truly loved this book and found myself wishing it wouldn’t end. I do wish she would have included how she heard of Elvis’ death/her reaction, but everything else was perfect. I definitely recommend reading this!
December 14, 2022
KoThis is the fifth Elvis book I have read as a new fan since the 2022 Elvis film. And although I love Guralnick for the exhaustive research he put into his 2 volume book series and appreciate both his balanced and more tempered attempt in addressing Elvis' complicated life, I think I may love this book more. I love it because it is a refreshing and intimate portrayal of Elvis the Man, not the Legend. It is also very well written and so detailed it makes you feel like you are along for the ride in 50s Biloxi or Florida or Memphis. This book is so engaging, it hurts to put it down.
To paraphrase June in an interview about Elvis, she has fun, sweet, and innocent dreams but when she wakes up reality hits her, that's in the past, it's over and her day is shot. The melancholia that pervades the book is achingly beautiful and oh-so-frustratingly tragic, because it was avoidable. There are certain books that transport you to some mythical place and in that place, only those characters exist forever. I felt like I was in June's sad whimsical surreal dream, just before she woke up!
This book is full of unfulfilled dreams, lovers' lost, and the impetuousness of youth. It also presents a different picture of Elvis, an Elvis that could've been. Would Elvis' life have turned out differently if the lovers had not sinned by wasting their love away? Or would the inevitable have happened sooner if not later? We don't really know and that's what makes this book all the more enticing, the broken promises and potential what ifs it offers. You feel like a third wheel accompanying this couple and you fall in love not only with them, but also with the side characters: Pat and Buddy.
Elvis first sees her tanned brown face with piercing blue eyes in a sea of white faces. Her dark hair, blue eyes under thick eyelashes and deep tan will be the mold he will eventually embody for himself and look for in other women in the future. June herself is spunky, temperamental, stubborn and impetuous, all qualities we find in Elvis and very few with his other future ladies (Ann Margret perhaps is an exception). June is 5'6", intelligent, wears pants and short shorts, and speaks her mind. In fact, in their little tiffs, it is Elvis that soothes her and makes up with her. Her spunk and impetuousness leads her to a rash decision that she has confessed to Ronnie McDowell as the biggest regret of her life. And when June realizes her mistake, it is too late, her friend Pat makes sure she knows it too. And we love Pat for it, because she speaks on our behalf. Yet despite Pat's efforts, the outcome is unchanged, the dye is set.
I have not been able to let go of this book and it has been 2 days now. I have watched every documentary about June. I have listened to the soundtrack of this tragic love story, particularly 2 songs that now have a different meaning to me: Is It So Strange and Unchained Melody. These two songs are on repeat for me currently and I inevitably end up crying out of longing for these 2 (dimwits, lol). The songs June adds in her book are smart and integral to her story. Through these songs, we are swept up in the highs and lows of the lovers' thoughts and emotions. We remember and are haunted by Elvis' words: "wait for me, wait for me." And like June, in the end, we are at a lost, we listen to Elvis singing these songs, and cry over everything that could've, would've, and should've but never was. Are You Lonesome Tonight is a perfect conclusion to June's book and it best describes her melancholia and regret over the loss.
For those who seek Elvis and Me to read thinking it is a love story, read this instead. Here you will find the real Elvis. An Elvis that the writer still loves and longs for, and you feel it! They are not empty words from a dry mouth with empty sockets. If there is 1 book I will reread over and over yearly, it will be this. It haunts me now still and I think it will haunt me for years to come.
Thank you, June, for such an achingly beautiful book. Maybe in your own way, you are trying to fulfill the promise you made to Gladys. The title is fitting too, especially if it is true that June now suffers from Alzheimer's.
Ps. I forgot to mention that Peter Guralnick wrote the introduction to this book, if that's not a ringing endorsement, I don't know what is!
To paraphrase June in an interview about Elvis, she has fun, sweet, and innocent dreams but when she wakes up reality hits her, that's in the past, it's over and her day is shot. The melancholia that pervades the book is achingly beautiful and oh-so-frustratingly tragic, because it was avoidable. There are certain books that transport you to some mythical place and in that place, only those characters exist forever. I felt like I was in June's sad whimsical surreal dream, just before she woke up!
This book is full of unfulfilled dreams, lovers' lost, and the impetuousness of youth. It also presents a different picture of Elvis, an Elvis that could've been. Would Elvis' life have turned out differently if the lovers had not sinned by wasting their love away? Or would the inevitable have happened sooner if not later? We don't really know and that's what makes this book all the more enticing, the broken promises and potential what ifs it offers. You feel like a third wheel accompanying this couple and you fall in love not only with them, but also with the side characters: Pat and Buddy.
Elvis first sees her tanned brown face with piercing blue eyes in a sea of white faces. Her dark hair, blue eyes under thick eyelashes and deep tan will be the mold he will eventually embody for himself and look for in other women in the future. June herself is spunky, temperamental, stubborn and impetuous, all qualities we find in Elvis and very few with his other future ladies (Ann Margret perhaps is an exception). June is 5'6", intelligent, wears pants and short shorts, and speaks her mind. In fact, in their little tiffs, it is Elvis that soothes her and makes up with her. Her spunk and impetuousness leads her to a rash decision that she has confessed to Ronnie McDowell as the biggest regret of her life. And when June realizes her mistake, it is too late, her friend Pat makes sure she knows it too. And we love Pat for it, because she speaks on our behalf. Yet despite Pat's efforts, the outcome is unchanged, the dye is set.
I have not been able to let go of this book and it has been 2 days now. I have watched every documentary about June. I have listened to the soundtrack of this tragic love story, particularly 2 songs that now have a different meaning to me: Is It So Strange and Unchained Melody. These two songs are on repeat for me currently and I inevitably end up crying out of longing for these 2 (dimwits, lol). The songs June adds in her book are smart and integral to her story. Through these songs, we are swept up in the highs and lows of the lovers' thoughts and emotions. We remember and are haunted by Elvis' words: "wait for me, wait for me." And like June, in the end, we are at a lost, we listen to Elvis singing these songs, and cry over everything that could've, would've, and should've but never was. Are You Lonesome Tonight is a perfect conclusion to June's book and it best describes her melancholia and regret over the loss.
For those who seek Elvis and Me to read thinking it is a love story, read this instead. Here you will find the real Elvis. An Elvis that the writer still loves and longs for, and you feel it! They are not empty words from a dry mouth with empty sockets. If there is 1 book I will reread over and over yearly, it will be this. It haunts me now still and I think it will haunt me for years to come.
Thank you, June, for such an achingly beautiful book. Maybe in your own way, you are trying to fulfill the promise you made to Gladys. The title is fitting too, especially if it is true that June now suffers from Alzheimer's.
Ps. I forgot to mention that Peter Guralnick wrote the introduction to this book, if that's not a ringing endorsement, I don't know what is!
April 10, 2024
Achingly beautiful tale of a summer romance with Elvis Presley turning into an even more powerful story of love, love lost, and never ending admiration between two souls. There are few books where you can physically feel the ache of heartbreak, the bundled nerves of a first date, and the giddiness of a true love. I LOVED this book. So so good! My heart 🙏🏻
July 25, 2018
I love this book. I enjoyed reading it. June Juanico is one of my favorite Elvis girlfriend in his early career. She is a sweet lady. I admire her for that. She truly loves Elvis as a human not as a image.
April 25, 2008
*gasps* Sean actually read a book!!! :) I read 5 books recently...closing 4 of them after the first chapter. Those 4 were fiction books...this one I read straight through was a memoir...about Elvis. (A note: There has been one Elvis book that I actually stopped reading after the first chapter.) :) Know what that book was called? "ELVIS IS ALIVE" Hmm, speaking of which, I'll add that to my Goodreads list today too.
Annyyyyyway, Elvis In The Twilight Of Memory was a very REAL and authentic feeling story about Elvis's first serious relationship with a small town Biloxi, Mississippi girl named June Juanico, in 1956. With some Elvis memoirs, the story feels very pseudo-like, almost as if all their doing is making money off the King, by writing a bunch of bullshit. June Juanico is also making money off of Elvis's name, but at least her story has a sense of realism to it.
It was an entertaining read though. Nothing to heavy, nothing sappy, just an entertaining fast read.
For Elvis fans only.
Annyyyyyway, Elvis In The Twilight Of Memory was a very REAL and authentic feeling story about Elvis's first serious relationship with a small town Biloxi, Mississippi girl named June Juanico, in 1956. With some Elvis memoirs, the story feels very pseudo-like, almost as if all their doing is making money off the King, by writing a bunch of bullshit. June Juanico is also making money off of Elvis's name, but at least her story has a sense of realism to it.
It was an entertaining read though. Nothing to heavy, nothing sappy, just an entertaining fast read.
For Elvis fans only.
April 10, 2010
Simple but heartfelt story of the authors young romance with Elvis. Endearing.
May 28, 2012
Elvis at the first of his career. Readable and enjoyable for any Elvis fan.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews