Around Elvis [Paperback]

Thorne Peters (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2003

By the early 1970s ELVIS PRESLEY had weathered the British Invasion, a decade of lackluster motion pictures, exile from the Pop Charts and critical assaults by the media to re-assert his position as the dominant figure in entertainment and as a cultural icon of unpreced-ented stature. He not only sold out concert halls, arenas, stadiums, coliseums, forums and show-rooms, he set attendance records that still stand after more than thirty years, from the Hilton Hotel to Madison Square Garden to the Houston Astrodome, back home at the Mid-South Coliseum and finally at Market Square Arena. In every city, town and hamlet, throngs of adoring fans cheered him, mauled him and worshipped him. He recorded platinum albums of golden hits, filled movie houses to capacity with his award-winning rockumentaries, and played a concert via satellite from Hawaii that was seen by the whole wide world. For good measure he was even voted one of the "Ten Most Outstanding Young Men In

America," by The Jaycees and was made a Drug Enforcement Agent "at large" by the President of the United States. Yet in spite of this, he was time and time again knocked out of his hometown headlines by the local high school football team that was blazing its own path to glory. It may have been ELVIS' World, but in Memphis he was just a part of the scene; and it was a scene that he was very much a part of . . .

Editorial Reviews

Review

...explores the spiritual bond ELVIS and Memphis forged; each had suffered hard times yet overcame thru music and God -- Larry Geller, Author July 5, 2003

AROUND ELVIS is the most socially relevant story ever told about the life and times of this Pop Culture icon. -- Jon Lindquist KLAV 1230 AM Las Vegas

AROUND ELVIS is the most socially relevant story ever told about the life and times of this Pop Culture icon. -- Jon Lindquist KLAV 1230 AM Las Vegas

Reading AROUND ELVIS is a tour of Memphis through ELVIS’ eyes seeing the sights like never before. -- Mitzi Pruette- Fan Club President

This is the first novel written about ELVIS that will be embraced by ELVISITES and bibliophiles since ELVIS & ME. -- Vivica Tetrault- Vivica's Views

This is the first novel written about ELVIS that will be embraced by ELVISITES and bibliophiles since ELVIS & ME. -- Vivica Tetrault- Vivica's Views

This is the story of my brothers; the "KING OF ROCK & ROLL and the Kings of high school football. -- David Stanley Author/ELVIS' stepbrother

From the Publisher

THORNE PETERS is an exciting author of unlimited range. His lyrical prose dances off a page with an epic undercurrent that compels readers to immerse themselves in his tales. This is his first work of non-fiction, but he makes the transition effortlessly with his raconteurial narrative. Thorne captures the essence of this iconic Pop Culture crusader by simplifying his complexities and traveling down the rural paths and mean streets that led ELVIS PRESLEY to unprecedented world acclaim. By telling his story through the eyes of a local man who grew up AROUND ELVIS, Thorne successfully straddles the line between investigative journalist and worshipping fan in a unique way. No historian has ever been so close to their subject and the result is an intimate portrayal that is as unvarnished as it is candy coated. Thorne draws fascinating conclusions as to the inner-workings of ELVIS and speaks to the controversial aspects of his life and death with great sapience. Thorne also weaves ELVIS' story into the fabric of his era and his region, and does an amazing job chronicling the role ELVIS played in the social, racial and cultural upheaval of his time and beyond. In the end AROUND ELVIS is the only novel from written from a ground level perspective that tells the story of ELVIS PRESLEY as part of the history of the world.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 309 pages
• Publisher: Legend Enterprise (July 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970833253
• ISBN-13: 978-0970833259
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,610,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The heart of Elvis Presley, July 29, 2003

By 

Glenda Weston (Sarasota, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Around Elvis (Paperback)

I predict that this book will become "Elvis 101" for a generation of fans. What sets this book apart from the rest is that Peters is able to take you on a trip thru Elvis' mindset with great understanding and objectivity. He tells of moments and actions in Elvis' life that are well known to us, yet his analysis makes it seem brand new. This is no flight of fancy book as to who Elvis was or what he would've become. He relates Elvis to his time and place in history and in our culture with exaltation, but not deification and makes himself believable in his assertions with his forthright portrayal of the man. He also has his finger on the pulsebeat of Elvis world today and what he writes about the current handling of Elvis' legacy and of Lisa Marie is fantastic. You'll cheer, you'll laugh, you'll cry and in the end you'll rediscover Elvis through this insightful perspective.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The heartland of Elvis Presley, September 14, 2003

By 

Angel Baby (Lilburn, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Around Elvis (Paperback)

This novel is really something special. It is so warm and personal. A very intimate look into Elvis' heart and soul. I can't say enough good about it. It is not one of those zany books that talk about Elvis being alive or living on another planet and it is not a trash piece. Thorne Peters is obviously secure enough in who he is to embrace the majesty of the greatest of all entertainers. He doesn't use his position as author to try and put himself and his values above Elvis the way Bobbie Ann Mason did in her atrocious book. It isn't some dull statistical picture book or another book by an insider that reads like a daily diary telling worn out stories without perspective. This is the first Elvis book to have a storyline to follow. It actually tells a story about his hometown of Whitehaven and Elvis is the star. But there were all kinds of things going on and there are a lot of stories in this book that have never been told before. This book isn't glossy. He tells it like it is about Elvis in unvarnished detail. But unlike the others he is philosophical enough to tell you why Elvis did the things he did. That's the strength of this book that seperates it from all the others. When he's done Elvis will shine in you eyes like never before. Elvis was a man--a great man. He was not above temptation and petty behavior, but that doesn't mean that he was meanspirited. We shouldn't be angry at him at him because he faltered, we should love him, because he always tried to redeem himself. He was a man that had talent and charisma and a love for life and humanity that led him to sing with all the love in his heart, but he was not the second coming and shouldn't be judged so harshly for having human frailties. This book is a tribute to the love he had for the fans and we have for him.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elvis like never before, August 25, 2003

By 

Rich Macklin (North Hills, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Around Elvis (Paperback)

I just knew that Elvis Presley was a real live flesh and blood human being and this novel proves it. Peters has a rare understanding of the man and his idiosyncrasies that are simplistically profound. For instance, I have read many times of how Elvis would troll around morgues studying the dead, but I never understood that the reason was because he had bonded with death at birth when his twin brother died. This book is filled with logical conclusions as to what drove Elvis rather than superficial assumptions. Peters' intimate writing style sweeps you up and holds you from the first page on. He is fair and forthright when dealing with the controversies and does a bold job of taking the current handlers of the legend to task for their poor treatment of the fans and the King's memory. Great psycho analysis of Elvis and his daughter. For those who feel that they've read it all by now, I urge you to read on, because this is the book that does Elvis justice finally.