63 of 70 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellent, In-depth Biography, July 26, 2001
I read this book sincerely wanting to better understand who Priscilla was. Before reading it, and after reading several books on Elvis's life, I felt that Priscilla was a beautiful young girl who got swept up in the Elvis turmoil and did her best to survive. Any meanness in her, I felt, was due largely to the difficulties she endured. But then I wondered about the negative remarks by other people, and I noted how aggressively she had taken over Elvis's estate, all the while suggesting that it was foisted upon her. I also wondered about the absurd way she was allowed to come live at Graceland as a child. Some things didn't add up, so I read Finstad's book.
What an amazing amount of research went into this, right down to interviewing friends from Priscilla's childhood and adolescence. No stone seems to have been left unturned. The resulting picture of Priscilla isn't pretty, but it certainly comes across as accurate. Finstad presents an evolving analysis of Priscilla, frequently referring back to earlier events to show the consistency of Priscilla's behavior. To some readers this might seem overdone, but then Finstad is presenting a story that contradicts an image. Some readers will require more to convince them. Finstad's analysis fills in the blanks, ties up the loose ends, and answers most of the questions I had before reading the book. It was not my impression that Finstad set out to do a hatchet job, and Priscilla is not depicted as being all bad. Finstad simply uncovered the truth that was there all along.
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32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I found this to be a very good read.., April 12, 2004
People are so wrapped in the myth of Elvis and Priscilla, that when anything comes along to refute that, people get very upset. Because from reading some of these reviews, this book was something that diehards didn't want to read about, because they are so used to hearing the usual spin from Priscilla, which they take as the gospel.
People tend to be gulliable when it comes to celebs and believe everything they say. Because if you go back and read her book and then Suzanne's, the inconsistences are very obvious. Plus Priscilla did say she learned PR from the best Colonel Parker and Elvis.
Celebs create lies about themselves all of the time, Priscilla is no diffrent. Some reviews have said that the ex's and the entourage have a ax to grind. But what about her childhood friends, I doubt they had a ax to grind. And you can pretty much tell from reading their stories, which were very well collaborated, that they were telling the truth.
Priscilla always had it in mind to meet Elvis, and she wasn't a virgin on her wedding night. Priscilla had a active (...) life when Elvis was gone. And her parents, seeing Elvis as the big mealticket, sent her back to the States because she was getting to wrapped up in Jamie Lindberg. Even though they were eventually going to follow soon after.
And it was a eye-opener that her parents had a diffrent set of rules for her other boyfriends but when it came to Elvis, anything went. Sometimes Priscilla came home as late as after midnight, and her parents really didn't put a stop to that. And lets not get started on the fact that Elvis was a grown man and Priscilla was still a child, which gets glossed over because Elvis such a legend now. Honestly, how many parents would knowingly let their daughter go over to a adult man's house, let alone live with him. Not many but i know alot would, if the guy was a big celebrity..
Currie Grant's story i believe 100% because he readily admits his wrongs, the fact that he wasn't perfect in the whole situation. And i found it funny that Priscilla sued him and no one else, probably because he was the easiest target because he was shut out of Elvis's world. Plus Priscilla has made enough money off of Elvis's name to pay lawyers for years.
And the interviews with her friends at the time about the Eve comparisons are good, because i believe that Priscilla is a very calculating and intelligent person, discarding those she has no more use for, after she learned all she can from them. Joe Esposito, who numerous people have said is a very nice guy and Rick Stanley, i found to be very truthful to and thought they had alot of good insight.
In regards to Ann-Margaret, who i believe was the love of Elvis's life and Priscilla and Lisa. I read this book in a objective frame of mind and i came away from it thinking that this is in the top 5 of books of anything Presely related. Suzanne Finstad did a very good job writing this book, very well researched.
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24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Child Bride - The truthful side, April 29, 2004
By A Customer
I had originally read Priscilla Presleys, "Elvis and Me", and to be honest, I couldnt help but feel that Priscilla had glossed over her story with Elvis. There didnt seem to be any real emotion portrayed throughout the book, just a glossy, storytale fashion that the myth of her and elvis has evolved from. I truly felt that Priscilla was very good at painting the most perfect, sweet image of herself, yet she didnt open up and reveal any raw, honest regrets that she also may have made in the relationship. I admit, I was left throughout the book with many questions for various situations/events in her life with Elvis.So, it came as a surprise when a friend of mine mentioned that there was a book that may answer those doubts that I had.
Suzanne Finstad's account seems to be 100% researched before any information was put into this book and I truly feel that Priscilla Presley was the victim of an overly ambitious mother and father. This book (unbelievably), seemed to answer all those doubts and questions that I had in my head from the first book. The evidence is there to support that Priscilla made the "rape" story up in order to detract what had went on between herself and Curry..after all lets face it, it would take quite an "advanced 14 year old" to be able to hold the attention of a 25 year old man. Also, whilst I completly condem what Curry Grant did, what reason would this man lie for ?? to hurt his family?, to destroy his own character ?, I dont think so. Unfortunatly I found that the evidence in this book supports the fact that the Elvis/Priscilla myth, that Priscilla painted was a (PR), motivated stretch of her imagination. There is some dark truths in this book, I feel, and for those hardened Elvis and Priscilla fans who believe in the Priscilla myth, this book is not for you, however, If you too felt similar opinions about Priscilla's book, This is a must read, backed up by ground breaking evidence and reliable sources (close associates of both). GO BUY IT !
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