Elvis and Me [Mass Market Paperback]

Priscilla Beaulieu Presley (Author), Sandra Harmon (Contributor)

Book Description

Release date: August 1, 1986

Elvis and Me is the unforgettable memoir of Elvis Presley. This New York Times bestseller reveals the intimate story that could only be written by the woman who lived it. It serves as a tribute to the man as well as the King of Rock n' Roll.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; Revised edition (August 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425091031
• ISBN-13: 978-0425091036
• Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 0.9 x 7.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (97 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,244 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( P ) > Presley, Elvis

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Priscilla writes a better version of "The King and I" January 15, 2010

By Pat Powell

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I'm no "Elvis-Priscilla" expert, but I think some people aren't cognizant of something: In 1981, "Elvis", a bio of Presley written by Albert Goldman, was released. I've read the book, and its sequel and, say what we will, Goldman was a briliant writer, but he totally despised Elvis, and boy- did it show! ANYway, Priscilla also read the book, and was deeply upset. If you've not read it, it calls Elvis a child molester, a pervert, a junkie, a coward, a racist, a lousy husband,father, and singer, basically, a terrible human being. Priscilla said, "I just CAN'T let this be a book my daughter reads about her father." So, "Elvis and Me" was a REACTION to Goldman's acid account. Did Priscilla gloss over her own misconduct? I don't think so- because she even admits to an affair that no one, including Elvis, knew about, with her dance instructor, Steve Peck. As for Mike Stone, the karate instructor, EVERYone knew about that one, again, including Elvis- and no one, not even the "Memphis Mafia" confronted her about it. In fact, they ALL, even Priscilla's detractors within the group, say that they did not blame her for cheating on Elvis, a few of them even covering for her whenever her husband couldn't find her. That should tell us something, if nothing else will.
One of the people who reviewed this tome was outraged that Priscilla wrote about her indecision regarding giving birth to Lisa Marie- please don't get me wrong- I am pro-life, totally against abortion, so, it bothered me,too. But you have to look at Priscilla's mind-set at the time. Elvis forbade her to use any form of birth control, and Lisa Marie was conceived on their wedding night. Priscilla was afraid that if she had a child, Elvis would not allow her to travel with him, would have affairs with slender women, and would lose interest in her sexually, as he'd told her beforehand that he had a serious "Madonna complex"- that is, he'd never been able to make love to any woman who'd given birth. These were Priscilla's fears, and, as any Elvis fan knows, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM CAME TRUE! Elvis even asked her for a separation when she was seven months along... She's recently said (in the book "Elvis by the Presleys") that it was never the same after that.
People also speak of Priscilla's "coolness", and lack of emotion. Well, look at her background. She was a military child, moving from base to base and even country to country. She'd form attachments, only to never see the person, place or thing again. I DO agree, she is very guarded in interviews, and she doesn't often show emotion- which is precisely why Elvis was so crazy about her! He was a man that was met with screams just for walking into the room, and was mobbed and clawed at every time he stepped out the door- naturally, he chose women who were the polar opposite of that behavior (think Ginger Alden). Re: the lack of emotion, he said he had enough problems of his own without dealing with someone else's. So, she learned to internalize her true feelings, which resulted in an ulcer while she was a teen-ager- not that it's Elvis' fault.
Alot of the reviews are contradictory, as well. People chastise Priscilla for sanitizing her image, yet they criticize her for revealing too much dirt. Well, which is it?
After all is said and done, Priscilla Presley had to be a special person in my mind, if for no other reason that Elvis picked her. There's a reason we're intrigued by Michelle Obama, Jackie O., Coretta Scott King, et al. We subconciously know that great men usually marry great women. He was the King, she was once upon a time his Queen, and Suzanne Finstad (author of "Child Bride") and other people who are bitter over Priscilla landing Elvis need to just get over it! It's history, and history cannot be changed.
Priscilla once said that she and Elvis were just two people, and two very young people at that. They were not trying to be icons or live up to some mystical "Camelot" , and I think she was right on the money (no pun intended, folks!) We, the reader, the students of history, often forget that we have an advantage the people we're studying did not have. We KNOW the way the story will end, and WHEN it will end. Priscilla had no idea that Elvis would die within five years of their divorce, and that he would never re-marry- for all she knew, he might have gone on to have 6 more wives and 8 more children. She didn't have to maintain a caring relationship with him after the divorce. She didn't cite adultery, or drug abuse in her divorce petition; in fact, she let Elvis be the petitioner.She really could have blown his world sideways, before the "Bodyguard" book happened, yet she didn't.
I am grateful to anyone who shares their story of life with Elvis, because it gives me a picture of the man himself, piece by piece. We should solicit the stories of his intimates now more than ever, as time is robbing us of first-hand witnesses to his life.
FYI: did you know that, aside from Jerry Schilling's recent book, "Me and a Guy Named Elvis" (which I've already read, of course!)that the only book Lisa Marie has ever read about her famous father IS her mother's book? She has said that she doesn't want anyone else's opinions about her father to contaminate her own memories of him- I think that would make Elvis happy, don't you? His biggest fear surrounding the release of "Elvis- What Happened?" was "What will my daughter think when she grows up and reads this?" Rest in Peace, dear Elvis. She never did.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Does not scratch the surface of the truth. March 21, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Priscilla's account of her years with Elvis from the time they met in Germany up until the divorce is gappy, and full of self-pity. This reader would like to know, for one, more about her true feelings. I got the impression from reading this book that Priscilla was writing about the reactions around her instead of delving into herself and providing the insight that only the wife of the King of Rock'n'Roll could tell. She is good when it comes to funny stories about her life with Elvis, but spare when it comes to the deep feelings of rejection and sadness that she must have felt. It is for this reason, and this reason alone, that I did not feel justified in rating this book with more than two stars.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars One-Sided Story May 3, 2004

By colleen caskey

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I originally read Elvis and Me about 10 years ago and it left me with many questions concerning Priscilla's intentions. Was this book really intended to tell the whole raw honest truth of the king and his bride OR to gloss Priscilla's image and leave her with a whiter than white reputation ? I decided for myself that the second reason was probably the truth. I could not help but feel that Priscilla used this book to boost her image and to provoke pity onto herself. This , in my opinion, was a PR motivated move by Priscilla Presley. I could not help but feel that she still has some resentment inside her for the years that she spent in Elvis' shadow and this clearly comes across in the pages. She has stated in interviews that she needed to "tell the truth" for the sake of her daughter, however in reference to the so called "rape" section (at the end of their marriage), what effect would this have on your child..and to tell the whole world ??, I am sorry but I feel that nobodys best interests were at heart except Priscilla's. I felt that most of the "story" in this book was what Priscilla wanted you to believe and I did come away with many many questions and doubts. I have recently read Child Bride and these very questions and doubts that I had were unbelievably covered in this book. I really am sorry to say, that Child Bride, with its much researched evidence and reliable scources, seems to be the accurate version (in my opinion) of events and the truth, surrounding Elvis and Priscilla's relationship.