Elvis and Me [Paperback]

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

Book Description

Publication 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

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; Revised edition (August 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425091031
• ISBN-13: 978-0425091036
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (86 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Entertainers
  • #1 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Entertainment > Music > Musical Genres > Rock
  • #3 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( P ) > Presley, Elvis

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 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 (St. Louis, Mo. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elvis and Me (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.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Elvis and Me and the clothes we wore, August 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Elvis and Me (Paperback)

That would of been a more appropriate title. I could not believe how fixated Priscilla is on her and Elvis's clothes. Grant it they were show-biz people and Elvis certainly liked clothes and obviously dressing Priscilla, but it seems every event she recalls is tied into their clothing apparel. Still it is quite enjoyable to see a side of Elvis form his one true love. The Elvis insights are great but the remembrances about herself are very weak, even though she was very young through the story she comes across as a very shallow person or maybe she just doesn't want to tell.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH, July 3, 2004

By 

Don Maston (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elvis and Me (Paperback)

Who among us would want to have our image and empire run by our cheating ex spouse? Elvis was no saint, and I don't blame Priscilla for getting out or straying when he wouldn't make love to her. The reasons why he shut her out is what she leaves out of the book. CHILD BRIDE tells a far more accurate version of how Elvis' little experiment with her backfired and he was forced into marriage by Priscilla's step father, who threatened to go public with the nature of their relationship if he didn't seal the deal with the marriage he promised. Elvis was still going to back out until the Colonel put his foot down and made Elvis get on one knee. Some guy that step father is; who would let their 15 year old daughter move in with a movie star? It's like those parents that send their kids to Neverland Ranch hoping for a big pay day. The Bealieu family's exploitation of Elvis has been a sin that continues, and she has seemingly passed her hard feelings along to Lisa Marie.