Customer Reviews

Elvis Takes a Back Seat

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Claudia is a young widow who is having a hard time moving on with her life. After experiencing the loss of her parents, she was faced with the illness and eventual death of her husband. Claudia was the kind of wife who built her life around her husband's hopes and dreams. With his death, and no children of her own to tend to, she felt lost. As the book opens, as a result of the prodding of her friends, Claudia has pulled out all of her parents' and husband's belongings and attempts to have a yard sale. However, on the day of the sale, she finds time and time again, she is unable to let go of the belongings.

While preparing for the sale, Claudia sees a lamp she understandably banished to the attic from the beginning of her marriage. The lamp, also a bust in the image of Elvis, was treasured by her late husband, and a reflection of just how much of an Elvis fan he was. When Claudia sees the lamp, she immediately knows she cannot sell it. When she discovers a note from her husband in the box, the beginnings of a plan for a road trip to return Elvis to his proper home begins to develop. Before long, Claudia, her aunt, and her best friend's daughter, head off to Graceland, with Elvis, too big to fit in the trunk, riding along in the backseat. As the group travels across state lines en route to Graceland, they get to know one another better, and it soon becomes apparent that this was more than a road trip, but rather, a journey to self-discovery.

ELVIS TAKES A BACK SEAT was an unexpected pleasure to read. In addition to telling a good story, the book carries readers on a roller coaster ride that covers the full spectrum of emotions. Leanna Ellis has created an interesting group of characters and then, like peeling back layers of an onion, she slowly reveals more and more about their lives, their secrets, and their innermost fears. The characters are genuine, flawed, and colorful, making it easy to empathize with their struggles. Elvis represents so many things in ELVIS TAKES A BACK SEAT, from letting go of the past, having faith, and the struggle between our human nature and our spiritual nature; yet the story is so much bigger. This book is poignant display of how family secrets, doubt, fear, rejection, and even love impact each of us. Finally, ELVIS TAKES A BACK SEAT is a testament to the goodness of God's grace.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I started this book with high hopes, after all, the idea of shlepping a three foot bust of Elvis in a vintage Cadillac appealed to my sense of absurd. The first half of the novel was ok, somewhat predictable, but every now and then the author had a fresh moment that made me want to read more.

That changed at the halfway point, when the tale took a turn for the religious. Starting with a revival meeting and moving quickly into a morass of religious themes instead of the Elvis road trip theme. That's when I stopped reading and felt cheated by the author who sold me on a road trip story and shifted into a religious fable.

Had I known about the religious theme, I would never have downloaded the book. So please let this stand as a warning for others like me.

Sorry Ms. Ellis, I truly wish you had stuck to the Elvis theme.

On a recent visit to our local Christian bookstore, I decided that I needed something "new" to read. It's not like I don't have a TON of books sitting in my "to be read" stack, but I wanted something to jump off the shelves at me.

This book did it.

The title and the cover caught my eye, and this sentence from the back cover sealed the deal:

Determined to fulfill her husband's last request, Claudia McIntosh is hauling a three-foot bust of Elvis Presley in the back seat of a vintage Cadillac from Dallas to Memphis.

The blurb goes on to explain that she is joined by her eccentric aunt who actually knew the King of Rock 'n' Roll. They find themselves in the company of a friends' daughter, a temperamental teen.

Let me tell you, I have enjoyed this book from front to back! It made me laugh and cry as I pictured each step of the journey these three women take to return this mysterious bust. And of that journey, Ellis' character Claudia notes:

At the beginning of our journey, I thought we three were as different as the seasons. But now I realize even the seasons are connected and dependent on one another.

I love the reminder that we really DO need to depend on each other to take each step. And more importantly, we must depend on God. We are not alone.

Ellis does a fantastic job of incorporating faith in this story in very real, manageable chunks. It's not so overt that it's a turn-off. Nor is it contrived and stiff. I mean these women find themselves in bars, dealing with such topics as unplanned pregnancies, early death, hidden secrets, suicide, wrestling with faith and uncovering lies. In essence, these are three generations of women meeting real life with real emotions head on.

I like the review on the back that calls this book, "..a fun, deep, unexpected book."

On a light note, I loved the trip down memory lane. There are plenty of Elvis facts woven throughout along with reminiscing of the 60's, 70's and 80's. For me, this was one of the things that kept me reading...despite the fact that I've never been to Memphis or had an overt interest in the "king"!

I want to encourage you to read this book. If you lived through the "Elvis era", have wrestled with heartache and loneliness, enjoyed life in the 60's, 70's and/or 80's, have walked on the wild side, stuffed emotions, or dealt with skeletons in a closet, you just might find yourself in there.

I know I did.

Still grieving from her husband's early death, Claudia stumbles across a note from him, with an odd request - take Stu's beloved bust of Elvis back to Memphis. Unable to refuse, Claudia hits the road in Stu's red vintage Cadillac with her Aunt Rae, an unconventional woman with a mysterious tie to Elvis and the conspicuous bust of Elvis riding in the back seat. Joining them is Ivy, the teenage daughter of Stu's best friend Ben, unpredictable and defiant and maybe more than the childless Claudia can handle.

Their journey is replete with shocking revelations, fascinating people, a sharing of secrets and finally, blossoming hope and love.

Leanna Ellis tells a unique and quirky tale that is fun, captivating and inspiring. Claudia, Rae and Ivy represent woman across the generations and their interaction, though not without difficulties, engagingly highlights the importance of female relationships. Leanna is adept at creating poignant and tender scenes without sentimentality as the characters battle with grief, fear, rejection, faith and love. Seamlessly woven throughout the story are fascinating insights into Elvis' life, love lost and rediscovered and burgeoning hope. If you are looking fsomething a little different from the main fare and a better than average read, Elvis Takes a Back Seat is is the real deal!

Claudia's husband Stu has passed away. Claudia can't seem to part with any of Stu's things, including a huge bust of Elvis Presley.

Claudia relegated Elvis to the attic for the past 20 years. While going through Stu's things she finds him(Elvis) along with a note from Stu stating that Elvis needs to be returned to Memphis.

Claudia, her Aunt Rae and Ivy(Stu's best friend Ben's daughter) set out from Dallas to Memphis to try to find out where Stu originally got the Elvis bust. Each woman has a reason for being on this trip.

Rae had a relationship with Elvis when she was a young woman. While on this trip she reveals little by little bits and pieces of her life. Ivy has a secret of her own. One that will change her life forever. Claudia has lost her faith in God and is still tied to the memories of her husband.

Will each woman find the answers they are in need of? Will they eventually find where the Elvis bust belongs? Will Claudia find her faith again? Will Ivy make the right choices for her life?

I can't say this was one of my favorite books to read. I thought it was dis-jointed in parts. I couldn't tell who was talking to whom or even sometimes who was doing the talking! I thought the spiritual content was pretty weak. There was talk of having faith in God, but never how to have that faith. When the characters visit the "church" that the Elvis bust supposedly came from and talk about seeing "the ghost of Elvis" started the book pretty much lost me. Even with all of that though I did feel a connection and enough interest in the book to finish it and find out what happens to everyone. If you are looking for a deeper spiritual message this is probably not for you.

I got this book free on my Kindle & really didn't know what to expect. Boy was I surprised. There's humor, sadness, adventure, religion and just plain good storytelling! Don't miss this one.

This is the kind of book I can get lost in...and did! Ms. Ellis created a wonderful combination of sights, sounds, smells and conversation of everyday people. The characters are very believable and I think almost everyone can relate to at least one of them. The problems are real, the situations entertaining. The flashbacks, and there's a few, fit well into the story, adding to it, not taking away from it. When I was forced to put this down, I couldn't wait to pick up my Kindle and read more.
Buy the book, hop in the Caddie and enjoy a trip to Memphis' sites and sounds. One bit of caution, once you get about 40% through the book, find a box of tissues and keep reading. I will be sampling the other writings of Leanna Ellis.

Great book. Feel good ending and easy read. I have already recommended it to my friends.

I couldn't finish this book. It was typical but with Elvis thrown in for background noise. I didn't identify with any of the characters.

Just ignore the religious references (I did) and this is a very funny and well written story. I laughed out loud several times.