Customer Reviews

If I Can Dream: Elvis' Own Story

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I FOUND THIS BOOK AT A YARD SALE FOR 25 CENTS. THIS WAS THE MOST WONDERFUL STORY ABOUT ELVIS. IT MADE ME SO SAD OF THE TRAGIC LIFE AND LOSS THAT ELVIS HAD IN HIS LIFE. HE WAS SURROUNDED BY "USERS". IN THIS BOOK LARRY GELLAR TALKS ABOUT THE BOOKS ELVIS ENJOYED READING, AND THE PEACE HE SEARCHED FOR. THANK YOU LARRY FOR SUCH A WONDERFUL BOOK ON A WONDERFUL HUMAN.

Okay, I will admit, I am a teenager, but I can still tell a good book from a great book. And this is definately a great book in my opinion. I went to the library on a school project and I happened to pluck this one off the shelf. Once I started reading the first 13 pages, I was hooked. I never knew how emotional his life was, but the opening had me in tears.
I think that this book is a great starter or even an update for any devoted Elvis fan. It covers every where from his teen years, to his last breaths- from his everyday frustrations to his immediate concerns about his love life and his daughter.
I really was in love with the way Larry Gellar put in bits and pieces of conversations he had remembered and written down, and random quotes (from Elvis) that fit in with the messages he was trying to send you. After I had completed the biography for my school project, I honestly felt like I knew Elvis, not the image or random "everybody-knows-them" facts. I felt like I knew him, and I still do. Once you read this touching book, you've created a bond with Elvis you'll never get from someone who's never met him, but decided to write a book from their own research.
I was touched by this book, and I will be forever. I highly suggest this book to anyone who wants the feelings that I have described above. Believe me, those are just a few of them.

I have now read Larry Gellers book at least 25 times - and I love it. Mr. Gellers love for Elvis is so deep and honest. There are passages in this book that makes my heart bleed for Elvis and just makes me cry. It's good to know that Elvis had at least one person he could always trust and with whom he could share his religious thoughts which meant so much to him. I cant wait to read the new book on Elvis by Mr. Geller.

This book was an ok read. the best part of the book were the last few chapters. Larry tells us how Elvis really felt about the people around him. the books he liked to read. how he felt about Tom Parker and his true feelings on Ginger and her family. the first part of the book is a lot of the same stories you can read in many other Elvis books. not a bad book just not the best Elvis book I have read.

I have had this book for well over at least 15 years, since my teens. I started reading it something then, and then never finished it. Last summer I again started to read where I left off, and again never finished more than 20 pages more. I was up late last week, and there was a concert special documentary on the AMC Channel. "Elvis, this is who I am" or something like that. It was a documentary filmed up to his return to Las Vegas in 1970. I watched that, and was totally mesmerized by his performance, as I was to young to ever go to any Elvis concert. I felt like I was actually at the concert. So then I remembered this book that I never finished.
Needless to say, I picked up this book on Thurs. and I just finished it today, Sat. I wanted to know more, and what a great book to read to see how the real Elvis as a person really was, and what he really thought. I have heard all the traditional stories, and seen bios on TV, but this was totally enlightening, although at times sad.

I would say to anyone wanting to know how Elvis the man really was, this is a great story. I read other reviews where readers have slammed Larry Geller for telling some of the personal things maybe Elvis wouldn't want known, but think about it.......If Larry Geller would have written all good, with none of the bad things, etc...how believable would that have been? It probably would have made me more inclined to say "ya sure" if it was all "sugar-coated." Don't you think? People would have completely critisized that as well. I think he gave a great account of things, from his point of view. I really enjoyed this book, and getting to know another side of Elvis.
I cried at the end where the story winds down to his death. It was heartbreaking!!! I have never cried at reading a book, only watching a movie or something.
This book will inspire you to find out more about Elvis, possibly open you up more spiritually, and tug at your heart!!!
Highly recommend this read for any Elvis fan!!!

This book is well written, yes, but I don't believe a few things at the end of the book for some reason. Elvis did want to write a book, but I don't think he would have liked the private things (some of) Geller wrote ( i.e. his libido.) I do like the list of books, the details, etc. and it is odd that I own quite a few of them, but after having this book for years, I must say, I think some of it is an invasion of Elvis' privacy. I think a little less of Mr. Geller for this, and I belive he wasn't the only closest friend of Elvis' at all. He was absent many years, yet he still did give him books when Elvis wanted them. He also seems to really dislike Priscilla. It is very confusing to me but the points I made above are just a few things that turned me off this book.

That's what the name Elvis means. Finally a novel from an insider that is written with intelligence. Larry Geller is the only one near the King with the depth to absorb the vast persona of Elvis Presley and we are the better for it. Geller's own story is quite interesting and gives the book a broad dimension. In fact Mr. Geller should follow that vein of the book and tell the complete inside story, with namedropping intimate deatil, as a sequel entitled; "My Wish Came True."

If you really want to know what Elvis was like, what he cared most about, how he actually got so hyper-medicated (it's not what you think) and what he was dying of (again, brace yourself) then this is the book for you! Wonderfully written and a page-turner for anyone who likes a good biography, mystery or history book. Do yourself and Elvis a favor and read this--don't let Priscilla (and Scientology) have the last word on a man who was a true American original. Honor his memory and buy this book! You'll be very glad you did.

I enjoyed reading this book very much. I believe a lot a what Mr. Geller said but, as with all of the other books written about him, Elvis is not here to refute anything.
I agree with some of the other reviewers that there is very little left of Elvis' privacy. Perhaps we should all just stop buying these books and just listen to his music. That is where his spirit is.

IF I HAD TO READ ONLY ONE BOOK ABOUT ELVIS, THIS WOULD BE THE ONE!