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tmhwrd's review against another edition
Good but I’m not continuing with it for now.
librarinurse23's review
5.0
This is a great detailed biography covering his life from birth to his time in the army. It does portray him as a homey, naive kid who sort of stumbles into fame, but the interviews from childhood friends, his band and Elvis himself make this a fascinating listen. Highly recommend for Elvis lovers. #audible #audiobooks #elvis
richirvine's review
4.0
Extensive, exhausting, and surprisingly depressing. Guralnick's twin mammoth Elvis bios (I'm reviewing them as a whole) give you the whole bloody story, more Elvis background and detail than you ever wanted to know. It reads like a factual novel, and the amount of research that went into this is literally breathtaking.
It's almost too much. The first volume (covering up until his army stint) rattles along as Elvis grows up, gets his first break, the early recordings and starts on the journey to superstardom. The second volume, when he retreats into a life of drugs, hotel rooms and tormenting his long suffering entourage drags - much as Elvis's life drags I guess.
Still, I knew what I was signing up for when I started reading. Guralnick's Elvis Bios are the definitive article. Recommended for diehard fans.
It's almost too much. The first volume (covering up until his army stint) rattles along as Elvis grows up, gets his first break, the early recordings and starts on the journey to superstardom. The second volume, when he retreats into a life of drugs, hotel rooms and tormenting his long suffering entourage drags - much as Elvis's life drags I guess.
Still, I knew what I was signing up for when I started reading. Guralnick's Elvis Bios are the definitive article. Recommended for diehard fans.
lena_emma02's review
5.0
Wow. I’m already a huge Elvis fan, but reading this book just made me love him even more. Guralnick fit so many details and anecdotes into the 500 pages that by the end of it I really felt like I had experienced all of those things with him and his family and friends. At the end of the day isn’t that everything and more you could want out of a biography? “Last Train to Memphis” is a beautifully told account of Elvis Presley’s early life and rise to stardom, and I cannot wait to read “Careless Love” next!!
quieswallflower's review
4.0
A very unbiased and respectful (and SO thorough) biography on Elvis. This paints him as a man, with both confidence and insecurities, strengths and weaknesses. True accounts and debunks of myths, told in an engaging and educational way. I feel so much more enlightened on his early history now.
At times, it did feel as though there was a bit too much information than necessary that bogged down the flow of reading. Because of that and the 500pgs, it took me a few months to finish. You can bet I tagged a whole lot of sections to look back on though!
This is probably a top book of mine on Elvis, and I'd recommend it to anyone curious on the music history of the time and/or the man himself.
At times, it did feel as though there was a bit too much information than necessary that bogged down the flow of reading. Because of that and the 500pgs, it took me a few months to finish. You can bet I tagged a whole lot of sections to look back on though!
This is probably a top book of mine on Elvis, and I'd recommend it to anyone curious on the music history of the time and/or the man himself.
marlo42's review
5.0
Yes, it’s that good. I’d heard of this biography before and how electrifying it is, but I had little interest in the subject matter and put off reading it. That being said, I’m so glad I picked it up. The world that it portrays jumps right off the page, as do the central characters in Elvis’ life - particularly striking is Colonel Parker.
Read this for the human moments -the girls Presley led on, how the death of his mother shattered him. Those bits are what make this book so good.
Read this for the human moments -the girls Presley led on, how the death of his mother shattered him. Those bits are what make this book so good.