Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Elvis And Me by Priscilla Presley, Sandra Harmon

6 reviews

kelseyr713's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

I read this after watching the excellent Priscilla because I wanted to read the source material. I was surprised that there were many scenes in the movie that were adapted exactly, down to the conversation. This is a poignant memoir that showcases the deep and complicated love that Priscilla had for Elvis. It is difficult to read at points because she is only fourteen when their story starts while he is a grown man, so please keep that in mind before you read. 

Something that's included here but was removed from the film adaptation is the period of time when Priscilla, Elvis, and everyone in their circle gets really obsessed with horses, which I found very funny.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Alcohol

Moderate: Physical abuse and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

skelleybean's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Addiction, and Alcohol

Minor: Grief, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Death, Physical abuse, and Body shaming

honeybeewitched87's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Infidelity, Addiction, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Death of parent, Grief, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content

Minor: Child death and Body shaming

randimcphee's review against another edition

challenging emotional fast-paced

3.75

The writing itself isn’t anything mind blowing, but the story is absolutely fascinating. Reading a first hand experience of Elvis’ life, troubles, addictions, and attitude had me questioning a lot about what I thought I knew about him. This story is their love story, but also how he transformed from a sweet, generous, Southern boy with too much money, to a controlling, manipulative, borderline monster.

I think the lowest point of this book is that the author, his only wife, Priscilla, never seems to understand just how deeply terrible Elvis’ actions were. It was just so heartbreaking and scary, and I found throughout the book that I wasn’t rooting for the love story.

Even after their divorce, she said they were friendly, held hands, kissed, and acted like a family when they were together. It seems like she was never truly able to get out of his grip, even after everything and divorcing him. It was an interesting story, but also felt like whiplash. A good story, but disappointing to know the truth and see Priscilla be taken advantage of way too much.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexism, Pedophilia, Drug use, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Infidelity, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Sexual assault

blueeyedshook's review against another edition

4.0

The story of Elvis and Priscilla is actually quite shocking. I had no idea they met and got together when Priscilla was 14 with Elvis 10 years older than her. And her parents just let it happen. They even let her go live with him in America while they were still stationed in Germany!! Whoa. Seriously?! I kept waiting to find out that I was misunderstanding, but then she'd talk about being 16 and going to school or whatever. I know she has come out and said that it was a different time. Still, he felt predatory. He sought her out. He said she reminded him of his little sister. He would have her come over and lay in bed with her after parties (but just talk for hours.....wanting to save intimacy for a time when they were "ready" because it was so important to him). It felt like he was grooming her. Even once she was older, he didn't want her to have a job as a model because he wanted his woman home to care for him. I know it was a "different time" but not like biblical times! Adults dating minors was still frowned upon.....RIGHT?!
Anyway, Priscilla narrating the audiobook was worth it all. She is so clearly still in love with him--which is why I think she was a bit in denial about how weird or inappropriate some of their relationship was, as well as in denial about how he acted in some ways like not knowing what the drugs he offered her would do to her.....yes! He offered her drugs at a very young teen age as well.) She would laugh while she was reading, and it made it so much more real and relatable. Her little giggle at his humor was so cute. I really enjoyed listening to her read it, and of course here about Elvis.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Addiction, Cursing, and Emotional abuse

briski's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.5

Ok so here’s the thing. I’m in my Elvis era. I’ve been in my Elvis era because I’m a slut for some Baz Luhrmann cinematic mania and for Austin Butler but PRISCILLA. The amount of times I audibly said yikes was far too many. The amount of time I heard the word karate was far too many. Who would have guessed martial arts would be what lead to Priscilla’s awakening moment? And while there were soooooooooooooooooooooo many red flags (none of which PP really called out) that ending really did make me a little sad. Things I feel are worth remembering

Elvis took PP to the morgue as adventurous little trips

PP took lessons from Chuck Norris

When PP met Elvis she had JUST turned 14 and he was dressed like a target employee eating bacon sandwiches with mustard

He rented out entire movie theaters and roller rinks

They fully stood up on roller coasters

He died at the same age as him mom

PP refused to gain weight during her pregnancy and they were banging up until the last 6 weeks of her pregnancy

EDIT I’m bumping this up from 3 to 3.5 because I’m still thinking about it. That doesn’t mean it’s exceptionally well written but I think it deserves a boost for how long it’s lingered in my brain. Truly the morgue stuff is gonna be a permanent resident in my mind. I can’t believe that was real. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Drug use, Body shaming, and Misogyny