Elvis and Me: The True Story of the Love Between Priscilla Presley and the King of Rock N' Roll

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This was a difficult read in how it explores the details of how Elvis groomed and manipulated a young child (actively being failed by her parents) into marrying him. Even more difficult is the denial Priscilla lived in at the time of writing this memoir 38 years ago. Edwards was a struggling model and actor before he cross paths with Priscilla. But according to him it was lust at first sight and ignited a fiery romance. Elvis was a very complex man and this book displays more than any other media I’ve come across what a problematic man he was. The age gap, his manipulation, and all the infidelity are so clearly stated in here, yet I’m surprised how casual Priscilla is about it and that the book ends on such a positive note regarding that. I would’ve wanted even more reflections from her side how she believes that this has affected her life and her personality. Or perhaps she had not even worked through that by the time she wrote the book. Has she even by now?

Her entire world revolved around the star. “I just followed what he did,” she claimed. “I mean, you lived his life. You saw the movies he wanted to see, you listened to the music he wanted to listen to, you go to places that he would go… I honestly didn’t have my own life… So I really kind of lost myself.” The version of Priscilla Presley who lingers in pop culture—dark eyeliner, teased hair, immaculate gowns—is the primary one we see in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, played by Olivia DeJonge and seen primarily as a witness to the central drama between Elvis and Colonel Tom Parker. The bulk of their relationship took place in the 1960s, a period skimmed over by a montage.Decades after his death, millions of fans continue to worship Elvis the legend. But very few knew him as Elvis the man. Here in her own words, Priscilla Presley tells the story of their love, revealing the details of their first meeting, their marriage, their affairs, their divorce, and the unbreakable bond that has remained long after his tragic death.

Priscilla shares with us the brightest moments as well as some ugly truths about the man she loved and their unique relationship. She also shares interesting tidbits about Elvis' eccentricities and his career in film and music.

He taught me everything: how to dress, how to walk, how to apply makeup and wear my hair, how to behave, how to return love-his way. Over the years he became my father, husband, and very nearly God. Now he was gone and I felt more alone and afraid than ever in my life. Rather than being the single event that the family anticipated, Elvis made their visits regular ones; when her parents balked, Elvis spoke to them personally, turning all of his charismatic charm on them, and telling them everything they wanted to hear. Most of it was untrue, of course, but the one thing he adhered to was not having sexual intercourse. During this time period, the Madonna-Whore dichotomy was alive and well, and any girl or woman known to have sex outside of marriage was likely to be ostracized by former friends and in some cases, family. It’s hard to imagine now, but at that time, no birth control pill had been invented, and a pregnancy outside of marriage was likely to ruin a young woman’s entire life. Per her memoir, Elvis’s desire to ‘control’ Priscilla was so great that he once told his pal Rex Mansfield that he chose her because he could “train her in any way I want” due to her tender age. I enjoyed reading the book, maybe because it was interesting to read about such a famous relationship or just such famous people. It felt like someone was telling me a story in person tbh. The New York Times Book Review) into the criminal mind, Ann Rule has chronicled the most fascinating cases of our time in her bestselling Crime