Elvis Books - Please Advise !

[Satnin]

Somebody suggested that I read Elvis By Albert Goldman, I Honestly Don't know The books 2 Read, & the 1s 2 Avoid - can Any of u advise?!

[Joe Car]

Somebody suggested that I read Elvis By Albert Goldman, I Honestly Don't know The books 2 Read, & the 1s 2 Avoid - can Any of u advise?!

Do not whatever you do read that pile of trash written by Goldman. He completely ripped EP apart with his half-truths and his mean spiritedness. I would suggest the books written by Jerry Hopkins for starters, though I'm not sure of there titles off hand.

[cutiepie]

Hello!

I highly recommend "The Inner Elvis: A Psychological Biography" by Peter Whitmer. It is a very thorough examination of the theories that may have made Elvis "tick". The author elaborates upon the environment that Elvis was born into, the milestones that shaped his life, and compelling theories of his death.

A really good book, but there are two aspects I found a little trying. One was the author's preoccupation with the "twinless twin" theory--makes sense, but he seemed to cling to it qutie desparately! And, there is quite a bit of textbook-like psychology theories in the first chapter, but it is worth reading through to get a handle on the rest of the book.

The timeline that the author used for the book coincides with Elvis' movies, which provide a lot of interesting info!

[NEA]

Leave the Goldman book well alone.

Instead, check out Peter Guralnick's 2 volumes: "Last Train To Memphis" and "Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley".

Other worthwhile reads are Bill E. Burk's 3 volumes: "The Tupelo Years", "The Humes Years" and "The Sun Years" - these are all well-written and hold great detailed information about the Young Elvis and how it all started. You can send Bill an email direct if you are enquiring about purchasing these books: beb007@worldnet.att.net

Family-related books like the new "Elvis By The Presleys" is a worthwhile buy with some nice, rare photographs, plus "Me 'n' Elvis" by Charlie Hodge has some nice stories.

Another couple of gems are "Inside Graceland: Elvis' Maid Remembers" by Nancy Rooks and "Over The Fence: A Neighbor's Memories of Elvis" by Sara Erwin. Both these books have a number of inaccuracies but they are very enjoyable to read and the authors are writing totally from the heart.

Happy Elvis Book Hunting!

NEA.

[Mez]

I would recommend Child Bride by Suzanne Finstad, it gives an alternative (and probably more truthful) version of 'Elvis and Me'

[NEA]

Hi,

Here are the main books to avoid:

1. 'Elvis' by Albert Goldman - B U L L S * * * and quite sickening.

2. 'Elvis: The Last 24 Hours' or 'Elvis: The Final 24 Hours'
by Albert Goldman.
I can't even remember the correct title, but this was his 10 years after version of his original attempt to slander Elvis' good name. In total it is narrowed down to Elvis' final day with us - even more
B U L L S * * *.

3. 'Elvis - What Happened?' - The first of the trashy 'tell-all' books. Initially it comes across as a book written by a tabloid journalist who coins the phrase 'sensationalism' in one. Plus, with the extra added effect of being told by three very bitter men who were employed by Elvis - 2 of whom were very good friends for at least two decades - I can sympathise with them regarding the immediate dismissal. This is the 'bodyguard book' that added to Elvis' stress levels during the last year of his life. Red West still loves Elvis and Sonny West regrets that they did this one. By the way, what's happening with Sonny's new book?

4. 'Elvis - We Love You Tender' - a book by Elvis' Step-Family or could it be a book written by 'The Addams Family'?...youngest sibling, David Stanley has tried to redress the balance on a couple of occassions and tries to make apologies for his Mother's feeble attempt at slander. This appeared just before the Goldman book reared it's ugly head.

So, those are the main source of 'negative' books that have really long since been forgotten, but I'm sure some of the other Fans on the Forum can add to this list.

NEA.

[cutiepie]

Hi NEA

In light of the other post about "Child Bride," did Priscilla--on behalf of Elvis and/or EPE, ever try to take action against the people who wrote these books about Elvis? I would like to think that Priscilla would still have something in her, that would care about Elvis' legacy and what people might think, if they only read those books.

[P.S. Annie]

Go for the Guralnicks, they are essential in my opinion. Also receantly enjoyed reading A date with Elvis, about his time in the Army.

[Satnin]

Thanx Very Much 4 All ur Help

can any1 give me the list of Elvis' favourite 'spiritual' type books, I've seen the list Somewhere - I just Can't remember where !

[NEA]

Hi Cutiepie,

As far as I'm aware Priscilla never got any of these so-called characters who wrote these books in any kind of court case or anything. Why?...perhaps she was too busy using the name 'Presley' to try and further her own TV/Movie career at the time?

She couldn't do anything about the first one ("Elvis What Happened?") has Elvis was still alive then and he was handling it his own way...well...kind of? So, she was pretty much out of the scene at that point.

Apparently, her answer to these books was to write her own so-called definitive version about their marriage and her opinions, hence we have "Elvis & Me". I think her book becomes a little one-sided in parts for example, I feel she paid more attention to her dislike of the majority of Elvis' later stage attire than she did about his health?

So, 20 years on we now have "Elvis By The Presleys" and thankfully it is more of a family affair - so glad Lisa-Marie and Patsy were flying the true 'Presley' Flag in this project!

Cheers,

NEA.

[joanne]

It ought to have been called Priscilla By The Beaulieus as its more about her and how hard it was for her being married to Elvis oh its a hard life...

[Mez]

Thanx Very Much 4 All ur Help

can any1 give me the list of Elvis' favourite 'spiritual' type books, I've seen the list Somewhere - I just Can't remember where !

The Prophet by Kalil Gibran and Impersonal Life- Anon would be good places to start, but they are very heavy going and somewhat esoteric, someone in work recommended that I should read them and I found it hard to read any more than a couple of pages at a time.....but I'm not particularly religous so maybe that's why...

[joanne]

I believe he owned-
The Prophet (Khalil Gibran)
The Initiation of the World (Vera Stanley Alder)
Life and Teachings of the Masters of the Far East (Baird T. Spalding)
Impersonal Life (1914)
Holy Science (Swami Sri Yukteswar)
Autobiography of a Yogi (Paramahansa Yogananda)

They are available on www.amazon.co.uk / www.amazon.com

[Wendy56]

Hi Satnin...

I recently discovered this link about Elvis' books: http://www.xs4all.nl/~vnhouten/intro.html . I didn't check it completly, so I don't really know if this can help you, but I hope it does.
I read three books by Susan Doll: The best of Elvis; Elvis Presley: a rock'n'roll legend and The films of Elvis Presley. These are great. Also, inside the first one I refer to, there is a small list of books recomended by the author.

Hope this helps.

[Elvis-4-Ever]

If you wanna see pics of Elvis buy any Sean Shaver book. These are loaded with pics, but they can get pretty expensive at times.
I got The Life of Elvis Presley from Shaver and it is by far my favorite Elvis book. Great pictures and also memories from people like Charlie Hodge.

[carolynlm]

If you get a hold of the goldman book, burn it....that's what I did, and I usually have the utmost respect for any written word, but this piece of crap was just that, crap....

Elvis, What Happened? is not a bad read, considering we know almost everything now that had occured over the years. As far as Sonny's latest offerring goes, I don't know.
Charlie Hodges book is a light hearted read, but his 'facts'??? are a little off. As an example, he mentions Priscilla being at the Aloha concert.....
Joes Esposito' 'Good Rockin' Tonight' is in the same category as Charlies book, but I think Joes facts are a little more accurate.
I enjoyed Scotty Moores book..'That's All Right Elvis'...
One essential read is Elvis and Gladys...it starts off with a lot of family background, but it puts it all into perspective when you realise just where Gladys came from and how she wanted her boy to grow.
Peter Guralnicks and Ernsts books are great, but I have yet to find the one they co-wrote Elvis Day By Day.....lots of picture books, but I cant even afford the 'coffee table' let alone one of Sean Shavers coffee table books. One day......

[Rien]

I just uploaded a list of books for which viewers voted on my website:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~vnhouten/toplist.html

The Top Twenty contains books from Bud Glass, Peter Guralnick, Sean Shaver and Joe Tunzi.

[0349054]

If you can get your hands on the Revelations of the Memphis Mafia or Portrait of a Friend, there two excellent books.

But its best to read a few from a few different guys in the group.

[cutiepie]

If you can get your hands on the Revelations of the Memphis Mafia or Portrait of a Friend, there two excellent books.

But its best to read a few from a few different guys in the group.

Hi! Are you referring to the Alanna Nash book written with Marty Lacker, Billy, and Lamar? I'm just starting to read it now! I try to have an open mind--but even in the introduction, the author referrs to Elvis eating junkfood, and that he was "verball and physically" abuse to his friends who stuck by him... should I be cautious for the rest of the book?

thanks!

[0349054]

Honestly, be cautious when you read anything! Of course there will be things slightly distorted, maybe intentionally, maybe not. The best thing to do is to read as much about Elvis as possible, from as many different people. Then, certain characteristics you will notice keep coming up, other books the said characteristic may not even be mentioned. Some people will say x, y and z happened on such and such a date, others will tell you that it never occured. Take it all with a pinch of salt.

But, I think that The Revelations book, is one of the best. Elvis was human, and the guys don't pretend that he was any sort of deity. I wasnt there, but I do think that there account is very plausible.