Click Above To Order Your CopyFrom Here To The Unknown
Authors: Lisa Marie Presley &
Riley Keough
Publisher: Random House
Release Date: October 8, 2024
True story: Shortly after Lisa Marie Presley was born, a nine-year-old me hand wrote a letter to Elvis and Priscilla Presley inviting them to my (well, my parents’) home. I was going to give up my twin bed for them to stay in while they visited.
For some reason, I never heard back from them. I swear my bed was comfortable. Honest.
To more recent times.
I read the new book that has been culled from audio tapes Lisa Marie recorded in preparation for writing “From Here To The Unknown.” It was completed and added to by her oldest daughter: actress Riley Keogh.
To be honest, I didn’t expect a good read. I really didn’t. I also didn’t expect to finish the book liking the King of Rock and Roll’s only child. I don’t know why. I just didn’t.
I was wrong.
I’ll warn you: This is NOT the feel-good book of the year. Lisa Marie dearly missed her famous dad right up until she met her untimely death. Other accounts about her portrayed her as a spoiled brat and she pretty much acknowledged as much in the book. Prior to reading the book, I believed she had too much of an attitude.
Shame on me for forming such an opinion without knowing the woman.
Her words betray – and portray – a sad and broken woman. Clearly, when she lost her dad, she lost a huge part of her inner core. Later, she lost her son, Benjamin. Can you imagine losing a child while you are already in immense grief.
Wow. Just wow.
When that happens to anyone, that person spends the rest of their lives either healing, searching, or both. Add to that the mistake of self-medicating and one can turn into a hot mess.
That all said, she clearly was making some significant strides in her healing and her personal growth. She slugged through whatever life was throwing at her in her last few years. For that, I think she was a true rock star in her attempts to stand strong.
Surprises in the book? Yes. Such as:
Priscilla Presley was treated in the book rather diplomatically. No real dirty laundry aired.
Keeping Benjamin’s body in her home for a few days until he was interred. I’d heard about it before but didn’t really believe it but it’s true. I don’t know how I feel about that but, then again, it really doesn’t matter what I think about it. That was a grieving mom’s business.
Her involvement in Scientology is barely mentioned and even then, it is pretty much matter-of-factly.
If you’re an Elvis fan you will want to own a copy of this book. If you’re not, still get and read the book for its human-interest element. It’s well written and structured. You can clearly tell where Lisa’s words begin and end and where her daughters begins and ends.
Click on the image on this page to order your own copy. Buy a couple of more for gifts this holiday season.
