Rating: 
Summary: Entrancing read
Review: This book is one of the best, if not the best, I've ever read about Elvis Presley. It is very well written in an original way. I'm almost through reading it for the second time. To be able to get all of the information in this book, it is a must read more than once! You won't be able to put it down. Not only is it a great book for Elvis fans, but also for the avid reader. It describes Elvis' influences and surroundings and people in his early life and career in an accurate, yet exciting, way. This insightful biography of Elvis will open your eyes to more than just his image. It will help you understand the "real" Elvis. Emotions run high as you read about his first gigs, girlfriends, frenzied fans, Hollywood life, army concerns and his Mother. To own "Last Train to Memphis" is an inspiration.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating History
Review: This is a book for those who love American music, not those looking for lurid scandal. Guralnick's respectful yet honest history of Elvis's rise to fame is endlessly engrossing. Not only do we meet Elvis, Gladys, and Vernon in the years before the myths took over, we meet lesser-known yet facsinating characters as Sam Phillips, the idealistic founder of Sun Records, and Dewey Phillips, the eccentric DJ who first played Elvis on the air. As Guralnick presents Memphis in the 50's, it seems so real one almost feels as though it could be visited today.You don't have to be an Elvis fan to enjoy this biography.
Rating:
Summary: A slice of Southern history
Review: This is one of those rare biographies that transcend its subject. The rise of Elvis is fascinating and true Elvis fans will find a wealth of information in the book, but there is also much more to take from this well researched tome. The discussion of the music of Memphis, the sources that influenced Elvis and the rise of rock and roll make this book a terrific addition to anyone's library who is interested in music or the south. The relationship between Presley and his many women is discussed here and so is the complex interaction between him and his family. Perhaps his most interesting relationship is with his manager, Colonel Parker. How that relationship shaped his career certainly makes for an interesting read. The author does as fine a job as I have ever seen of documenting his sources and treating his subject with respect, but not awe. This is one of the best bio's I have ever read. I highly recommend this book to students of Elvis, pop music, the south or to anyone looking to be exposed to a world that no longer exists.
Rating:
Summary: A slice of Southern history
Review: This is one of those rare biographies that transcend its subject. The rise of Elvis is fascinating and true Elvis fans will find a wealth of information in the book, but there is also much more to take from this well researched tome. The discussion of the music of Memphis, the sources that influenced Elvis and the rise of rock and roll make this book a terrific addition to anyone's library who is interested in music or the south. The relationship between Presley and his many women is discussed here and so is the complex interaction between him and his family. Perhaps his most interesting relationship is with his manager, Colonel Parker. How that relationship shaped his career certainly makes for an interesting read. The author does as fine a job as I have ever seen of documenting his sources and treating his subject with respect, but not awe. This is one of the best bio's I have ever read. I highly recommend this book to students of Elvis, pop music, the south or to anyone looking to be exposed to a world that no longer exists.
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