Rating: 
Summary: Perhaps not definitive
Review: Guralnick has certainly done Presley service by rigorously documenting the later half of the man's life in such detail. But the book is also wearying, and his defenses of Colonel Parker and Dr.Nick are lamebrained. The book's real flaw is that while Guralnick sees that Elvis' life was a genuine American tragedy, he can't effectively make it read like one. You don't get much of an insight into Elvis' mind--this is infuriating because Guralnick shows that the man was in private far more intelligent and sophisticated than the stereotype of the idiot savant in the jumpsuit fostered by snobs and the ignorant. The most basic facts here are that boredom and drugs basically destroyed Elvis--he no longer devised any challenges for himself because his personality was essentially passive and now drug-addled. His passivity is really infuriating because Elvis fulfilled little of his potential--this was a man who could sing anything. Guralnick emphasizes this inadvertedly by leaving out any mention of the outside world. Elvis never--except perhaps in 1968-9--conciously tried to raise himself artisticaly higher like the Beatles, Bob Dylan or James Brown. Guralnick does himself proud however by asserting that Elvis' interpretive genius asserted itself all the way until his end. It may not have appeared as regurlarly as it did in 1956 or 1968, but it still popped up ocasionaly. Songs like "Burning Love" and "An American Trilogy" are evidence. More so are several bootleg recordings Guralnick points out, which everyone should hear--the apocalyptic winter 1975 live version of "How Great Thou Art," the unbearably sad live "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the same year, the weird, beautiful live version of "Unchained Melody" from 1977 (on 'The great performances' video) and the various live versions of "Hurt" from 1976. These are among the greatest performances of his career, and Guralnick rightly insists on their importance. Elvis was at his most interesting as a person when he made music--in these cases wrenching, desperate music--his later life was a boring routine of drugs and degradation. It's the music that makes his life a tragedy, because it stands for what he accomplished, and what he could have.
Rating: 
Summary: Masterful and stunningly sad
Review: I was not an Elvis fan before casually picking this up in an airport to have something to read on my flight. Now I can hardly pass a day (or sometimes hour) without thinking about him thanks to this incredible masterpiece of a biography. If the aim of a biography is to guide you to the subject on a personal level, tell you something about them that you never knew before, inspire you learn more about them then Guralnick has accomplished this and more. One of the most fascinating and enlightening aspects of the 2 volume work (Last Train To Memphis) comes in the form of Elvis' recording sessions. To understand him as a person, to truly give him the utter respect that is due him as the ultimate musician, you have to get into those recording sessions and sit alongside him, watch his reactions, listen to his comments, gauge his moods. Guralnick has managed to gain us entrance to these sessions and you are there. At the close of this book beware - even though you know the ending you keep hoping beyond hope that it turns out differently because you will love Presley. You will grieve for him, you will miss him and you will be furious at the utter waste of a genius. Above all, you will be grateful for his life, what he brought us while he was here and to Peter Guralnick for bringing him back to us, if just for the time it takes to finish the book. Thankyou Mr Guralnick.
Rating:
Summary: Well Written and Researched Tale of the King
Review: There is one way to describe this book - wow, what a story.The writing is just flat out good. Once you start reading be prepared to finish, except for those pesky breaks to sleep and work. A very well written account of Elvis's life and actions in and out of the recording studio with lots of details, lots of hanky panky, road trips, recording sessions, flights, drugs, buying Cadillacs, the whole mess. Basically Elvis spent every cent he made. The colonel took each dollar and sent 50 cents to the IRS to keep Elvis out of trouble but Elvis and his "mafia" lived like kings where money was no object. If he was in the mood he would just pick up the phone and buy cars, trucks, land, food, whatever was his fancy. When he died Priscilla actually started to manage the finances and Graceland and then after he was dead, the money really increased. With his love of music and his drive to create, he had hit after hit, a lull and then more hits, movies, hits, lulls, Las Vegas, and on and on. There were no limits until he came in collision with obesity and drugs. It all became very depressing and then it ended. Elvis came close to pulling back and recovering a few times but was unable or unwilling or not intelligent enough to see what was happening to himself. In that sense he was alone and in charge. An enthralling and well written blockbuster that stays in your hands until the last page. Jack in Toronto
Rating:
Summary: Guralnick takes you inside the mind of Elvis.
Review: "Careless Love" is brilliant. I didn't think Peter Guralnick could top "Last Train to Memphis," but this volume is even more masterful in its ability to take you inside the world, even inside the mind of Elvis Presley. I felt myself giddy and full of the excitement of a "new lease on life" when reading his account of the 1968 "comeback" TV special and the 1969 American Studio sessions. Then I began to feel the malaise of drugs taking over Elvis' life as his touring schedule became increasingly routine and unfulfilling in the 1970s. Finally, by the time I got to the account of the final months and the almost unbearable torture of going on...doing yet another concert for another audience who would have continued their almost mad ovations no matter HOW embarrasing their idol's performance...well, I (probably like Elvis) could hardly wait for it all to be over. This is a very sad story, with far too many parallels to classic Greek tragedies. The author shows appropriate respect for his subject as well as his sources of information. His painstaking research is awe-inspiring. Brilliant. If you love the classic Sun Records sound like I do, then you should check out the new indy release from Wild Hell Dogs, "Early Times" available online at CD Baby.com. Wild Hell Dogs is clearly influenced by Sun's rockabilly and blues catalog. Be sure to check out this fresh new music as well.
Rating:
Summary: Second Half of Two Part Elvis Bio Completes a Perfect Set
Review: In his long awaited sequel to "Last Train To Memphis" Peter Guralnick has proven that he is (in MY mind) the "Premier Rock n' Roll Biographer" of our time. After reading "Last Train" nearly four years ago, I immediately began the search for a date of the release of the promised "second half" of Elvis' life. (It was THAT good.) Guralnick does not let his readers down. He once again portrays Elvis in an honest light. Without pulling a single punch this book takes us on the sad and wasted path of the undoing of The King. We are shown an Elvis that is NOT the tabloid joke that he has been reduced to since his death. Mr. Guralnick has done what many thought could not have been done: He has allowed us to SEE Elvis for the first time. Guralnick never loses sight of what the Elvis story was originally all about: The Music. He lovingly presents the facts of a talented young man's glorious rise to super-stardom then he carefully constructs the details of Elvis' deconstruction. The attention to detail is immediately impressive as he succeeds in getting the reader to "see the chipped paint on the door knob". Never dull, this biography is the perfect example of how some stories are best told (and read) in multiple volumes. My advice for any aspiring Elvis biographers out there: Give up. The job is DONE. My thanks to Peter Guralnick.
Rating:
Summary: Stirring...
Review: I picked up the book Careless Love. At the time the title puzzled me. Who was guilty of Careless Love? Elvis? Umm. Go figure. But upon completion of the book, I now realize no other title would have suited. Elvis was guilty of careless love as was the people whom he surrounded himself with daily and most importantly the fans.
Now, I find no joy in his music and it is painful for me to look at smiling happy picture's of him when he was at the height of his career. Why? Because I know how it all ends. The man, who would burst on the scene and shred American culture, all the while rebuilding it, fascinates me. He was a pioneer, a rebel. Everyone knows the story. Poor boy makes good. But the trajectory his life took is painful to follow. How could a man whose vision changed the music world not have had enough foresight to see his own destructive and erratic behavior?
Paul Guralnick writes the only account of Elvis that I trust implicitly. Why? Because his regard for Elvis as an artist is woven between even the most heart wrenching accounts of his life. Mr. Guralnick does not try to persuade you to like or dislike Elvis. He merely gives Elvis life and places him in front of you saying, "Here he is...you make the decision on how you feel about him."
The book is a disturbing but respectful look at a man who was gifted beyond reason. Mr. Guralnick clearly demonstrates that the fame Elvis endured was even beyond him.
Rating:
Summary: You want to know who Elvis really was? Read this book!
Review: A wonderful achievement. Thoroughly researched, beautifully written. You'll learn everything about the King you always wanted to know - plus some facts of which you had rather remained ignorant. Careless Love is on par with the first volume of Guralnik's Elvis-biography, "Last Train to Memphis" (see also my review of that outstanding work).
Rating:
Summary: An American tragedy
Review: This book brought a lot of unexpected emotions up in me, mostly painful emotions. I felt a real sense of frustration throughout this book. Its amazing to read from a distance how Elvis' character flaws caused him to surround himself with weak, servile people who refused to see or help avoid the inevitable approaching train wreck. I found myself thinking of ways to help Elvis out in my head. Frustrating.
Why didn't they pull the plug and move on after say the Aloha Satellite concert, they'd made billions at this point and Elvis was obviously fading and weak at this time? Where were you Colonel?
Did Elvis start to believe the 'Godhood' title eggreigously put on him by the public?
How was it rationlized in Elvis' mind that the release that prescription drugs gave him was acceptable?
More questions than answers, painful questions. I see this book as a cautionary tale about the immense pressure of stardom, which Elvis met headon and conquered, accepting his situation fully, lifting the spirit of America in the process on his back. Life is truly new every day, and despite all his huge victories, at the end Elvis was broken and beaten, if not in spirit in body and mind.
Thats a bitter truth to swallow, best we can do now is honor him in our minds and our hearts.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliantly written, scholarly treatise
Review: Few people have ever impacted American culture as did Elvis Presley; his contribution to rock music is immeasurable. Guralnick takes a scholarly approach and writes a carefully researched, detailed biography of The King. The first book deals with his meteoric rise from humble beginnings; the second deals with superstar Elvis and his sad decline. No doubt readers will wonder how they could have saved Elvis if only they'd known him; unfortunately, the only person who could have saved Elvis was himself. Forces and fate no doubt played a role which drove Elvis to use drugs as an escape from the stresses and abnormality of his life.
Both books by Guralnick stand alone as well-written biographies of the King. However, I recommend reading them both to get the full impact. It is refreshing to have available a serious, respectful book on Elvis Presley that's void of the usual sensationalistic, simplistic trash found in other, hastily-churned-out Presley biographies.
Rating: 
Summary: A NOBLE AND RESPECTFUL BIOGRAPHY
Review: One has to hand it to Peter Guralnick. He's a master of prose and tries hard to be fair to his subject. CARELESS LOVE...picks up where LAST TRAIN TO MEMPHIS leaves off. Elvis triumphantly returns to the U.S. after his stint in the army. And even with
the sadness of his mother's untimely passing, the future looks bright for the young man, both professionally and personally. Soon after his return, Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker puts "his boy" on the road to on going commercial success. But
unlike the 50's, this time, there is little regard for Elvis'artistry. And here is where Elvis' career problems begin.
While Elvis generates a lot of cash for both himself and the show business industry, the artist in him begins to feel stifled and disappointed because he has few opportunities to express his creativity. But when he does get the odd chance to show his stuff, the results are inevitably good on both celluloid and especially vinyl. You can see it in movies like "Flaming Star" and "Follow That Dream". And you can hear it in beautiful recordings like Bob
Dylan's composition "Tomorrow Is a Long Time" or in the more raucus numbers like "High Heel Sneakers", "Down In the Alley",
"Big Boss Man" among many others.It makes you think, "What could Elvis have achieved during the 60's had he been given more and better opportunities?" Heaven must have glimpsed his sorrow and graced Elvis with the opportunity to shine brightly again in both the 1968 Comeback Special and the recording sessions at Chip Moman's American Studios in 1969. The results were stellar and continue to stand the test of time.
The 1970's should have been a continuation of Elvis' creative renaissance and for a while they were. Elvis put on some extraordinary concerts and made more good records. But again,
his creativity was stifled, this time with bad financial decisions made on his behalf, to boot. All this combined with the pressures of his enormous fame, a low boredom level and a restlessness that would not allow him to enjoy a stabilizing, conventional family life, contributed to his unmaking. There is much tragedy in Elvis' story to be sure. But inside this frequently troubled man was an emormous charisma and humanity that continues to draw fans from every walk of life. While this is wondrous to observe; his fame was too much for a
mortal man to shoulder. At times, Elvis must have felt like Atlas out of Greek Mythology. I guess it was Socrates, who said, "know thy self". Elvis certainly tried but never seemed to come up with a satisfactory answer as to why HE was chosen to be Elvis Presley and what HE
thought about the part he had to play. You keep hoping Guralnick
will answer these questions for you but he can't.He does however take you along for the ride with Elvis so you can ponder the price of fame and extreme adulation for yourself. A worthwhile read.
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