From Here to the Great Unknown: A Memoir (2024) Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough
Riley Keough completes the memoir her mother, Lisa Marie Presley, was never able to finish. Using stories, quotes, and perspectives from interview tapes of LMP, Keough was able to collate into a story that portrayed the image of her mother that LMP was never able to conjure of/for herself. While many events and facts about LMP’s life are widely known and of no surprise, there are many details in this book that you may not expect. The story portrays trauma, grief/loss, insecure attachment, family roles, enmeshed boundaries (and rigid boundaries conversely), co-dependent relationship dynamics, inter-generational cycles of family system patterns, suicide, addiction (from the perspective of the addict and the family member), and more [trigger warning]. Riley introduces her role at the beginning of the book to tell her mom’s story from her words, only contributing additional insights or editing her mom’s words to help clarify the meaning to the audience. But what I found so beautiful was the gentle integration of Keough’s perspective as the daughter who was witnessing the telling of these stories, as well as her experience as a participant in many events and how she was impacted by them. As much as this book told the story of LMP in her own words, it was still constructed from the lens of how she was seen, experienced, and loved by her daughter.
How did I hear about this book: A (non-therapist) friend told me about it.
Would I recommend it to colleagues: Sure
Would I recommend this to clients: Sure, if/when clinically appropriate.
How do I apply this content to my work: I appreciate how this book exemplifies the messiness of complex dynamics of family systems, especially one that is set across a timeline of significant cultural shifts in how we approach these topics and/or dynamics. As mentioned in my previous post about Augusten Burroughs’ Dry, reading another person’s story can be a helpful way to feel less alone in some of the experiences we have had in our own lives and can help us apply these concepts to our own experiences after witnessing them more objectively in someone else’s.
Additionally, as an addictions counselor who works with both people struggling with addiction and friends/family members of those struggling with addiction, this book offers perspectives from both sides of that story: LMP shares anecdotes of experiencing her father’s struggle with addiction, as well as experiencing her own struggle with addiction; and Riley Keough shares insights of experiencing her mother’s struggle with addiction. Addiction affects the entire family whether or not all family members have ever picked up a drink or a drug, and it is therefore incumbent upon the entire family to engage in the recovery process to heal the harms caused by the addiction. Having the addict and the family member(s) on the same page significantly supports the healing process and it is often very difficult to facilitate that when everyone has been so deeply impacted. I think the multiple perspectives offered in this book could help bridge that gap of understanding and increase the capacity for empathy and humility.
Disclaimers: These reviews are based on my own personal experience reading these books and do not reflect on the book’s author or publisher. I have not received any commissions or other incentives to promote my reviews. My reviews express my own unbiased opinions.
