There’s something so compelling about exploring a celebrity’s life through a memoir. It’s not always a story about an unexpected rise to fame or the scandalous moments throughout; it’s a powerful way to unveil the person behind the celebrity. It feels like we get to know them on a more intimate, personal level. And, in Riley’s Keough’s case, there’s no salacious bone in “From Here to the Great Unknown.”
If you missed the Riley Keough podcast with TSC, she gave us a much deeper look into “From Here to the Great Unknown,” a memoir that stands out against the rest. She blends her voice with her late mother’s, Lisa Marie Presley, to create a raw, reflective, and exceptionally well-written narrative.
This personal tribute weaves memory, legacy, and self-discovery in a way that a lot of other memoirs don’t. If you’re on the fence about reading it, we’ll explain what it’s all about. But, before you dive in, catch the full episode with Riley here:
Riley Keough Book Review: “From Here To The Great Unknown”
Before we get into our book review of “From Here to the Great Unknown,” let’s talk a little bit about who Riley Keough is. She’s more than just a familiar name she’s the granddaughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, the daughter of Lisa Marie, and an incredible actress and producer in her own right. But in order to get the full picture, we have to set the stage. Let’s dive in!
Who Is Riley Keough?
Born in 1989 in Santa Monica, California, Riley Keough was the newest addition to the Elvis family legacy. She’s the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley and famous musician, Danny Keough, as well as granddaughter of the legend himself Elvis Presley. Despite being born into one of the most famous families in the world, Riley’s life was relatively grounded.
After her parents divorced in 1994, it was their friendship that kept the family together. Even during Lisa Marie’s brief marriage to Michael Jackson in 1994, Riley recalls it all feeling normal she was surrounded by unconditional love. The only difference was dividing her time between Los Angeles, Hawaii, Graceland in Tennessee, and Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara.
Even with her famous roots, Riley forged her own path. She always loved performing, and her breakout came with a Golden Globe-winning role in “The Girlfriend Experience” in 2017. Since then, she’s stepped into directing, and starred in the hit series “Daisy Jones & The Six.” And, even with all the fame and success, Riley always prioritized family.
Lisa Marie Presley and Riley were close throughout their entire lives Lisa Marie even said she viewed her daughter, Riley Keough, as a best friend. So, it was no surprise when she opened up to Riley about the memoir she was writing.
Sadly, things took a turn in 2020 when Riley’s brother, Ben, died by suicide. She admits knowing her mom wouldn’t make it without him, but did her best to support her through grief. In 2023, when Lisa Marie suddenly passed away, Riley was left as the sole trustee of Lisa Marie’s estate and “From Here to the Great Unknown.”
Riley was able to prove one thing: Lisa Marie’s story wasn’t just a memoir; it’s a story passed down through generations, and she was able to help tell it.
What Is The Lisa Marie Presley And Riley Keough Book, “From Here to the Great Unknown” About?
A legacy was born at Graceland.
The book sets the scene by grounding the reader in the iconic setting of Lisa Marie Presley’s childhood home Graceland. As the only child of Elvis Presley, Lisa Marie grew up in a world defined by fame and attention. And even though it had its ups and downs, Lisa Marie starts off by acknowledging that she thought the world of her father.
Expect the beginning of the book to set the stage for what’s to come. We gain a deep insight into Lisa Marie’s memories as she recalls riding golf carts around her childhood home and reflects on her relationship with her father, while Riley offers her own perspective on how Elvis didn’t just move into Graceland he made it.
It shares the harsh reality of experiencing grief alone.
In Riley’s podcast episode, she admits that her mom never really talked about the grief of losing Elvis. But, it wasn’t because she didn’t feel it; she just felt like she had to shoulder the burden alone. Even though the loss essentially dictated Lisa Marie’s life, the global grief felt strange.
Think about it: can you imagine the whole world mourning someone who was so important to you? Between strangers fainting at Graceland and showing up for the funeral, Riley says that she feels like Lisa Marie didn’t have much room to experience her own grief.
The marriage to Michael Jackson is addressed with honesty.
As you could imagine, Lisa Marie’s marriage to Michael Jackson was extremely public terrain. She discusses how she had known him since she was a little girl, and their relationship grew and evolved over the years. But if you expected Lisa Marie to sugarcoat the reality of things, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
She’s extremely honest about how her and Michael’s relationship got in the way of her and Danny Keough’s marriage. And even as infatuated as Michael and Lisa Marie were with each other, their marriage had numerous challenges.
The death of Ben Keough is met with true sincerity.
As if the other chapters don’t feel personal enough, the way Lisa Marie and Riley’s perspectives ebb and flow about Ben Keough is truly heartbreaking. We witness the heartbreak of a mother losing her child, and the grief of a sister losing her brother.
After Ben passed, Lisa Marie kept his body on dry ice for two months. Why? She wanted time to heal, grieve, and say goodbye. As we said earlier, Riley admits that she knew her mom wouldn’t move on from this grief. And though this felt like a bandaid on the situation, Lisa, reasonably so, was never the same.
Addiction, grief, and survival are confronted with resilience.
In “From Here to the Great Unknown,” we get two very different, very real perspectives of addiction. Lisa Marie talks about how before addiction, she was focused. But as soon as she had her twins and was given painkillers for the pain, she experienced her first “oh-my-God” high. She initially used them recreationally, but then found that they’re a substantial coping mechanism.
She turned to drugs when she was withdrawing, when she left her church, and when she got out of rehab each time. As for Riley, her perspective is from the other side. She talks about what it feels like having a parent struggle with addiction, and how their relationship strained through it. Ultimately, Lisa Marie’s addiction had an undeniable impact on both women, as well as the entire family.
Is From Here to the Great Unknown Worth Reading?
“From Here to the Great Unknown” is absolutely worth the read. Even if you know nothing about the Presley family and their history, the raw honesty of this memoir is something anyone can admire.
What makes this story special is the way it blends the voice and perspective of Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough so harmoniously. It’s not just a “here is what my mom wrote and this is my opinion on it,” kind of thing; it’s extremely thoughtful and personal. Lisa Marie recorded 16 tapes prior to her death so she could go back and fill in the blanks through the chapters, and nothing was left out. In Riley’s episode on the podcast, she states, “if she didn’t want it in the book, she wouldn’t have said it in the tapes.”
Lisa Marie wanted to be authentic. Grief, addiction, fame, and heartbreak are all things that require a little bit of “no filter” attitude. Neither Lisa Marie or Riley wrote the memoir with the intention to shock, impress, or wow which makes it all the more impressive. You get the sense that this isn’t just a Lisa Marie memoir; it’s a tribute, a heart-to-heart conversation, and a final goodbye.
Is it a fun, lighthearted read? No, absolutely not. But it’s beautiful and incredibly honest. So, if you’re still wondering whether or not you should read this book, our answer is 100%.
Where To Buy From Here to the Great Unknown
You can get “From Here to the Great Unknown” in various formats. From audio books to hard copies to e-readers, check out all of your options below:
“From Here to the Great Unknown” needs to be on your TBR list!
If you opened up “From Here to the Great Unknown” with expectations of a flashy tell-all, it couldn’t be farther from that. Through Lisa Marie’s utter honesty and Riley Keough’s incredible strength, this story is truly unlike any other. And, even though Riley told us that she was surprised that this memoir became a bestseller, it didn’t shock us in the slightest.
Want more book reviews? Don’t forget to check out Lauryn’s Goodreads, and these episodes of Him & Her: