Rating: 5/5 Unpleasant Dreams
Someone asked me if money were no object, what would my career be, to which my response was, “I’d be the Elvira of horror novels.” (I also said I’d like to be a taste tester for Hot Cheetos.) She’s witty, creepy, and a total fox. Given how much I love Elvira, it’s no surprise that I got my claws on her autobiography as soon as possible. So although this book isn’t the horror novel/stories I typically review, its review absolutely has a home here.
Yours Cruelly, Elvira by Cassandra Peterson is all about her life, beginning with a childhood accident that could have been fatal. Cassandra is a remarkable person: She’s bold and fearless. She did more interesting stuff before her 30th birthday than most people do in their entire lives. She had to be talked into auditioning for Elvira, but she did it and obviously knocked it out of the park. A lot of the opportunities she’s had are because she was open to new experiences and opportunities and was in the right place at the right time.
I don’t want to give away any of her fun stories (but comment if you were as blown away as I was when she revealed Bobby’s last name), so here is what I took away from her autobiography: Our lives are ultimately about people and human connection. Stuff, jobs, and homes will come and go, but relationships outlast all of those things. Cassandra found community and a sense of belonging with friends. When things didn’t work out, she had people who could support her and pick her back up, and that helped her take risks that brought her closer to achieving her dreams.
After reading Yours Cruelly, I more actively cultivated my friendships and prioritized meeting new people and putting myself out there. I’ve tried to be more open to new friendships, and I’ve made some fantastic new friends because of this mindset. I’ve also seen the importance of friendships that motivate and inspire me to be my best, most creative self.
Another key takeaway from Yours Cruelly is to be more open to new things. Cassandra started off as a go-go dancer in Vegas, but she also traveled with a band in Europe and eventually landed her hosting gig. Had she refused to try new things and branch out, we may not have Elvira! (Or at least not the Elvira we know and love.) So try new things! Embrace the challenge of learning a new skill! Get comfortable with being uncomfortable!
Thank you, Cassandra, for being such an inspiration. This blog and hobby of mine wouldn’t exist without you.
The Haunting of Lit House 