Exploring the Legacy of Dolly Parton: Uncovering the Women Who Brought Her Songs to Life

Amazon Customer: Bought as a present - the recipient loved it.

United Kingdom on Feb 24, 2023

Bets Pratt: Being from Wichita just made it perfect

United States on Feb 15, 2023

Amazon Customer: Sounds terrible doesn't it! But fascinating insight into the impact of someone like Dolly Parton on the many people in rural US who had the deprived background she did and saw how she tackled that so effectively

United Kingdom on Mar 05, 2021

MAbrell: Lobhudelei auf Parton und die Autorin. Und nichts was man nicht anderswo schon lange lesen konnte.

Germany on Feb 28, 2021

Peter Schwob: Dolly Parton ist in der Deutschschweiz fast nicht bekannt. Zum Glück hat die NZZ soeben einen grossen Artikel über Dolly Parton publiziert, basierend auf She Come By It Natural !

Germany on Feb 19, 2021

Mari L. Rydings: Sarah Smarsh's writing style makes this short book (184 pages) an easy read, but one that is packed with so much to learn and consider. Smarsh's insight into Dolly Parton - how she came to be, who she is behind her public persona - challenged my assumptions and got me thinking differently about Dolly's music and her decisions.

The book introduced me to the concept of experiential vs. intellectual knowledge/feminism, something I've thought about often since finishing the book. Even if you are not a Dolly fan or a woman for that matter, give this book a chance. Dolly is a champion for all unheard and unvalidated groups. Her confidence in heeding to her inner voice in the face of criticism and pressure is inspiring and validating.

At the very least, you'll learn something new about one of America's music icons.

United States on Feb 12, 2021

wrinkles: Exactly what I would expect from Dolly, very insightful and honest,

Canada on Dec 25, 2020

H.K. Leberri: I bought it after hearing an NPR interview with the author, Sarah Smarsh. Sorry, but I had to gig it a star because of its size. The hardcover's only 187 pages which should make Simon and Schuster's stockholders happy. But I like Smarsh's writing style. Short declarative sentences that, like Dolly, come right to the point. I wish there was an index but that would have added 3 or 4 of those very expensive pages. Bottom line is, it's a good book. Dolly fans will read parts of it aloud to the rest of the family. I'm a mean ol' chauvinist man and I know what I'm talking about. So git it and don't gimme no backtalk! - James Gary Vineyard, author of The Grave on Peckerwood Hill

United States on Nov 24, 2020

Virginia Teller: I've recently became a fan of Dolly Parton, and this book fills in many of the blanks I had about her origins and the backstory of her career. I especially liked the viewpoint of the author, Sarah Smarsh, who comes from a similar background. Smarsh weaves many stories of other country women seamlessly into her narrative, and this enhances the overall impact of the book.

United States on Nov 15, 2020

P. Guerrero: Very well written analysis by a person who has lived the songs and understands the woman. As a person with very eclectic musical tastes and experiences I always liked her music but then I read an article about her, I think it was in Esquire in the70's, could have been Playboy, not sure and I do not remember the names of the sorry-assed male duo who wrote it and tried to make her look like a country bumpkin and made fun of her for liking meatloaf and chocolate milk but I do remember at the end of the article thinking to myself "Dayammm, that is one really smart woman!" She has not disappointed in that department and over the years my respect and admiration for her has grown. I love how she understands that humanitarianism is the true basis of real Christianity. Love her quips, jokes and come backs. She is truly a national treasure.

United States on Oct 23, 2020