Unlikely Angel by Lydia R. Hamessley is a free NetGalley ebook that I read in early October.

This book is chaptered with and about different of songs within Dolly Parton’s discography, i.e. by genre, topic or mood, before going into the anatomy and inspiration behind a song with inch-deep philosophical renderings.

In Unlikely Angel, Lydia R. Hamessley offers to scholars and fans alike a phenomenal exploration of what makes Dolly Parton a songwriter and musician unlike any other. Hamessley's choice to present Parton's songs not chronologically, but arranged by topic, offers to the reader the opportunity to explore the layered and sophisticated threads that are woven into Parton's music, those threads that make it uniquely "hers." This is an exhaustively researched, compulsively readable, wonderful addition to the Women Composers series.

Unlikely Angel by Lydia Hamessley  - musicologist and professor at Hamilton College - is an engaging catalogue of what is most important about Dolly Parton’s epic life: her songwriting.

I read this book with the feverish reverie of Dolly Parton on a songwriting retreat! This book is a feel-good read for music lovers everywhere. Unlikely Angel at times challenges those without music theory knowledge to dive into the author’s analysis of Dolly’s work. I encourage those not fully “versed” in reading music to take the author’s advice and play each referenced song through whatever musical streaming service you prefer - it makes the book that much more fulfilling! Regardless, take heart in knowing that there’s something in this book for you, as Dolly herself doesn’t read music but still has the joy of writing over 3,000 songs in her life thus far!

As my last note, and a personal one at that - I originally requested to review this book out of love and nostalgia for my late grandparents, who created a country music home for me since I was born. It was such a treat realizing that I was going to be reading my previous music professor’s new book! Lydia Hammesley taught one of my favorite classes (Music in American Film) at my Alma Mater in Central New York, and her writing in Unlikely Angel was like coming home! Carissima!

I received an ARC from the University of Illinois Press through NetGalley for an honest review.  I have always loved Dolly's music and have been to many of her concerts.  So when I discovered this book I instantly wanted to read it.  It wasn't what I was expecting but in many ways, it far exceeded what I was expecting.  There is a lot to Dolly's songs and there is a lot to Dolly's life and that is what the author shares with us. When I started reading the book, I thought the book was just facts but as I kept on reading, I began to think this is a nice way to write the book about Dolly Parton. It wasn't innuendos and gossip about Dolly, it was who Dolly is.  It wasn't just what you see on the surface, the author took us many levels below the surface.  After reading the book, it was amazing to see all her accomplishments in one place.  I have snippets of her and her music and thought she had done a lot but this book puts all the snippets together and you realize all that she has done in her life.  Once I got used to the style of writing I enjoyed this book very much.

This book tells the story’s behind some of Dolly Partons song, the process of her song writing and the challenges she has to overcome to become one of the greatest woman songwriters and performers in not only country but music world wide. 

I liked this book. Looking at Dolly’s past and finding out so much about her songs and the way she can just put pen to paper and come up with so many songs is inspiring. I actually didn’t know most of what I read and found out that Dolly actually wrote a lot more than I realised. I think this book will be a great read for any Dolly fan or any fan that likes music history. 

Thank you to University Of Illinois Press for this advanced copy.

Unlikely Angel provides an intense look at Dolly Patton’s life and writing style.  I am a big Dolly fan and this book made me love her even more.  The book is filled with tidbits of the backstory of her songs.

Dolly Parton is not only beautiful, but an accomplished musician, singer, and songwriter. This book explores the story behind some of her songs and shows a side of Parton that few people actually know.

I've always been a fan of Dolly Parton. I mean, who isn't ? You don't have to be a fan of country music to love her personality. She's the female version of Willie Nelson in my opinion. 

We all know Dolly's store of how she grew up poor and how down to earth she is. What we don't know is she's written like over 1000 songs (don't remember the exact number). Although this is not technically a biography,  Hamessley researched previous books and also spent time with Dolly as well as her personal assistant. Unlikely Angel focuses on Dolly's songs, not her life. For instance, her most famous song, "I will always love you" is not a love song.  She also had a hard time starting out . She even had to conform for a few years and play music she wasn't into in order to get known. She was willing to do whatever she had to do to sell albums and make enough money in order to play the music she wanted to play. 

I've given away a few tied bits of things that stood out to me but there are many more.  There isn't much about her personal life if that's what you're into but if you love her music, you will learn quite a bit and what makes her tick. 

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion .

I have always had a keen interest in Dolly’s music, hence why this book attracted me. I’ve learnt so much from this book and listened to songs I’d never heard before. It is a very well written and researched book, with a wealth of interesting information. It is not a biography – if you’re looking for her life story then I suggest you find another title – this is part of the reason I enjoyed this book so much. It’s primarily about her songs, with input from Dolly herself on the story behind them, how successful they were and the how they shaped her career. Dolly’s input was obtained by a series of questions submitted to her by Hamessley, with much of the writing is her own words – you can even hear Dolly’s beautiful Appalachian dialect in your head as you read!

I would recommend this title to any music fans, but especially those who enjoy country music and/or have a love of all things Dolly!

Many thanks to University of Illinois Press and NetGalley for the free review copy. My review copy was electronic, and I expect a physical copy would make for a better reading experience as you would be able to fully enjoy the photographs throughout the book.

The author begins Unlikely Angel by noting that this book is not a biography of Dolly Parton but rather a study of her music and lyrics. This held to be true throughout the book. While some anecdotes from Dolly's life were included, it was only in reference to the actual making of the music, Unfortunately, as someone who is not interested in the technicalities of making music, I found this book extremely difficult to get into. I simply did not understand a lot of what the author was referring to, so I found myself skimming over a lot of the book. This book is written very academically in my opinion, and at times I felt like I was reading a textbook. I think this would be a great read for someone who understands and is interested in the making of music, but for an average person like me, I don't think it will be an easy read. However, I think the author certainly achieved what she was looking to do with this book, as it is well-written and full of information. I am confident that there are people out there who will find value in this book, but it just isn't for me.

This book takes as its premise that Dolly Parton is a serious and seriously talented songwriter - and attempts to dissect her career from a musicological ((and in places ethnomusicological) point of view. The fact that Hamessley feels the need to take quite so much time in her introduction justifying this approach says a lot about both the standing of country music, women who are songwriters and of course Dolly herself. Its a fascinating deep dive, giving equal importance to Dolly's themes and how she approaches them - to the musical traditions she operates in (and to a lesser degree the control she has had over it). Being able to read it in the time of streaming where every song mentioned is available is an absolute boon, Hamessley tries not to overly jargonise the more musicological passages but they certainly become clear when you hear the songs along with the text.

It is of course impossible to detach the music from the woman, and the book does end up being a loose biography of Dolly too, not least because the tradition of country and Appalachian music (as well as English/Irish folk ballads) are often based around personal and autobiographical songs. But Dolly has written thousands of songs and is an adept storyteller, you should never assume a song is about her unless it is explicitly said. Not least because there are too many songs where the protagonist commits suicide, or has still born children. There is also a fascinating breakdown of what she herself has said about her own songs over the years, the song Coat Of Many Colours which has changed in meaning and emphasis from its original recording, rerecording, live performances and even the film she based upon it. 

Hamessley is obviously a fan as well as a musicologist and there is some straining at the seams here to try to justify Dolly's talents when a more dispassionate author would probably take it as read. That said the enthusiasm brought to the book is infectiousThe book also suffers a touch from having an academic bent in structure, she does do a lot of telling us what she is going to do, how she is going to do it, and what she has just done which is redolent of academic theses. And sometimes the simplicity of the songs overwhelms the narrative (Dolly will happily go back to the same melodies, and autoplagerise, and happily rerecord in different styles all of which may sit uncomfortably with a classic "rock history" ). But those a minor niggles, this is a really impressive piece of work which, with a Dolly playlist on the go, and perhaps a live recording to dip into, does justice to the incredible talent and person Dolly Parton is.

[Netgalley ARC]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Unlikely Angel is a beautiful book about Dolly Parton and her music and told more of a discography.
I expected this to be more of a biography of Dolly Parton but enjoyed it non the less. 

Dolly fans will more than likely know most of the information in this book but I still recommend it as a read as it is well scripted and put together with information on her music and country music as a whole.

If you’re not a Dolly fan yet, you will be after reading this book.

First and foremost this is an academic approach to the music, not necessarily a tribute to the songwriter.  Even so, there's a substantial biography woven throughout the book as it examines not just the songs, but the artist as well in relation to her music and to the business side of the industry by delving into her values and motivating factors.  As a result, the insightful commentary breathes new life into old favorites, allowing us to be inspired by her songs all over again.

The many illustrations and listening outlines remind us that the author is, first and foremost, a dedicated teacher.  This may be a scholarly approach, but it is still approachable and relatable. The author allows  new insights through the manner in which the chapters and examined songs are arranged.  

The detailed examination of the music itself as an expressive language is sufficiently academic without being dry or boring.  The author tackles not only the lyrics and how they were influenced by the artist’s experiences, but also how the melody for each song enhances the emotional impact of the message.  

As much as Dolly can be defined by her music, this is a solid biography. Extensively annotated, this book serves as both a relaxing read and the springboard for a more intensive study.  

Infused with many Dolly quotes and references to her books, this is a well-sourced tribute to an American icon known for her progressive feminism, her rock-solid faith, her expansive heart and generosity of spirit.  The author refers to Dolly’s comment about her songs being simple enough to be understood and complex enough to be appreciated.  That is a perfect way to describe this book – anyone can understand it and everyone will appreciate it.  I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

**I received and voluntarily read an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

If you tell me you've made it this far in your life without hearing a song written by Dolly Parton, I'll tell you that you're lying through your teeth. While it's possible (though highly unlikely) you may never have heard her sing, Dolly Parton has touched so many musicians, artists, actors, poets, politicians, and so many more people through the years, it would be impossible to even try to guess the impact this amazing woman has had on the world.

And that's just through her music! If we were to add in her philanthropy, I doubt there's anyone in the United States that hasn't been touched in some way by the angel on earth that is Dolly Parton.

Now, onto the book. This book is incredibly well researched. What I liked most about it is that it isn't a standard biography- the author breaks down the musicality and lyrics of Dolly's songs and finds the some of the similarities and common themes that can be found throughout her music.

Many of the breakdowns of Dolly's music that I have read in the past have focused on some of her most well known songs: "Jolene", "I Will Always Love You", and so on. But Hamessley goes further and deeper into Dolly's discography than I've seen before.

While at times some of the terminology can be a little much for those who don't have a background in music, it's not something that drags you out of the book and forces you to pull out a dictionary or google.

Overall, iff you love Dolly, or really, if you love music in general, this book is a must read!

A really neat, well-researched book about Dolly Parton and her extensive musical career. In depth topics explored include her songwriting and common themes in her song. Her personal life and song inspirations are covered as well and are accompanied by a number of pictures. This would be a great gift for a Dolly fan. 

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

This is a great account of Parton's songwriting process and made me release how unappreciated and influential she is as an artist. This is not a biography, but rather a musicologist's approach to analyzing the power and insight of an American icon.. It's a deep dive into a discography rich in narrative contradictions == equal parts sunshine and rainbows and gothic Appalachian tragedy. If you care about Dolly, you'll care about this book.

The author has taken an artist so well known and shared something most dear to the artist...her songwriting. The quotes and stories are great. Since I am not a musician some of the musical jargon in dissecting songs is lost on me. However, the title is still enjoyable.

Unlikely Angel: The Songs of Dolly Parton was such an enjoyable read. So often when reading about Dolly Parton you hear the familiar stories and anecdotes of her upbringing, endeavours in the world of philanthropy and her presence as a cultural icon – amidst all of the rumours and gossip...
However, Lydia Hamessley forgoes these popular threads and instead focuses on the creative processes and influences behind some of Dolly Parton’s most iconic songs.

Whereas many Dolly fans may be familiar with the inspirations and narratives behind ‘Coat of Many Colours’, 'Jolene' and ‘I Will Always Love You’, the author’s focus on songs such as ‘Light of a Clear Blue Morning’, ‘In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)’, ‘Down From Dover’ and ‘These Old Bones’ helps to shine a new light on some of the important, yet less mainstream songs within Dolly’s catalogue – I found ‘The Bridge’ to be a particularly haunting and resonant episode.

By breaking down Dolly’s vast repertoire of recordings into key themes such as love, tragedy, Appalachian heritage and mountain identity, Hamessley is able to cover a wide range of Dolly’s music whilst also drawing parallels across songs from different albums and decades.

Traversing Dolly’s musical journey from her early mountain songs, the Porter duets, pop-crossover years and a foray into bluegrass, helps to encompass the plethora of emotions and feelings Dolly’s storytelling instils into her listeners; there’s heartbreak, passion, betrayal, inspiration, girl power and spirituality – after all, everyone can always find something they can relate to into at least one of Dolly’s songs!

I particularly liked was how well-researched this book was. With a foreword by Steve Buckingham (one of Dolly’s producers and friends) as well as personal communications to the author from Dolly herself, each reference adds credence and reliability to this passion-project and celebration of the true mastery and craftsmanship that Dolly puts into her song writing. 

I was hopeless at Music in school and often ended up being allocated the triangle or drum so that I could simply keep the beat whilst my friends came up with the different melodies and rhythms. Being written by a music professor, I was initially a little apprehensive that this book would be full of musical jargon which would go over the top of my very non-musical head! Whilst there are paragraphs dedicated to modes and rhythm styles which will appeal to musical scholars and country music historians, there was still plenty of discussion about the content and meaning behind the songs for me to enjoy. There's also the biographical details and tidbits of Dolly's life-story which complement the musical narratives to make this an immersive read.

As a huge Dolly Parton (and country music) fan, this was exactly the type of book I have been waiting to read to find out more about the songs of the Queen of Country. But the thing I loved the most about Unlikely Angel is the ardent way that Hamelessly goes beyond the hair, make-up and rhinestone-bedazzled ‘cartoon’ of Dolly Parton and takes a deep-dive into paying tribute to and showcasing the workings of an incredibly talented and gifted songwriter - which for most fans, is the real reason why we’ll always love her.

[Review to be published on my blog on 12.09.2020 and bookseller sites upon publication]

If you're a fan of Dolly or even just music in general you'll love this book. This biography of Dolly Parton is well researched and interpreted. This book interprets Dolly Parton's genius songwriting abilities and dives deep into her mountainside influences with analyses for her lyrics. Dolly is a gem - that is for sure.

Unlikely Angel is a difficult book to review because on one hand it delivers when it comes to the musicology of Dolly Parton’s music and is a must for all strong fans of the iconic country and western singer but if you are not quite on the bandwagon, this may leave you a little bit cold.

I am a huge admirer of Dolly and growing up on a farm in northern New York, Dolly Parton’s music is part of my music tapestry.  I loved the insight and the musicology of the book and as I have a musical background, I found this very interesting.  I loved how Hamessley was able to tear down each song and rebuild it to look at tone, context and what sounds like simple music is exactly very complex.    Hamessley also took some of the best known songs of Dolly but she found lesser known gems that actually made me go back to listen to them as I was unfamiliar with some of the tunes.  

The way that she lovingly puts this together, I found myself indulging in all things Dolly and put a special playlist together and I have now added multiple tracks to my favourites down to this book.  The better known songs are explored and though with these as they are the soundtrack of my life, I learned some new titbits of information which helped me discover all over again.

The downfall of the book though is mainly with if you are not a Dolly fan or are not that familiar with her work, this may leave you a bit cold.  We are given glimpses in to her life but to be honest, if you are fan and know her music, you have a pretty good insight anyway.  This may not find new fans for her but it will make already fans greater admires of this dumb blonde hick who is far smarter and far more clever than anyone has ever given her credit for.  

Dolly is an icon, gifted songwriter, and in some ways one of the most prolific song writers for the past fifty years and this book only goes and proves it.  I for one, loved the book but I am pretty bias when it comes to Ms Parton, the true reigning queen of country music.