TN Read-Along #11: Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business
Submitted by Sarah D. Bunting on July 23, 2011 – 9:34 AM10 Comments
Ms. Parton narrowly edges Mr. Gunn to become our next TN Read-Along tome. I probably can’t produce an author chat for this one — although you just never know — so for now, I look forward to discussing Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business with you in comment-thread form.
I’ll open that puppy Thursday 11 August to give everyone a chance to get Dolled up. (Sorry.) (Not really sorry.) Sadly, this one isn’t Kindleable, but you can get it in hardcover or paperback on Amazon for just a penny, or you can get the audio version (check Half.com for other options).
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Tags: books Dolly Parton The TN Read-Along
Aw man, now I have to go to the store and buy this? My Sweet Audrina was embarrassing enough!
Just kidding, Ms. Parton is an extraordinary talent and entrepeneur, and I’m actually looking forward to this one.
Squee! I love me some Dolly! I am really looking forward to this one, y’all.
My favorite YouTube video of her is from back when she was doing the “Trio” thing with Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris. They’re doing a live cover of “After the Goldrush”. Ronstadt & Harris are dressed like college professors with appropriately somber expressions, and Parton can’t quite surpress a smile in her yellow line-dancing getup. And it’s not that she doesn’t appreciate that it’s a sad song; it’s just that, for her, performing means a gaudy outfit and a warm smile for the audience – no matter how sad the song. And I love LR & ElH, but the only one of these three who could be considered Neil Young’s peer in terms of songwriting talent is the smiling lady in the yellow line-dancing getup. “I Will Always Love You,” never fails to make me tear up a little bit.
I read an interview with Ronstadt once years ago where she said that the recording she was most proud of was Trio. She might even have said “we.” Certainly she implied that Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris felt the same. For some reason, that story makes me think well of all three. I think Parton has the respect of an enormous range of people in her industry, for her skill as a songwriter, her commitment as a performer, and her almost unerring sense of what her audience wants.
My high school sweetheart turned me on to Dolly. That I didn’t see that as a ping on my gaydar is totally due to how long ago it was and how little I knew about such things. Still am fond of Dolly, though.
I just picked up my copy from the library last Friday.
I can’t say I would have ever picked up this book to read had I not been inspired & curious because of this read-along. I’m about halfway through and loving it. Thanks Sars (and readers) for getting me to read something I otherwise wouldn’t.
Without interrupting the book discussion, do let me say thanks for the lead to the Dolly Parton Trio cover of After the Goldrush. They show such respect for each other’s voices, it’s lovely.
I got my copy from the library last night. I’m looking forward to diving in!
Book came in the mail today (1 cent from Amazon). I can really hear Dolly’s voice telling the story.