I have lived in Tennessee for my entire life. It is not an exaggeration that a love for Dolly Parton is next to godliness. And considering that we are part of the Bible-Belt, that’s saying something. Tennessee loves Dolly Parton so much that we tried to put a statue of her up in the state capital. She very graciously declined.

So when I saw this challenge to read a book written by a local author, I had to read this memoir by Dolly Parton.

The style of this autobiography/biography/memoir hybrid is framed around some of Dolly’s favorite songs from her songwriting catalogue. It feels almost like a poetry book or a journal. It is interspersed with her personal thoughts and inspirations for her lyrics. I could gush for hours about how a genuinely nice person she seems to be. Learning more about her life in her own words was awesome.

She is just such a good writer. Her ability to tell a story is unrivaled. Learning more about her process and work ethic can inspire any author in any genre.