She Come by It Natural: Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs

 She Come by It Natural: Dolly Parton and the Women Who Lived Her Songs by Sarah Smarsh  187 pages

Summary from Goodreads: Growing up amid Kansas wheat fields and airplane factories, Sarah Smarsh witnessed firsthand the particular vulnerabilities—and strengths—of women in working poverty. Meanwhile, country songs by female artists played in the background, telling powerful stories about life, men, hard times, and surviving. In her family, she writes, “country music was foremost a language among women. It’s how we talked to each other in a place where feelings aren’t discussed.” And no one provided that language better than Dolly Parton.

This small book was a quick, enjoyable read. While I grew up hearing Dolly's songs on the radio (on the occasion my parents would turn to the local country station on the car radio), I wouldn't say I really knew her catalog of work. And while I knew a little about her, I really didn't know much. Smarsh really packs a lot into this book, especially about Dolly Parton's beginnings in the music business. And, Smarsh adds some details about her own upbringing and ties them into Parton's music.  So, a nice book -- and something that will likely make you look for and listen to more of Dolly Parton's music. 

Peace in the Valley

 Peace in the Valley by Ruth Logan Herne        352 pages

Welcome to Book 3, and the final book, in the Double S Ranch series.  It’s nice to meet up with the Stafford clan again.

This adventure centers on the third, and youngest, son, Trey. Trey is actually a cousin to brothers Colt and Nick. His uncle/now father Sam adopted Trey after his parents overdosed and died in California when he was three years old. He remembers a bit about that life but is grateful that Sam rescued him.

Trey is a country mega-star. He seems to have it all, but that’s just on the outside. He still suffers from growing up without a mother’s love. He is still trying to prove that he was right to pursue his music dream, no matter how much Sam disapproved. And he is still reeling from the death of his wife, Cathy, also from drugs.

Now Sam is sick; he needs a liver transplant. Ironically the one person who is not a full-blood relative is the best match. Trey doesn’t hesitate to donate part of his liver to Sam. It’s a painful and dangerous operation, but Trey knows that it’s the right thing to do.

On his way back home to Gray Glen, Washington, and the Double S Ranch, Trey has a little fender-bender with the single mom on the neighboring farm. Things have never been easy between Sam and Lucy Carlton, but that’s about to change.

Sam is trying to make up for his past and the way he treated the other residents in the valley. Back then, he didn’t care who walked over to get what he wanted…and he did. Often.

While waiting to hear from a San Francisco hospital for the go-ahead with the surgery, Sam sends Trey over to Lucy’s farm to help. The place is falling apart and it’s up to Trey to make it whole again.

The plot is predictable from there on, but I knew what I was getting into when I selected this book to read. It does go on a too long, with the same basic scene being repeated over and over. There are a lot more Bible verses in this episode than the first two. I felt as if Herne was trying to get those in than crafting the story. Still, it’s a fun read with a happy ending, so Peace in the Valley receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

I received this book from Blogging for Books  in exchange for this review.

Coal Miner’s Daughter

Coal Miner’sDaughter by Loretta Lynn with George Vescey, 269 pages

This is Lynn’s autobiography.  Her story is kind of interesting although typical of country singers of the time.  Many of them grew up dirt poor and made it big, which is Lynn’s basic story.  It was told from the heart so we get a lot of her feelings and impressions and a really sense of how crazy the life of a celebrity can be, especially for someone who was completely unprepared for it.  I also liked reading about her interest in helping others, which I was unaware of.  I would really only recommend this book to people who are interested in a biography of Loretta Lynn.  It’s not an exceptionally well written biography since it’s written in her voice but her writer/editor probably cleaned it up quite a bit.  I just don’t think people are going to want to pick it up as a casual read.