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.

I loved this book so much. I am a huge Dolly Parton fan, and this made me fall in love with her music all over again. It also made me remember my grandmother fondly as she was a country music fan.. She would listen to Dolly Parton songs and find her joy and peace.

Unlikely Angel
The Songs of Dolly Parton
by Lydia R. Hamessley
University of Illinois Press
You Are Auto-Approved
Biographies & Memoirs | Entertainment
Pub Date 12 Oct 2020 | Archive Date Not set

This is a great book that honors Dolly Parton and her songwriting talent! I have always loved Dolly Parton and her sweet spirit, but didn't really know much about her childhood and how very talented she is.
This will be a great addition to our library and I will recommend this book to others.

Thanks to NetGalley and University of Illinois Press for this ARC
5 star

Deep dive into the songwriting process of Dolly Parton. While the actual song structure breakdown was above my limited musical knowledge., the creation and background of the songs is fascinating..

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest reviewl.

This is not my usual genre, I’m more into crime books and psychological ones too however I wanted to take the opportunity to read something from outside my norm. And I am glad I did!! Thank you for  opening up my mind to something totally different.

Even if you are not a fan of her music, this book is a very interesting account of a very interesting life. It’s well written and does not make Dolly out to be a superhero, which some biographies to. I feel like I got a balanced view of her life to date.

Beyond just a discussion and analysis of her songwriting, 'Unlikely Angel' bears—as producer Steve Buckingham notes in the Foreward—Dolly Parton's personal stamp of approval. And like last year's NPR podcast series 'Dolly Parton's America,' it benefits enormously from interviews with Dolly exclusively for this project.

Highlights: the extensive examination of "sad-ass" songs from early in Dolly's career, particularly those that dealt with dying children and abandoned young women; a reminder that Dolly has re-recorded her own material throughout her career (the numerous versions of "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" is my favorite among them, and "Letter to God" is the surprise here), and; the parallels that develop when you've written literally thousands of songs (notably the mirrored melodies in "More Than I Can Say" from 1987 and "Unlikely Angel" in 1996).

It's not a biography (see Alanna Nash's still-unmatched 'Dolly' from 1978 for that) and it's also perhaps not for a casual reader. Too many repeated quotes and references to previous or upcoming chapters left me wishing this were structured more chronologically, based on when the songs were recorded. The theme structure is necessary, I understand, but my sense of déjà vu reading some direct quotes left me wondering if I'd read them in another book (and then, no, immediately after I would find reference to another reason for this same quote elsewhere in *this* book). Technical language like "modal chords" and "Harmonized with only I and bVIII," while understandably relevant, particularly coming from a university press in a book about songwriting, broke the otherwise easy flow of the narrative. Finally, as a Dolly fan, I would have appreciated direct reference (in the text) to the quotes that were taken exclusively for this book (versus those found elsewhere).

Notably absent is any reference to "Yellow Roses," a gorgeous #1 song from 1989 that Dolly has inexplicably refused to perform live in the years since.

Look for the 'Unlikely Angel' playlist on Spotify before you read this book to avoid looking these songs up separately, as I did. It's a superb complement that I discovered by accident a little too late in my reading.

A 4 star rating because it ultimately is a satisfying read from an unusual perspective. It should perfectly complement Dolly's own 'Songteller' coffee table book also due this fall.

I absolutely loved this. It was such a focus on her as an artist and lyricist rather than a celebrity. This is the justice that Dolly deserves.

Unlikely Angel is a rare focus only on Dolly Parton's songwriting (which is second to none) and not her larger-than-life persona, which intrigued me, but while interesting, I had a hard time knowing what it wanted to be. Much of the time it read like a thesis paper or textbook, while other times it read like the general non-fiction book I was looking for.

Dolly Parton has written thousands of songs in her lifetime. Drawing on her mountain roots and traditions, femininity, and the world around her, music is clearly her way of interpreting, exploring, and processing the world. I enjoyed reading about her songwriting process and her interpretations of various aspects of her career. Sometimes her persona overshadows her brilliant songwriting, which I think is a shame, and I appreciated this book for focusing on Dolly's music. Where Unlikely Angel fell short for me was in some of the writing style and presentation. If I wanted to read a term paper or textbook I would seek that out; I didn't want this book to feel like required reading that I would be graded on. From the beginning, the author lays out objectives for the book and throughout the text refers clinically to other sections ("as I outline in chapter X"). When analyzing specific songs, she often talks about chord progressions or such without any real interpretation of what that means for the song. Dolly has so much life and emotion in her, and that took away that aspect of her songs.

Overall, interesting, glad I read it, but I would have liked for it to have some more of the spirit that Dolly shows in her songwriting.

As a thank, you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy of Lydia R. Hamessley’s “ Unlikely Angel” I write this review. When you think of Dolly Parton you may remember her hit singles such as Coat of many colors, Jolene or 9 to 5. These are great singles in my opinion as they show Dolly’s lyrical and musical versatility to draw in the listener into a crafted story from beginning to end. Hamessley brought an intersectional lens to expressing Dolly Parton’s songwriting by exploring the musical and cultural heritage she experienced since childhood. This book examined the many themes in Dolly’s songs that fans have identified with for over 50 years. Hamessley distinguishes the artist and the individual in a lyrical manner identifying Dolly Parton’s persona and exploring her creative process as a songwriter. The book's content was superb however the attention to the musical composition may interest some but if you do not have a musical background this may not interest you. However, you would want to read this book if you are a fan of Dolly’s work and want insight into the woman who wrote these wonderful songs. Overall I give this book four out of five stars on Goodreads.