I read this as I was making my own Pilgrimage to Dollywood, although I did not have as many country music detours. Thought it was interesting, but also a bit offensive at points. At the end of the day, I have to appreciate anyone who understands the power of Dolly though.

I definitely think this one needs an update with some contemporary views (tw: contains some light fat phobia) but for the most part is a nice read. A great companion to the Dollys America podcast.

This was great! Such a fun “intermission” read between the heavier stories and topics our book group often chooses. I learned a lot of fun facts and really enjoyed the witty commentary and story telling. Just a lovely book. :)

Fascinating slice of life from a different perspective.

Reading books about travel and pilgrimage usually makes me want to go too. I did like Pilgrimage to Dollywood but at the end of the book I am sure I do not want to go to Dollywood or Graceland or most of the other sites visited in this story. The visit to Graceland especially sound like a terrible rushed crowded and controlled experience. I would not have liked that. The author is an English classics professor teaching at the University of California in Santa Barbara. A big fan of Dolly Parton she set out to visit a number of sites in Dolly's home state of Tennessee including Elvis Presley's home and shrine. Graceland, and Dolly Parton's amusement park Dollywood. Morales's observations of American culture and music were very astute but I will not be following her steps.

Pilgrimage to Dollywood was one in a series of books published by the University of Chicago Press on literary tourism and pilgrimage. The other that I read was Freud's Couch, reviewed by me somewhere on Goodreads. I am looking forward to the next one in the series and I hope the University of Chicago Press makes it one of their monthly free e-books.

I liked it! I probably should have realized from the title that it would be just as much (if not more) about the trip to Dollywood as the actually time in Dollywood. A few other Tennessee hotspots were visited. This gave good context and contrast to Dollywood. However, as someone coming to book for Dolly content, it made it a bit slow starting. Overall, a thoughtful, relatable, and challenging take on Dollywood and our expectations of country music heroes.