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I've Had to Think Up a Way to Survive: On Trauma, Persistence, and Dolly Parton by Lynn Melnick
mosbymargaret's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
5.0
Dolly Parton is the least black and white person to ever walk this earth. She is complicated and simple and that is what makes her so human. Melnick sees Dolly in herself and Dolly in all of us. Melnick' story, Dolly's story, and the stories of justice for women are wonderfully told. Yes, this review is biased, but how can you not love Dolly Parton even through all her mistakes and imperfections.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
lynnsreading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
celerah's review against another edition
4.0
I cannot say enough about how beautifully Lynn Melnick weaves her story and trauma with the pervasive persistence of Dolly, with a huge acknowledgment of how music can carry us in even the darkest times.
Intense, but meaningful, the book starts off with some dark reflections, but the author’s love of Dolly shines through with every moment/song that she dives into.
**lots of triggers in this book to look into if you want to know more before reading.
Intense, but meaningful, the book starts off with some dark reflections, but the author’s love of Dolly shines through with every moment/song that she dives into.
**lots of triggers in this book to look into if you want to know more before reading.
anothersophiejones's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5 - loved the flow and the way she intertwined her life with dollys. i love dolly.
lis_perrin's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to OrangeSky Audio's Catalog for an audio copy of this book narrated so beautifully by the author.
This book is raw and visceral and takes you on a whirlwind of both Melnick and Parton’s trauma. How Melnick’s trauma is often tied to to Parton’s. Every big T trauma Melnick has faced in her lifetime can or has been connected to a Dolly Parton song or moment. We go through both Melnick’s life starting with her childhood stint in rehab. Where hearing a Dolly Parton song over the loud speaker for better or worse changed the trajectory of how she listened to music going forward. We see the ups and downs of both Melnick and Parton’s lives. I laughed, I cried, I learned. If you’ve experienced any sort of trauma and use music to help soothe your pain this read might be for you. It opened my eyes to Melnicks poetry that I will certainly be on the look out for moving forward.
This book is raw and visceral and takes you on a whirlwind of both Melnick and Parton’s trauma. How Melnick’s trauma is often tied to to Parton’s. Every big T trauma Melnick has faced in her lifetime can or has been connected to a Dolly Parton song or moment. We go through both Melnick’s life starting with her childhood stint in rehab. Where hearing a Dolly Parton song over the loud speaker for better or worse changed the trajectory of how she listened to music going forward. We see the ups and downs of both Melnick and Parton’s lives. I laughed, I cried, I learned. If you’ve experienced any sort of trauma and use music to help soothe your pain this read might be for you. It opened my eyes to Melnicks poetry that I will certainly be on the look out for moving forward.
brianlarson's review against another edition
2.0
I feel a little duped.
This memoir is NOT about Melnick’s time at Dollywood. Sure, she infuses anecdotes from a trip she took to the promised land, but overall, it’s really an ode to Dolly’s music (and Melnick’s supreme mastery of said catalog).
Melnick’s story is powerful but takes second stage to Dolly’s career. While each chapter is named after a different Dolly song, each feels rather disparate, almost like one-off essays written years between one another. Some of the same Dolly stories are even reused throughout the book.
Throughout reading of “Survive,” I kept thinking about Sarah Smarsh’s “She Come By It Natural.” Smarsh’s anecdotes don’t get mired in paragraphs of song evolution or the etymological roots of a crafty song. Smarsh drives a pounding and pin pointed evaluation of the impact of Dolly Parton and the lore that surrounds her. “Survive” offers largely the same anecdotes and injects quips about the personal meaning behind some of Dolly’s songs. The “memoir” portion feels forced to marry and mirror the progression of Dolly’s career.
Last, Melnick isn’t afraid to insert her own opinions relating to some of Dolly’s missteps. I disagree with all her opinions. “Rainbow” is a cult classic and serves as a beacon within Dolly’s catalog of her strength amidst tough times. Dolly is also one of the world’s preeminent gig workers (Melnick describes so with a word vomit of accomplishments in her last chapter). If Dolly wants to reimagine “9 to 5” to fit a new and growing workforce, she will (and do it successfully).
Give us more you, Melnick. Gives us more Dollywood. Gives us more Blue Smoke Rocky Mountain self-realization, trauma processing realness.
This memoir is NOT about Melnick’s time at Dollywood. Sure, she infuses anecdotes from a trip she took to the promised land, but overall, it’s really an ode to Dolly’s music (and Melnick’s supreme mastery of said catalog).
Melnick’s story is powerful but takes second stage to Dolly’s career. While each chapter is named after a different Dolly song, each feels rather disparate, almost like one-off essays written years between one another. Some of the same Dolly stories are even reused throughout the book.
Throughout reading of “Survive,” I kept thinking about Sarah Smarsh’s “She Come By It Natural.” Smarsh’s anecdotes don’t get mired in paragraphs of song evolution or the etymological roots of a crafty song. Smarsh drives a pounding and pin pointed evaluation of the impact of Dolly Parton and the lore that surrounds her. “Survive” offers largely the same anecdotes and injects quips about the personal meaning behind some of Dolly’s songs. The “memoir” portion feels forced to marry and mirror the progression of Dolly’s career.
Last, Melnick isn’t afraid to insert her own opinions relating to some of Dolly’s missteps. I disagree with all her opinions. “Rainbow” is a cult classic and serves as a beacon within Dolly’s catalog of her strength amidst tough times. Dolly is also one of the world’s preeminent gig workers (Melnick describes so with a word vomit of accomplishments in her last chapter). If Dolly wants to reimagine “9 to 5” to fit a new and growing workforce, she will (and do it successfully).
Give us more you, Melnick. Gives us more Dollywood. Gives us more Blue Smoke Rocky Mountain self-realization, trauma processing realness.
bound4travel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Melnick uses the framework of Dolly Parton's songs to weave together her memoir. Throughout, she focuses on how Parton's music seems to connect for so many people. Dolly Parton's lyrics hold a through line of overcoming adversity and being true to one's self - something Melnick connects to some of the more difficult times she has had to work through in her life. She also explores what it is about Dolly that makes her a beloved figure to so many. I think anyone who enjoys Dolly Parton as an artist would find this a worthy read that helps them to reflect on both Dolly's music and her stories.