Extending the previous post A Blue Ridge Mountains Road Trip.
I found this Gone Dollywood book by Graham Hoppe at a used bookshop we stopped at upon entering Tennessee. At first glance on the shelf, I almost passed on it thinking it would be a silly book about Dolly Parton’s theme park (which, at the time I had not yet visited).
Instead, this clever book is a very interesting culture study of the history and people of the Great Smoky Mountains, and how Dolly Parton (in her fun and comedic way) fights that hillbilly stereotype to correct the misrepresentation.
After visiting Dollywood, and now reading this book, I appreciate even more the park, Dolly Parton, the Smokies, and its people. Glad I picked up and purchased it.
Also pictured is this cool guide to the Appalachian Trail from 1960s with details and guide direction of the trail. Inside are loose maps and updated info that readers had inserted while using the guide. I couldn’t leave this book behind, so I purchased it as my personal souvenir from this fascinating road trip.
