Bluegrass Song
Although I love to read books and do so for a few hours every day, I’m going to have to admit that I do not spend much time reading fiction. I tend to be a non-fiction reader in the realms of music history, science, and philosophy. However, when author Trish Doll sent me her new novel, Bluegrass Song, I was intrigued. I read a lot about bluegrass history and so I thought a bluegrass novel would be fun. I was not disappointed.
I do not want to give any of the storyline away, but I will tell you that the setting of this book is an annual bluegrass festival that is held every year in Virginia by a host band. The band’s name is Mountain Drive and the festival is called The Mountain Drive Bluegrass Festival. The novel spans multiple years of the festival and the main characters are the members of Mountain Drive and their friends and family. Anne, the story’s narrator, is the mother of Jason, the mandolin player for Mountain Drive.
Many novels are somewhat autobiographical and this one falls in that category. Author Trish Doll is the mother of Chris Sexton, who has been the fiddle player in the band Nothin’ Fancy since 1998. For the past 23 years, Nothin’ Fancy has hosted their Nothin’ Fancy Bluegrass Festival in Buena Vista, Virginia and I would guess that Trish has attended most, if not all, of them. All that to say that Trish Doll knows a lot about the real-life version of this book’s setting and relationships.
Bluegrass festivals are an integral part of bluegrass music and so nearly all fans have attended a bluegrass festival. Many fans attend the same festival year after year and thus form a “festival family.” Festival goers tend to see the same people every year and they camp with them, cook and eat with them, sit and visit with them and, of course, pick with them. The same kinds of relationships are formed in bands. Each member of a band becomes like family and the members of each of their families get to know each other very well. The main characters in this novel are both band families and festival families. The storyline revolves around these relationships. Since this band runs the festival, the workers and volunteers at the festival are also included in the extended family.
In the story, Anne is from northern Virginia. Her daughter goes to school in Radford, Virginia and the festival is held in the Blueridge Mountains of Virginia. I grew up in northern Virginia and lived for many years in Pulaski, Virginia, right down the road from Radford. I also attended many bluegrass festivals in the Blueridge Mountains of Virginia. Many of the towns and landmarks mentioned in the book were very familiar to me. So, for me, the novel felt like home. That was enjoyable.
Another familiar part of the novel was the performers that Anne talked about at the festival. Although Mountain Drive is a fictional band, while attending the festival over the years, Anne talks about seeing performances by IIIrd Tyme Out, James King, Rhonda Vincent, Charlie and Randy Waller with the Country Gentlemen, Claire Lynch, Larry Stephenson, Cherryholmes, Seldom Scene, Marty Raybon, Doyle Lawson and The Dillards. Having heard all of those bands myself over the years made this book even more relatable.
The enjoyment of a novel can be very subjective. For any given novel, one person might love it while the other is not so happy with it. What I can tell you about this novel is that I really enjoyed reading it. I found the story interesting and relatable. I think Trish Doll did a great job with her first novel.
I suppose the success of any book of fiction for each reader is based on its ability to hold your interest and the enjoyment you get out of reading it. To me, this book was both interesting and enjoyable. I spent time with this book each night before I went to bed and every evening I found myself looking forward to reading about what was going to happen with Anne and Mountain Drive. So, I highly recommend this book to any fan of bluegrass and bluegrass festivals.
