i really enjoyed reading about women I had never heard of, you could tell that the author had done the research and cared about the topic.

You don't have to love country music to fall in love with this book, and I'm not even sure it would help if you do. Quite frankly, this is a glorious read, littered with songs you'll know (and songs you wsh you knew), set against a fertile, fervent world of a kind that modern entertainment simply wouldn't recognise. Some of the stories, it is true, are infuriating to the modern reader, even if they were just "the way things are" at the time, but the triumphs that ring through the book really do feel as though they were worth the tribulations.

In terms of the book's illustrative contet, it's hard to judge on a KIndle. But I'm betting the book is a work of art regardless.

An interesting look at how the music industry treated women in the early years. Stephanie Vander Wel obviously spent considerable time and effort in researching these early women and their considerable impact on country music. The in depth descriptions of their daily lives will keep you engrossed.

A fascinating look at the woman Pioneers of country music full of facts and easy to read i would love to read more.

Reads like a dissertation on gender bending female singers in macho male singing genres. It was not the objective study I sought. Misses the mark in the way the author conflates advertising, career management, press, and the human being beneath, as if all were in the sole control of the singer who ideally was unmotivated by money. Trivialized these groundbreaking women by reducing them to a gender with vocal tricks. Still, an excellent overview of filmic and recording careers with some presumption that their careers involved pigeonholed audience members, very narrowly drawn by the author.

I enjoyed the concept of the book, but it was a little bit too academic to be an enjoyable read for me personally. I do think it would be a great reference book for those interested in music history, but it lacks in entertainment value.

DISCLAIMER: NetGallery generously provided a digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

If I had picked the print copy up in a bookstore, I would have known immediately this book was not for me. Just seeing the cover on-line, I expected something less academic.

While the book has interesting history and details about women in Country Music, it lacked the color and depth I expected from the cover. The cover art led me to believe this would be a fun book, which would have appealed more to my style.

I don't want to take away from the research done by this author. Just be aware that it is for a very serious fan with an interest in the academic aspects of the subject.

This overall was a great book. It was not like I initially expected from looking at the cover and reading the description. I was expecting something light basically highlighting country women from the time period however this book went beyond that and brought light an interesting correlation between the country singers, hillbillys, etc back then and feminists and females in general since. It did seem to read more like a research paper then a traditional book but it included a lot of fun pictures and stories. 3.75 stars.

Interesting book, and the pictures are priceless. I did enjoy this book., although did skim. More of an academic research than a book to pick up and just read for fun. Not saying it isn't fun, just felt more like the style of research if I was wanting to study the history and progress of women in the field of country music. Would recommend, but may not be for all.