The Country Music Lover's Guide to the U.S.A.

The guide is a bright, breezy, likable and opinionated snapshot of the places special to country music on the American landscape: the stars' birthplaces, museums polished and plain, great performance venues, the folk roots of country before it got glitzy. Slick commercialism at Branson is noted for what it is; the backwoods home places of country greats are appreciated. The view of country is broad, taking in its roots and relations, from folk ballads to bluegrass. This is a fun read, begging for a spot in the music lover's glove compartment.

It's much more than a travel guide; the author has great observations about each site and the people that she meets in her travels. It's the best of both a tour guide and a country music trivia collection. It has an eye towards the offbeat, which keeps the reading lively. If you're just driving around the U.S., this is a great travelling companion to have