Song of the North Country: A Midwest Framework to the Songs of Bob Dylan

by David R. Pichaske

A remarkably fresh piece of Dylan scholarship, focusing on the profound impact that his Midwestern roots have had on his songs, politics, and prophetic character.

Genres: Music, Biography

384 pages, Paperback

First published April 8, 2010

About the author

David Richard Pichaske is Professor of English at Southwest Minnesota State University. He is editor-publisher of Spoon River Poetry Press and Ellis Press, and the author of many articles and books of his own, including collections of poetry, travel books, literary criticism, and works related to Midwest literature and themes.

Reviews

[Angie · Rating 1 out of 5]

For a book written by an English professor, scholarly analysis and argument are surprisingly scant. With proper editing, the book would be about one-third its current length, if that. Pichaske spends about half the book indulging in personal asides that are at best annoying and at worst offensive. The book's egregious lack of research on feminism allows even more space for Pichaske's obnoxious commentary on feminists and women in the postscript. He uses three women authors to support his anti-feminist agenda; not surprisingly, those three are Paglia, Patai, and Hoff Sommers. His assumption that feminists don't like Dylan's lyrics is unfounded and erroneous. This inaccurate assumption precedes his almost unbelievably ignorant conclusion that all feminists are "mean" and "sneak up from behind and hit people when they're not looking. They can get you investigated, sued, or fired. Ask Bill Clinton" (300). This book is not worth reading, and the author clearly is not qualified to be writing on feminism.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is full of interesting ideas, but it needed way, way more editing. I'm actually kind of surprised it got published. The book's central claim of Dylan's Midwest influence is practically disposable.

What the reader finds is basically an exposition of the author's conservative political agenda. Bumbling and confused, Pichaske wanders about, supporting himself by appropriating other works here and there and wherever the North wind carries him. You end up with the author rambling through references, interpreting them with a lot of fluff and deceit, barely leaving a trail for the reader to follow, and ranting about his vague opinion of the coming apocalypse. Any structure is artificial, and any respect for his subject, Bob Dylan, is second-place.

Pichaske is kind of a weak wannabe combination of Robert Bly and Greil Marcus, and maybe like some sort of hep cat. With an obviously inexperienced writer and neglectful editing, the prose style is all over the place. It really seems like the guy could hardly give a shit about his readers, and I suspect it's because he's afraid of them. I think he is uncertain of his tall claims (Feminists, go lightly from the ledge). Despite his front, he is a poor representative of masculinity.

I give it more than 1 star because the author indeed lays out a feast. The problem is he eats it all himself.

[Slatkinl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A piece of hard-working scholarship and journalism that adds a dimension to understanding Dylan's music and lyrics — and his life. How the land, language and people of his childhood shaped the songwriter and performer he became. Worth the read.