Julie Murphy’s Dumplin’: A Review in Five Dolly Parton Songs
Author Julie Murphy dedicates her newest novel Dumplin’ to “all the fat bottomed girls,” and one would presume that the top gal on that list would be the book’s own full-figured protagonist, Willowdean Dickson.
The first time Willowdean—known to her friends as Will and to her former pageant queen mom as Dumplin’—meets her crush Bo at the fast-food restaurant where they both work, she introduces herself as, “Cashier, Dolly Parton enthusiast, and resident fat girl.” To Will, fat is not a cuss word or an insult. It’s who she is, and she’s comfortable in her own skin—at least that’s what she thinks until Bo starts showing interest in her and causes her to doubt herself and question why someone like him would be attracted to someone like her. Will’s body acceptance, her BFF Ellen, and her love of Dolly Parton are things that have always been a constant in the Texas teen’s life, and now that the first one is falling away, Will’s compass is spinning out.
Dumplin' (Dumplin' Series #1)
Hardcover $17.99
Dumplin' (Dumplin' Series #1)
By Julie Murphy
Hardcover $17.99
She decides to take back the reigns of her image insecurities by entering Clover City’s Miss Teen Blue Bonnet beauty pageant, which her mother oversees, having been a former winner herself. And with that single act, Will starts something of a revolution among a small group of girls at her school who don’t fit into society’s typical beauty mold and decide to sign up for the pageant too.
Throughout Willowdean’s story, Dolly Parton plays as a constant soundtrack, so we’ve decided to call on some of Dolly’s greatest hits to help review this stellar book.
“Islands in the Stream” (1983)
Just like Dolly needed Kenny Rogers to sing this song, Willowdean needs her duet partner. And she has a couple of suitors in Dumplin’—Bo and a football player named Mitch. But the person Willowdean really needs beside her is her best friend, Ellen. The two have been pals and each other’s island in the stream since they were kids, having sealed their friendship while singing and dancing along to Dolly’s Dumb Blonde. They’ve been through a lot together, but after a disagreement about the pageant, it seems El and Will may be headed in different directions. The authenticity of their relationship is part of what makes Dumplin’ such a compelling story.
“I Will Always Love You” (1974)
Will’s interactions with Bo and Mitch aren’t the stuff of fairy tale romance novels. Instead, they’re awkward and sweet and funny in the way that real relationships are. And the nuanced, realistic portrayals of relationships in this book aren’t limited to romantic ones: The complicated dynamic with her mother, who can’t seem to help but drop hints about Will losing weight, and the idealized relationship she had with her recently deceased Aunt Lucy both feature prominently in completing the detailed tapestry of Willowdean’s life.
“9 to 5” (1980)
Anyone who ever worked a job in high school—whether it was at a fast-food restaurant like Harpy’s or a teenybopper clothing shop like Ellen’s workplace, Sweet 16—will see themselves in this book. And like all jobs, Willowdean’s has its ups and downs: At Harpy’s, Will is forced to wear an uncomfortable polyester uniform while ringing up sometimes-obnoxious customers, but she gets to flirt with her hot, former-jock co-worker Bo, which would be an even bigger bonus for readers if there were photos of this dude. Guess we’ll just have to settle for descriptions like “peach butt” to describe the object of Willowdean’s affection.
“Jolene” (1974)
Will may think that it’s another girl stealing Bo away from her, but it’s really her own insecurities that are keeping her from what she really wants. Murphy has put together an outstanding book with a strong female voice that explores the complicated relationships we have with ourselves and the way we think other people see us. Willowdean exudes confidence, but she’s having trouble getting her insides to match. And thankfully—spoiler alert—this isn’t one of those stories where it’s the other way around and the girl has to change herself or lose weight by the end in order to feel good about herself.
“Just Because I’m a Woman” (1968)
There are Dolly Parton drag queens in this book. Let us repeat that: Dolly. Parton. Drag. Queens. Awesome.
Have you read Dumplin’ yet? What did you think?
She decides to take back the reigns of her image insecurities by entering Clover City’s Miss Teen Blue Bonnet beauty pageant, which her mother oversees, having been a former winner herself. And with that single act, Will starts something of a revolution among a small group of girls at her school who don’t fit into society’s typical beauty mold and decide to sign up for the pageant too.
Throughout Willowdean’s story, Dolly Parton plays as a constant soundtrack, so we’ve decided to call on some of Dolly’s greatest hits to help review this stellar book.
“Islands in the Stream” (1983)
Just like Dolly needed Kenny Rogers to sing this song, Willowdean needs her duet partner. And she has a couple of suitors in Dumplin’—Bo and a football player named Mitch. But the person Willowdean really needs beside her is her best friend, Ellen. The two have been pals and each other’s island in the stream since they were kids, having sealed their friendship while singing and dancing along to Dolly’s Dumb Blonde. They’ve been through a lot together, but after a disagreement about the pageant, it seems El and Will may be headed in different directions. The authenticity of their relationship is part of what makes Dumplin’ such a compelling story.
“I Will Always Love You” (1974)
Will’s interactions with Bo and Mitch aren’t the stuff of fairy tale romance novels. Instead, they’re awkward and sweet and funny in the way that real relationships are. And the nuanced, realistic portrayals of relationships in this book aren’t limited to romantic ones: The complicated dynamic with her mother, who can’t seem to help but drop hints about Will losing weight, and the idealized relationship she had with her recently deceased Aunt Lucy both feature prominently in completing the detailed tapestry of Willowdean’s life.
“9 to 5” (1980)
Anyone who ever worked a job in high school—whether it was at a fast-food restaurant like Harpy’s or a teenybopper clothing shop like Ellen’s workplace, Sweet 16—will see themselves in this book. And like all jobs, Willowdean’s has its ups and downs: At Harpy’s, Will is forced to wear an uncomfortable polyester uniform while ringing up sometimes-obnoxious customers, but she gets to flirt with her hot, former-jock co-worker Bo, which would be an even bigger bonus for readers if there were photos of this dude. Guess we’ll just have to settle for descriptions like “peach butt” to describe the object of Willowdean’s affection.
“Jolene” (1974)
Will may think that it’s another girl stealing Bo away from her, but it’s really her own insecurities that are keeping her from what she really wants. Murphy has put together an outstanding book with a strong female voice that explores the complicated relationships we have with ourselves and the way we think other people see us. Willowdean exudes confidence, but she’s having trouble getting her insides to match. And thankfully—spoiler alert—this isn’t one of those stories where it’s the other way around and the girl has to change herself or lose weight by the end in order to feel good about herself.
“Just Because I’m a Woman” (1968)
There are Dolly Parton drag queens in this book. Let us repeat that: Dolly. Parton. Drag. Queens. Awesome.
Have you read Dumplin’ yet? What did you think?