Bluegrass is My Second Language: A Year in the Life of an Accidental Bluegrass Musician

by John Santa

Personifying the roles that music plays within a community, the seemingly unconnected worlds of the many characters become interwoven. From mountain folk to Yo-Yo Ma, to a Lebanese man with his Aud, this is more than a tale of Bluegrass. The North Carolina “Southern-ese” writing style tells a homespun tale with an emotional level reaching out to all walks of life, touching the timeless issues of the way music unites us all, and the part we all have to play in this world.

509 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Don · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was hard to read. John Santa's attempt to write in the Southern vernacular was painful, and insulting to native Southerners. I was interested in the book becuase I am similarly situated, a rock and blues muscian moving into Bluegrass for the first time. I have played with some of the musicians and in some of the venues that Santa writes about. But this book was just hard to stomach.

[Whit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fun read. Although Bluegrass was the backdrop for the book, it is more a book about the unique people and places that are found only in the bluegrass world. This is a must read.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rarely ever do I encounter a book I cannot finish. This is one of them.