Book Recommendations for Nashville Characters

It is the moment we have all been waiting for: Nashville returns tonight! While you are popping popcorn in preparation for tonight’s drama, check out these book recommendations for our favorite characters.

Rayna James

Lean in by Sheryl Sandburg

We know you have a hard time balancing being the Queen of Country and being a good mother to your two daughters. We think Sheryl Sandburg’s book will offer you good insight into finding a way to more easily manage both worlds. As you read the book, you might also feel such a close connection to Sandburg that you will want to perform a concert at Facebook’s headquarters, creating another reason for us to be jealous of Facebook employees.

Juliette Barnes

Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

Juliette, if there were ever a character you could relate to, Becky Sharp would be it. You both came from poor families and climbed your way into wealth. Also, you both have an unfortunate tendency to have a sociopathic disregard for other people’s feelings. Learn a lesson from this original mean girl and try to become a better person. While Becky eventually does the right thing by Amelia and Dobbin, she ends up alone in her new, respectable life. Try to do right by people before you get to the die alone stage.

Deacon Claybourne

More, Now, Again: A Memoir of Addiction by Elizabeth Wurtzel

We know you struggle with alcoholism, so we believe Wurtzel’s memoir about her struggle with addiction will resonate with you. We know you are not a young woman, but she loves music just as much as you do. While her favorite artists are not country musicians, she does reference the music of Bruce Springsteen and Lou Reed in her book. Their songs helped heal her, validating your chosen career path. To top it all off, she writes about how addiction has ruined her relationships and creative work—something you have experienced yourself.

Gunnar Scott

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers

Gunnar, we know how much you loved your brother (despite his numerous flaws and problems). We think you could relate to the deep love Eggers’ has for his little brother. You also can probably relate to all the young man angst in the book. If nothing else, the wonderful descriptions of San Francisco will give you an option for another place to live if the drama in Nashville gets to be too much.

Scarlett O’Connor

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Oh Scarlett, you always speak barely above a whisper. We recommend you learn a tip or two from a fictional character who shares your name. No, we do not recommend that you turn into a horrible human being that will destroy people on the way to the top. We genuinely admire how you share Melanie’s goodness. Still, we think it wouldn’t hurt if you borrowed some of Scarlett’s spunk and brassy voice. If for no other reason than that we have to turn up the volume on our televisions every time you speak.