A Book A Week

"The demons of the past were the hardest to slay."

At first glance, bestselling author James Patterson and country music superstar Dolly Parton make for an odd couple. Patterson has written countless bestselling novels that have thrilled readers for years. That being said, most people probably wouldn't recognize the author walking down the street. On the other hand, Parton is one of the most recognizable stars to grace the radio waves and screen for the past several decades. Her signature style, songs, and voice have made her a household name. It's safe to say that this pair is about as different as you can get. But consider for a moment that both of these creative masterminds share a lifelong passion for promoting child literacy and are both seasoned storytellers in their respective mediums. The pairing begins to make more sense. Their co-authored effort Run Rose Run combines elements of their sensibilities into a book that you'll be hard-pressed to stop reading. 

AnnieLee Keyes is hitchhiking her way across the country to live out her dreams. She's not exactly sure of the details, but her mission is clear. AnnieLee wants to become the biggest star in country music. As she arrives in Nashville, she's momentarily halted by her own lack of preparation. AnnieLee has no money and no guitar to play on. Still, she's determined to make her break here. She wanders into a rundown bar, convinces the bartender to lend her a guitar, and plays her first set in the city. Her talent is undeniable. In that first set, AnnieLee catches the eye of session musician Ethan Blake. It just so happens that Ethan plays with the recently retired country music legend, Ruthanna Ryder.  

Ruthanna's days of touring and producing albums are long behind her. By going out while she was on top, she's left her fans wanting more. It seems as if her manager is calling her every day to try to convince her to put on a reunion concert. Still, Ruthanna sticks to her guns. She's more content spending time in her basement studio toying with new material that she swears will never be released to the public. When her guitar player Ethan mentions a new talent that she just has to hear, she's hesitant to waste her time. New singers are a dime a dozen. Ethan persists, and Ruthanna concedes. When she hears AnnieLee sing for the first time, two things are clear. One, AnnieLee is beautiful and has a natural talent that is undeniable. Two, this town will spit her out so quickly that she'll wish she never opened her pretty little mouth to sing. 

Run Rose Run sees Dolly Parton and James Patterson come together to tell a story that mixes melodrama and thrills. Parton's voice clearly contributed to the details about breaking into the music industry and trying to maintain a career. She also wrote 12 new songs for a few of the characters and released an accompanying album under the same title. Listening to the songs certainly helps to bring the story to life. For Patterson's part, his signature short chapters and the inclusion of a few secrets being harbored by the main characters help to keep the pages turning. For most of the book, the story plays out like an episode of the hit TV show Nashville. The inclusion of some more typical thriller elements was a bit jarring at first, but ultimately made sense once every character's secrets came to light. I devoured this novel in a few hours, and suspect other readers will do the same. 

For more information visit the websites of James Patterson, Dolly Parton, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2022, 11)