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Some would suggest that James Patterson is the most successful author alive today and his many awards would probably attest to that. His collaboration with former President Bill Clinton resulted in the very successful book The President is Missing. So what is better than one collaboration? Maybe two?
In the field of American country music, the names don’t come too much bigger than Dolly Parton‘s. So why not another collaboration? To many, a literary collaboration between Dolly Parton and James Patterson would seem unlikely. But the recent release of Run Rose Run – A Novel by Dolly Parton and James Patterson (Dolly’s name appears first on the front cover) would indicate that Patterson saw his collaboration with Clinton as successful enough to try it again.
The plot revolves around the experiences of AnnieLee Keyes, a twenty something singer/songwriter with a challenging past, as she relocates to Nashville to claim her spot in the big time.
After some hitch hiking adventures, she makes it to Nashville and the Cat’s Paw Saloon (The Bluebird) and meets up with many of the characters who will accompany her through the story.
Prominent among these is Ruthanna Ryder (Dolly), owner of the the Cat’s Paw and one of country music’s most successful artists who has recently retired. She sees AnnieLee’s potential as a songwriter and an onstage performer and decides that she should take her under her proverbial wing. She is also a replacement for Ruthanna’s recently deceased daughter.
As well at the Cat’s Paw, she meets up with Ethan Blake, a guitarist who works in Ruthanna’s downstairs home studio and performs in the open mic nights at the Cat’s Paw. Ethan was a former soldier who had spent time in Afghanistan where he was “turned from a scared uncertain kid into a man who understood honour and duty, and who recognised the kinds of sacrifices those ideals often required.”
Between the two of them, they guide AnnieLee through the trials and tribulations of the gaining a foothold in the country music industry.
I read the ebook version on my phone and found it very suitable to be consumed in that manner. It consists of ninety-six relatively short chapters. Most of the chapter headings were breaks in the story with no chapter title, just a chapter number. Towards the end, chapters did alternate between the activities of Ethan and AnnieLee but that settles down after they meet up.
It is hard to believe that James Patterson would have had much to do with the writing of this book given the rather light weight nature of the plot and the characters that are left hanging. For instance I would still like to know what happened to Eddie the owner/driver of the eighteen wheeler that, in chapter two, AnnieLee stole at gunpoint and drove away towards Nashville.
But that doesn’t detract from the fantasy built on the real life experiences of Dolly Parton in the music industry and shared through the stories presented in the book. It was clearly written from the female perspective and southern traditions are reinforced with many of the female characters having double first names. Also the Bible Belt Christian traditions were adhered to where necessary. For example, when AnnieLee was on tour with Ethan as her roadie/manager/driver, they always hired two motel rooms.
By the end of the book, AnnieLee, in spite of the trials, tribulations and unscrupulous men associated with her journey, got to perform at the CMAs in Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena with Ruthanna who had come out of retirement just for the occasion. After one song it was over to AnnieLee to complete the set. She lets the audience know:
My name isn’t AnnieLee Keyes. Even though that’s the name on my album, and it’s what you’ve all gotten used to calling me. My real name is Rose McCord. And I want you to know that it’s taken more than a handful of miracles for me to be here – and to even be alive. As long as I live, I will never stop being grateful for this moment, and for every sweet, free breath I take.
So the question is posed above – Does it Work?
Yes it does. The book is promoted by its publishers in the mystery & thriller/fiction/thrillers/crime genres. Not sure it fits all of those. For instance, it is not a great thriller. But it is a good enough read to keep one turning the pages.
From hijacking an eighteen wheeler to AnnieLee makes good in Nashville, the story moves fast, and enough of the mysteries are resolved around the real life music industry experience of Ruthanna Ryder. Go out and buy or download the book. You will enjoy Dolly’s literary input.
