The Song Remains The Same by Allison Winn Scotch, Book review

Publisher: Berkley Trade; Reprint edition (December 31, 2012)

ISBN-13: 978-0425253359

Synopsis:

She’s a wife, a sister, a daughter…but she remembers nothing. Now she must ask herself who she is and choose which stories—and storytellers—to trust. One of only two survivors of a plane crash, Nell Slattery wakes up in the hospital with no memory of it, or who she is, or was. Now she must piece together both body and mind with the help of family and friends who have their own agendas. Although Nell can’t remember all that came before, something just doesn’t sit right with the versions of her history given by her mother, her sister, and her husband.

Desperate for a key to unlock her past, she filters through photos, art, music, and stories, hoping that something will jog her memory, and soon, in tiny bits and pieces, Nell starts remembering. . . .

My thoughts:

I think I expected something entirely different based on the plot outlined in the synopsis. Allison Winn Scotch writes at the present tense, and for some reason my brain functions much better in the past!

As one of the two survivors of a plane crash, Nell is diagnosed with dissociative amnesia or as I learned, her brain blocked the trauma due to the stress. In search of the past, she comes to trust her instincts, believing her family is hiding something.

From the beginning I found myself trying to understand Nell's attitude towards life in general as she is trying to recall bits and pieces of her past but she is so anesthetized for a lack of a better word, she hardly seems human!
At times wistful, others shallow, 'The Song Remains The Same' unfolded itself as a study of all that is wrong with society these days, the "I'm the only one who matters here' syndrome, and to say it was engaging would be an exaggeration. I was at least spared the original purple cover!

There are some loose ends in this story which also detract from the original plot line leaving me (and others?) with questions particularly in view of the abrupt end of the novel. That's it?

Still, I try to place myself in her shoes and follow 'Operation Free Nell Slattery' but with no other direction to distinguish it from dire self analysis, Nell's search for the past proved to be anticlimactic at best.

3 Stars!

Note: Due to Adult thematic contents and strong language, for mature readers only!

About the Author:

Allison Winn Scotch is the bestselling author of THE ONE THAT I WANT, TIME OF MY LIFE, and THE DEPARTMENT OF LOST AND FOUND. Her fourth novel, THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME, will be released in early 2012. Prior to delving into fiction, she was a frequent contributor to numerous magazines and websites including Cooking Light, Men's Health, Fitness, Glamour, and Redbook, and now focuses on celebrity profiles for a variety of magazines. 

Additional information may be found on her website (HERE)

I received this book free from BOOKSPARKS as part of their blogger review program. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.