Title: If Ya Wanna Know: Original Songs and Links to Youtube Woven into a Story of Suspense
Author: T.R. Comstock
Publisher: PageTurner Press and Media, LLC
ISBN: 1638719829
Pages: 44
Genre: Fiction
Reviewed by: Liz Konkel
Hollywood Book Reviews
The dream of making music weaves different lives together. Mark Dawson is an engineer with a passion for music which he shares with the love of his life, Lora. Everything changes when Mark gets into a car accident that puts him in a coma. While Mark is comatose, Deputy Sheriff Jeff Adkins has the same longing to become a singer, so much so that when he finds an opportunity to achieve this goal, he takes it. Even if that means taking credit for songs he didn’t write but stole from a man in a coma. But what will he do when Mark begins to show signs of waking up? If Ya Wanna Know is a unique read that blends music and storytelling, weaving lyrics (and links to YouTube) throughout the story.
As Mark is an engineer working toward his Ph.D., he still finds time in his life to pursue his other passion. His story is rooted in his desire for his music and his love for Lora who he bonded over their shared love of music which was an immediate connection between them. Their story began when he first saw her when she was singing which set the tone of their relationship. The song lyrics are used to set the tone of various scenes such as Lora singing “You never ask a woman her age” for their first meeting which puts a humorous element into their love story. The various songs reflect the characters and their lives such as about his past farm chores in “Piggy Piggy Pig” and “Divorced and Free” inspired by his friend’s experience with divorce. The songs featured throughout the range in tone from humorous to serious with each one serving a significant purpose in the overall plot.
Mark and Lora’s life together is derailed by his coma and she dedicates herself to trying to wake him up by trying to the music that connected them in the first place. One of the songs featured is “Sport” which is about Mark’s grandfather’s dog that tells a lesson in not letting your spirit be bound. Another song Lora uses is “West Tennessee” about his time at university and speaks about raising a family in a place where they’ll see the light which sets the backdrop for when he begins to show signs of waking up. Through these lyrics, the story delves into Mark’s past and uses music therapy as a way to draw him back to life while also providing a subtle commentary on the power and healing that music can have in our lives.
Halfway through the story veers to Deputy Sheriff Jeff Adkins who has the same dream to be a successful singer. Jeff takes advantage of Mark’s comatose state to use his songs to catch the attention of a record executive. This decision puts him at a crossroads between doing the right thing and taking advantage of an opportunity that will give him everything he’s ever wanted. One of the songs he sings is “Cloudy with a Chance of Good Showers” which depicts feeling helpless and sets an interesting parallel to his journey. Jeff’s journey takes him through the evolution of this dilemma which pushes him toward an opportunity to help someone rather than helping himself. Through his character, the story explores the depths people are willing to go to so they can live out their dreams even if it brings them to a moral crossroads.
The story ends in a joyous place with the song “If Ya Wanna Know” which highlights various themes such as love, changes, and life. Other songs include “Billy Credit” about a guy relying on credit to survive day to day and “Juke Box is Quite” which has a tone of longing. If Ya Wanna Know is an original blend of fiction and lyrics to tell a story that explores the journey of two dreamers, a moral crossroads, and the power of music.