#BookReview: The Art of Remembering by Alison Ragsdale

Reviewer: Serena Soape

Date of Release: July 16, 2019

Summary:

Professional ballerina, Ailsa MacIntyre, is at the peak of her career when her world is shattered by a shocking diagnosis. Life-saving surgery leaves her with a fractured memory, little recollection of her husband, Evan, and none of her career as a principal dancer.

While recuperating at home, Ailsa hears beautiful music coming from the apartment upstairs, and the sound of the grand piano at the hands of a talented new neighbor sparks her muscle memory. As her recovery progresses, the broken pieces of her past gradually re-emerge, a picture not quite as idyllic as Evan would have her remember. Ailsa must navigate the conflicting visions of her past, and potential future, as they collide.

Review:

First let me begin with, that I am so glad that this was our monthly book club pick for January.  I was excited to read this and was not disappointed.

Alison Ragsdale has written a beautiful, poignant novel with “The Art of Remembering”.

I flew through this book and read it in 2 evenings. The flow of the story and the way the book is written had me not wanting to put it down.

Ailsa’s relationship with her husband Evan, both before and after her surgery were complex. It is said that sometimes you have to look at things from an entirely different angle to see it from another perspective.

When re-examining from this new “after surgery” perspective, things were much different and she had to work through things and determine what path was her true destiny. Likewise, she had to re-examine the relationship with friends and family.

This was thought-provoking and I asked myself if I would have chosen familiarity or would I have ventured out into the unknown?

There were parts of the book that made me sad for Ailsa, but there were even more happy moments where I caught myself smiling and overjoyed.

Alison Ragsdale is definitely becoming one of my favorite authors. So far I have read two of her novels, and have added more to my to-be-read list after reading this novel as well as “Tuesday’s Socks” recently.  I highly recommend that you check her books out!!!

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for fair and honest review.

5 Stars.