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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
A historical novel spun from a single true-life event. In 1931, Jackie Mitchell, a 17-year-old female pitcher strikes out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in an exhibition game. If "Diamond Ruby" had a cousin, it would be "David Copperfield". A real page-turner.
I liked this book enough to recommend. It had solid writing and it made it easy to imagine you were right there. It made me want to learn more about Jackie Mitchell; and if the ban that Judge Landis put on women in baseball still exists today. I absolutely hated the ending, It should have there linked back to Jackie with a true strike out w the babe.
I'm not a big sports fan, but this novel had me on the edge of my seat, practically swigging beer, chomping down on popcorn and yelling like a banshee. Atta girl, Ruby!
If they don't make this one into a movie, I'll eat my hat.
If they don't make this one into a movie, I'll eat my hat.
A quick, entertaining read...would be a good choice for a laid back book club!
This was a really fun to read book, perfect for this time of year. I really enjoyed it and was excited to hear that the author has plans for a 2nd book with these characters coming out in the future!
I really enjoyed this novel about a NY girl who plays professional baseball in the 1920s. It was a fascinating look at life and baseball in NYC in the twenties.
All right, I will be the first person to admit I am not a huge fan of baseball. And maybe that’s the reason I had trouble getting “into” this book. But, I will also admit, that by the end of it, I was cheering for Ruby and really enjoying what I read.
The book is about a young woman growing up in 1920s Brooklyn. She is orphaned at age 13 by the death of her parents during the 1918 Spanish influenza. Her sister-in-law also dies leaving her to take care of her two young nieces. To say life was difficult would be an understatement. But due to a “deformity” of long arms, Ruby discovers that she is an excellent pitcher (via her need to feed the family by hurling stones at squirrels and pigeons). Though her adventures, she meets Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey and gets a glimpse at the good side of life. But through her addicted brother, she also meets rum runners and the seedier side of life. Unfortunately, it is mostly the latter and not the former. But with her friend’s help, Ruby and her nieces climb from the depths of despair to the top of the heap.
The book is excellently written and evokes the era in such a way that you feel as though you are really there with Ruby. If you like baseball even a little or historical literary novels, pick up Diamond Ruby and give it a try. It’s a definite home run.
The book is about a young woman growing up in 1920s Brooklyn. She is orphaned at age 13 by the death of her parents during the 1918 Spanish influenza. Her sister-in-law also dies leaving her to take care of her two young nieces. To say life was difficult would be an understatement. But due to a “deformity” of long arms, Ruby discovers that she is an excellent pitcher (via her need to feed the family by hurling stones at squirrels and pigeons). Though her adventures, she meets Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey and gets a glimpse at the good side of life. But through her addicted brother, she also meets rum runners and the seedier side of life. Unfortunately, it is mostly the latter and not the former. But with her friend’s help, Ruby and her nieces climb from the depths of despair to the top of the heap.
The book is excellently written and evokes the era in such a way that you feel as though you are really there with Ruby. If you like baseball even a little or historical literary novels, pick up Diamond Ruby and give it a try. It’s a definite home run.
Beautiful cover, just OK writing. I picked this up because the main character is a teenage girl, but surprisingly it turns out to be too much of a guys book.
First, I am annoyed by historical fiction that is populated by famous characters; it's just not real to me. In this case it is Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey that have big roles (but plenty other famous people make an appearance too).
Second, I got tired of all the baseball in the second half; it got repetitive and it didn't help me know Ruby or her story. It was like the author just used this character as an excuse to write about Babe Ruth and this time period. I hated the chapter that is about Jack Dempsey's fight with some other boxer.
The worst is that at around page 150 things got over the top and stayed that way. So many bad guys wanted to beat up Ruby--bootleggers, the KKK, gangsters, gamblers...How many bad guys does this story need?! It only needed the one gambler/fixer who was forcing Ruby to lose games in order to win bets--that would have been threat enough.
The author's passion for baseball history came through, but I felt like he was not good at writing a woman character. She was unrealistic, especially when Ruby talked with her (under-developed character) friend, Helen. Women don't talk like that, even back then. I know the author was trying to make Ruby look tough, and show that women can be smart and skilled, but some things were just impossible: like at the beginning when Ruby worked on Coney Island, pitching 300 balls a day on only 5 hours of sleep and not doing anything else? And Ruby, at 17 and 18 years old, never had any romance or love seeking thoughts at all. She was like a robot. She pushed back and defended herself when she needed to but I got no real emotion from her, except that she loooved baseball.
I could be more picky about the writing, but I'm not going to, because the setting was written well and I did enjoy the first 100 pages of this 460-page novel.
Well, if you really love baseball and historical fiction, you would probably like this book.
First, I am annoyed by historical fiction that is populated by famous characters; it's just not real to me. In this case it is Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey that have big roles (but plenty other famous people make an appearance too).
Second, I got tired of all the baseball in the second half; it got repetitive and it didn't help me know Ruby or her story. It was like the author just used this character as an excuse to write about Babe Ruth and this time period. I hated the chapter that is about Jack Dempsey's fight with some other boxer.
The worst is that at around page 150 things got over the top and stayed that way. So many bad guys wanted to beat up Ruby--bootleggers, the KKK, gangsters, gamblers...How many bad guys does this story need?! It only needed the one gambler/fixer who was forcing Ruby to lose games in order to win bets--that would have been threat enough.
The author's passion for baseball history came through, but I felt like he was not good at writing a woman character. She was unrealistic, especially when Ruby talked with her (under-developed character) friend, Helen. Women don't talk like that, even back then. I know the author was trying to make Ruby look tough, and show that women can be smart and skilled, but some things were just impossible: like at the beginning when Ruby worked on Coney Island, pitching 300 balls a day on only 5 hours of sleep and not doing anything else? And Ruby, at 17 and 18 years old, never had any romance or love seeking thoughts at all. She was like a robot. She pushed back and defended herself when she needed to but I got no real emotion from her, except that she loooved baseball.
I could be more picky about the writing, but I'm not going to, because the setting was written well and I did enjoy the first 100 pages of this 460-page novel.
Well, if you really love baseball and historical fiction, you would probably like this book.
I picked this up at the library knowing nothing about it. I truly enjoyed it.