Scan barcode
megpro7's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Gore, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Violence
ricksilva's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ruth's story is one of small-town isolation and the dysfunction of families stuck together through claustrophobic winters. The main character, abandoned by her father, left behind by her brother when he finds prospects beyond their tiny Illinois farm, is left trapped between her overbearing mother and the drug-addled man she eventually marries. The birth of the narrator's baby boy brings the hope for a new chance for all of them, but the oppressive circumstances they exist in moved inevitably toward tragedy.
The characters in this story are deeply nuanced, and the narrator's voice is powerful through all of her quirkiness. I like the development of multiple layers of complexity in even the minor characters who at first appear very one-dimensional. The author also does a great job of bringing the setting to life.
The climactic scene is extremely violent, much more so than the rest of the story up to that point, although it is certainly foreshadowed. The ending is left very open, and perhaps a bit intentionally unsatisfying, taking the approach that there will never be true closure to the events that have unfolded. Definitely not a happy story, but an engaging one.
The characters in this story are deeply nuanced, and the narrator's voice is powerful through all of her quirkiness. I like the development of multiple layers of complexity in even the minor characters who at first appear very one-dimensional. The author also does a great job of bringing the setting to life.
The climactic scene is extremely violent, much more so than the rest of the story up to that point, although it is certainly foreshadowed. The ending is left very open, and perhaps a bit intentionally unsatisfying, taking the approach that there will never be true closure to the events that have unfolded. Definitely not a happy story, but an engaging one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Abandonment, and Bullying
savannahtrice's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I thought this was really beautiful. Jane Hamilton is really talented at writing characters that you really feel for. I despised Ruby the whole time but held love in my heart for Ruth. The ending felt rushed, and I wished the big event occurred earlier on so we got to see more of Ruth's recovery. I took a star off for that and for the overt racism that went unchecked by Ruth, despite her being the protagonist and seemingly disagreeing with the comments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
nothingforpomegranted's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I picked this book up as a Shavuot read, expecting profound biblical allusions and creativity. This book was certainly not that. It was, however, a powerful reflection on family, forgiveness, and the significance of individual identity.
A darker, far less whimsical Scout Finch, Ruth narrates this story nearly anonymously, reflecting on her childhood, adolescence, and marriage. May, Ruth's mother, is run-down by life, widowed, abandoned, and poor. She taunts Ruth from the earliest days of her life, calling her stupid and constantly comparing her to her younger brother Matt, who is something of a mathematical prodigy in their tiny rural Illinois town. Ruth, thus, learns to rely on herself, defining her own identity and seeking love from neighbors and distant family. As she discovers a love for books, Ruth finds herself more and more in other worlds, giving her peace from the one she lives in. When she befriends the town slut, Dee Dee, and is set up on a date with a man named Ruby, she readily accepts their attention and affection, and so begins her adulthood.
In a word, this book is devastating. So little joy comes into Ruth's life that her seeming peace is troubling. Hamilton powerfully depicts toxicity and love, creating characters that are at once hateful and pathetic, eliciting pity and anger all at once. Well-written and troubling, I'm disappointed that I don't think this one will stick with me; in all honesty, I'm already struggling to remember the plot. I was affected while reading this and it hit me in the gut, but I don't think I'll be coming back to it.
A darker, far less whimsical Scout Finch, Ruth narrates this story nearly anonymously, reflecting on her childhood, adolescence, and marriage. May, Ruth's mother, is run-down by life, widowed, abandoned, and poor. She taunts Ruth from the earliest days of her life, calling her stupid and constantly comparing her to her younger brother Matt, who is something of a mathematical prodigy in their tiny rural Illinois town. Ruth, thus, learns to rely on herself, defining her own identity and seeking love from neighbors and distant family. As she discovers a love for books, Ruth finds herself more and more in other worlds, giving her peace from the one she lives in. When she befriends the town slut, Dee Dee, and is set up on a date with a man named Ruby, she readily accepts their attention and affection, and so begins her adulthood.
In a word, this book is devastating. So little joy comes into Ruth's life that her seeming peace is troubling. Hamilton powerfully depicts toxicity and love, creating characters that are at once hateful and pathetic, eliciting pity and anger all at once. Well-written and troubling, I'm disappointed that I don't think this one will stick with me; in all honesty, I'm already struggling to remember the plot. I was affected while reading this and it hit me in the gut, but I don't think I'll be coming back to it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Murder
More...