A review by bookthia
The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton

3.0

It was a dark story, for sure, but reminiscent of Dickens in its structure. What happened to Ruth was horrible, but what struck me was how shocking it was to me. After everything I'd learned about her and her family, I should have seen it coming, but I didn't. Just as she didn't. I just didn't see that much violence hidden inside Rudy. I thought he would hurt someone by neglect or carelessness, so when the climax came, I wasn't emotionally prepared for it. I thought the author did a spectacular job of creating Ruth as a believable woman. Anyone might "know" a Ruth or a May in their own town. And equally, I thought the author did a good job of giving us Rudy as seen through Ruth's eyes. That's why the climax was more dramatic -- because like Ruth, I didn't expect it.