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A review by rachelbookdragon
Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All by Laura Ruby
4.0
I don’t know what to make of this story, except that the prose was fantastic and I couldn’t put it down. It is a semi-biographical story of the author’s mother-in-law and her experience growing up in an orphanage in the Depression era and World War 2, while a ghost girl named Pearl follows her and discovers her own story in the process.
Frankie’s strength, her ability to love, and her perseverance through a father who neglects her and a mother who is dead is the heart of the story. Her relationships with Toni, Vito, and Sam are heartwarming. She shows such incredible resilience in the face of truth and lies, and gets herself out of a bad situation.
Then there’s Pearl, the ghostly mystery of the story, the mystery she is even to herself. Her discovery of the end of her life and her death, and her journey to understanding and self-forgiveness is a whole other story, intertwined with Frankie’s. She also lived and loved, even in death, and continued to find strength in a world where she was to be bought and sold to a ruthless man.
Margarite’s story almost brought me to tears as it concluded. Her mother forgiving her after all this time... Her tragic story, and her resolution was inspiring.
Beyond the characters and plot, I loved the fairy tales told throughout the book. The little vignettes were such interesting sprinklings of story.
Overall, this is a story of women’s empowerment and finding the love in a world of war and difficult families. In a world where people weren’t allowed to love others who were different from them. The writing is gorgeous and I understand why it was nominated for the National Book Award.
Favorite quotes: “...people... convinced that each war was different, that it wasn’t one long war with the briefest of pauses between battles.” P. 75
“All the other truths of a body that seem so mundane when that body is yours, and so fascinating when that body belongs to someone else.” P. 98
“One must find reasons to laugh anyway, especially when nothing is funny. Sometimes joy is the only defense you have, and your only weapon.” P. 126
“Girls are... Always crossing thresholds thinking they’re getting away free. Nothing is free.” P. 192
“You’re allowed to be glad for a moment... We only get scrapes in this lousy life. Take what you can get.” P. 274
“Be something every minute of every day... and when you sleep, dream all the time so that not one little piece of living is lost.” P. 352
Frankie’s strength, her ability to love, and her perseverance through a father who neglects her and a mother who is dead is the heart of the story. Her relationships with Toni, Vito, and Sam are heartwarming. She shows such incredible resilience in the face of truth and lies, and gets herself out of a bad situation.
Then there’s Pearl, the ghostly mystery of the story, the mystery she is even to herself. Her discovery of the end of her life and her death, and her journey to understanding and self-forgiveness is a whole other story, intertwined with Frankie’s. She also lived and loved, even in death, and continued to find strength in a world where she was to be bought and sold to a ruthless man.
Margarite’s story almost brought me to tears as it concluded. Her mother forgiving her after all this time... Her tragic story, and her resolution was inspiring.
Beyond the characters and plot, I loved the fairy tales told throughout the book. The little vignettes were such interesting sprinklings of story.
Overall, this is a story of women’s empowerment and finding the love in a world of war and difficult families. In a world where people weren’t allowed to love others who were different from them. The writing is gorgeous and I understand why it was nominated for the National Book Award.
Favorite quotes: “...people... convinced that each war was different, that it wasn’t one long war with the briefest of pauses between battles.” P. 75
“All the other truths of a body that seem so mundane when that body is yours, and so fascinating when that body belongs to someone else.” P. 98
“One must find reasons to laugh anyway, especially when nothing is funny. Sometimes joy is the only defense you have, and your only weapon.” P. 126
“Girls are... Always crossing thresholds thinking they’re getting away free. Nothing is free.” P. 192
“You’re allowed to be glad for a moment... We only get scrapes in this lousy life. Take what you can get.” P. 274
“Be something every minute of every day... and when you sleep, dream all the time so that not one little piece of living is lost.” P. 352