The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton

Title: The Book of Ruth

Author: Jane Hamilton

Publication Date: 1997

No. of Pages: 328

Synopsis (from Amazon): Author Jane Hamilton leads us through the arid life of Ruth Grey, who extracts what small pleasures and graces she can from a tiny Illinois town and the broken people who inhabit it. Ruth's prime tormentor is her mother May, whose husband died in World War II and took her future with him. More poor familial luck has given Ruth a brother who is a math prodigy; Matt sucks up any stray attention like a black hole. Ruth is left to survive on her own resources, which are meager. She struggles along, subsisting on crumbs of affection meted out by her Aunt Sid and, later, her screwed-up husband Ruby. The book ends with the prospect of redemption--but the tale is nevertheless much more bitter than sweet.

Fiction or Nonfiction: Fiction

Comments and Critique: This is one of those books that I both like and disliked. I was okay the first 3/4 or so, although I did want to take the main character to the woodshed a few times (more on that in a minute), but the last few chapters made me want to throw the book out the window. It almost seemed like the author was tired of the book and just wanted to get it over with -- the issues and feeling she brought out in Ruth didn't seem to progress naturally at the end, they just kind of rushed through, helter skelter, and presto, you're done. Very unsatisfying.

Regarding the woodshed remark, this is one of those things that has more to do with me than the book/character. In this case, you've got a character who's basically a doormat for everyone, her mother most of all, which is something that I CANNOT STAND. I understand why she's that way and I can even sympathize, but it still makes my skin crawl. Seriously, it takes every bit of patience that I have not to scream, "GET A BACKBONE, ALREADY! STAND UP FOR YOURSELF!! QUIT TAKING THEIR !*%$*!" Like I said, though, this is more about me than a fault of the book. In this area, the author did quite a good job of making you relate to the character, even if you did want to throttle her.

Would You Recommend This Book to Others: Yes. I'd classify it as a good book to read eventually, but not one of my You Must Read This Now books.

Challenges: 2008 TBR Challenge; What's in a Name? Challenge; Book Awards II Challenge