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liakeller's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting generational, story. Lots of trauma, but good if you look for it. Everyone gets to narrate, even the church.
erikastanley's review against another edition
5.0
I could not put this book down. The characters pulled me in and the story itself was beautiful and heartbreaking. I loved how the stories of the 3 generations all unfolded throughout the book.
This book is not just about the lives of these families in the south side of Chicago. This story could have been set in rural south Georgia or in a neighborhood in L.A. I felt so much empathy for these characters and their circumstances - much of which was out of their control.
In a current time and place that feels so divided, this is a needed book from a unique perspective - and one that resonated with me in a deeply personal way.
4.5/5
This book is not just about the lives of these families in the south side of Chicago. This story could have been set in rural south Georgia or in a neighborhood in L.A. I felt so much empathy for these characters and their circumstances - much of which was out of their control.
In a current time and place that feels so divided, this is a needed book from a unique perspective - and one that resonated with me in a deeply personal way.
4.5/5
skynet666's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a while to get into this story, but the ensemble narration drew me in. I am fairly sure I would have given this book a 3 if I had read it instead of listened.
dame_samara's review against another edition
4.0
Contemporary fiction is rarely something I truly enjoy, but the way this story is told drew me in a way that no contemporary has before.
Seeing a story from so many separate point of view is like watching a web be spun. Watching how every point comes together to form a pieces of art. Saving Ruby King builds the story so beautifully around this tragic point in Ruby's life. Showing how it shakes her community, herself, and everything that lead up to that fateful day in such a beautiful way.
It is intrinsically different then how most Mysteries are told and honestly it left me in want of more mysteries to be told like this.
Seeing a story from so many separate point of view is like watching a web be spun. Watching how every point comes together to form a pieces of art. Saving Ruby King builds the story so beautifully around this tragic point in Ruby's life. Showing how it shakes her community, herself, and everything that lead up to that fateful day in such a beautiful way.
It is intrinsically different then how most Mysteries are told and honestly it left me in want of more mysteries to be told like this.
martasbooktherapy's review
4.0
4.5 stars
While Saving Ruby King came out in 2020 and The Two Lives of Sara came out in 2022, I'm happy I read The Two Lives of Sara first. It gives so much background and depth to Ruby's story and built immense amounts of empathy in me for the characters portrayed in Saving Ruby King. It absolutely broke my heart to go from toddler Lebanon in TTLoS to the adult Lebanon in SRK and realize what could've been different if things turned out in Sara's life. If you haven't read both books, that statement might not make sense, but it's heartbreaking to see generational trauma passed down to young children over and over again.
Best friends Ruby and Layla are each others' keepers. They forge an intergenerational bond passed down through their grandmothers' close friendship. Ruby and Layla both have trials in their past (and some in their present) and are committed to helping one another through them. However, secrets are kept all around them and by them. It seems only telling the whole truth will set them free.
The audiobook of this novel was excellent - the multiple POVs are narrated by different people which truly brings the characters to life, even the inanimate church which is one of the narrators!
While Saving Ruby King came out in 2020 and The Two Lives of Sara came out in 2022, I'm happy I read The Two Lives of Sara first. It gives so much background and depth to Ruby's story and built immense amounts of empathy in me for the characters portrayed in Saving Ruby King. It absolutely broke my heart to go from toddler Lebanon in TTLoS to the adult Lebanon in SRK and realize what could've been different if things turned out in Sara's life. If you haven't read both books, that statement might not make sense, but it's heartbreaking to see generational trauma passed down to young children over and over again.
Best friends Ruby and Layla are each others' keepers. They forge an intergenerational bond passed down through their grandmothers' close friendship. Ruby and Layla both have trials in their past (and some in their present) and are committed to helping one another through them. However, secrets are kept all around them and by them. It seems only telling the whole truth will set them free.
The audiobook of this novel was excellent - the multiple POVs are narrated by different people which truly brings the characters to life, even the inanimate church which is one of the narrators!
courthughes's review
5.0
I was asked to read this as a beta reader and I LOVED it. Cathy has an ability to pull you in as a reader and I honestly enjoyed her book.
egould1's review
4.0
This book was an exploration of how trauma, secrets, and lies can affect a family...for generations. I thought how the book was structured was really interesting, with the view points shifting frequently and the church serving as a character (and witness) in the story.
Trigger warning for domestic violence.
Trigger warning for domestic violence.
michelereise's review
1.0
DNF 10%
Made it to the chapter from the POV of the church and I was done.
Lots of folk enjoy this book but that did it for me.
I couldn't take it serious after that.
Made it to the chapter from the POV of the church and I was done.
Lots of folk enjoy this book but that did it for me.
I couldn't take it serious after that.
lovesworldofbooks's review
5.0
Wow wow wow!!!!! Saving Ruby King is the best audiobook I have ever listened to in MY LIFE!!! to Saving Ruby King was a well-written, powerful, and thought-provoking story.
What I liked:
- First the narrators were amazing. There were six…. YES six narrators. I love obsolutely love it.
- I enjoyed listening from the perspective of Ruby, Layla, Jackson (Layla’s father) even Lebanon, and many more.
- West did a fantastic job of showing the generational trauma of these characters. Generational trauma is what hold many Black people from leave their current situations or seeing a better future.
- I was able to sympathize with all the characters including the “bad” people ( This made me think about nurture vs nature)
- West covered topic like the relationship between the white police and Black people, systemic racism, the divided line of neighborhoods (between white, black, Asian, and Hispanic), and more.
- I totally did not expect what happened near the end of this book.
If you are looking for a book that going to
⚠️ Incest, suicide, physical and mental abuse
What I liked:
- First the narrators were amazing. There were six…. YES six narrators. I love obsolutely love it.
- I enjoyed listening from the perspective of Ruby, Layla, Jackson (Layla’s father) even Lebanon, and many more.
- West did a fantastic job of showing the generational trauma of these characters. Generational trauma is what hold many Black people from leave their current situations or seeing a better future.
- I was able to sympathize with all the characters including the “bad” people ( This made me think about nurture vs nature)
- West covered topic like the relationship between the white police and Black people, systemic racism, the divided line of neighborhoods (between white, black, Asian, and Hispanic), and more.
- I totally did not expect what happened near the end of this book.
If you are looking for a book that going to
⚠️ Incest, suicide, physical and mental abuse