solaana's review against another edition
4.0
Somewhere in this book is the most visceral literary depiction of falling in love I've ever read in my life.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
3 STARS
"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. Hamilton has perfect pitch. So perfect that you wince with pain for confused but fundamentally good Ruth as she walks a dead-end path. The book ends with the prospect of redemption, thank goodness--but the tale is nevertheless much more bitter than sweet." (From Amazon)
A well written novel.
"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. Hamilton has perfect pitch. So perfect that you wince with pain for confused but fundamentally good Ruth as she walks a dead-end path. The book ends with the prospect of redemption, thank goodness--but the tale is nevertheless much more bitter than sweet." (From Amazon)
A well written novel.
jeaninesmith1962's review against another edition
4.0
I found this book to be a very depressing view of life - but very well-written. The narrator's voice holds true throughout and the characters are so well-developed that the reader can easily predict their responses to situations. I'll try another book by this author and hope for something a bit more uplifting.
dreavg's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
tamaralgage1's review against another edition
4.0
We have all witnessed families that are nothing short of a 'train wreck'. If we are lucky we can stand off at a distance to avoid the splatter. I know that might be a bit too graphic. But I just finished this book and find it a fitting description. Although this is a fictional story told in first person by Ruth, I cannot help but think this is fairly representative in too many lives. Ruth is a young girl that struggles with understanding the world. Her mother is an angry bitter woman who rarely has a kind word for her daughter. At the same time, the mother lavishes love and affection for Ruth's brother. Empathy is in short supply in Ruth's world. This book is heart breaking and worth the read.
kaileycool's review against another edition
4.0
Read this for my independent study. Honestly, this book was engaging and the moral ambiguity of the characters as captured by the naive narrator was complex and human. It just didn't move me.
beardedandbookulent's review against another edition
3.0
It's been a while since I read this one, and honestly I don't remember much about it. I guess that says something about the book huh? I do remember that the characters were annoying. I guess that says even more about it. It's an ok book, but nothing to write home about.
dutchtineke's review against another edition
3.0
Finished it today. It was a good book. Horrifying and sad. I did guess part of what happened at the end. I had mixed feelings about all characters, but especially Ruby.
ljrr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25