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A review by jowmy4
Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, and Religious bigotry
Regarding the misogyny / sexism, the main character is a "fallen women", and the book is about how she is accepted (or not) by society.
Regarding the child abuse: there is a discussion among the characters about whether a child should be whipped as punishment for lying. They come to the conclusion that he should be, but the whipping does not end up happening. There is a brief mention that another parent in the book did use whipping to punish his children.
Regarding the adult/minor relationship, I'm fairly sure the age difference was socially acceptable at the time, and is legal in my country today, but it would not be legal in some other countries today. The relationship is between a woman of 16 years of age and a man who is in his early-to-mid twenties