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nothingforpomegranted's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I picked this book up as a Shavuot read, expecting profound biblical allusions and creativity. This book was certainly not that. It was, however, a powerful reflection on family, forgiveness, and the significance of individual identity.
A darker, far less whimsical Scout Finch, Ruth narrates this story nearly anonymously, reflecting on her childhood, adolescence, and marriage. May, Ruth's mother, is run-down by life, widowed, abandoned, and poor. She taunts Ruth from the earliest days of her life, calling her stupid and constantly comparing her to her younger brother Matt, who is something of a mathematical prodigy in their tiny rural Illinois town. Ruth, thus, learns to rely on herself, defining her own identity and seeking love from neighbors and distant family. As she discovers a love for books, Ruth finds herself more and more in other worlds, giving her peace from the one she lives in. When she befriends the town slut, Dee Dee, and is set up on a date with a man named Ruby, she readily accepts their attention and affection, and so begins her adulthood.
In a word, this book is devastating. So little joy comes into Ruth's life that her seeming peace is troubling. Hamilton powerfully depicts toxicity and love, creating characters that are at once hateful and pathetic, eliciting pity and anger all at once. Well-written and troubling, I'm disappointed that I don't think this one will stick with me; in all honesty, I'm already struggling to remember the plot. I was affected while reading this and it hit me in the gut, but I don't think I'll be coming back to it.
A darker, far less whimsical Scout Finch, Ruth narrates this story nearly anonymously, reflecting on her childhood, adolescence, and marriage. May, Ruth's mother, is run-down by life, widowed, abandoned, and poor. She taunts Ruth from the earliest days of her life, calling her stupid and constantly comparing her to her younger brother Matt, who is something of a mathematical prodigy in their tiny rural Illinois town. Ruth, thus, learns to rely on herself, defining her own identity and seeking love from neighbors and distant family. As she discovers a love for books, Ruth finds herself more and more in other worlds, giving her peace from the one she lives in. When she befriends the town slut, Dee Dee, and is set up on a date with a man named Ruby, she readily accepts their attention and affection, and so begins her adulthood.
In a word, this book is devastating. So little joy comes into Ruth's life that her seeming peace is troubling. Hamilton powerfully depicts toxicity and love, creating characters that are at once hateful and pathetic, eliciting pity and anger all at once. Well-written and troubling, I'm disappointed that I don't think this one will stick with me; in all honesty, I'm already struggling to remember the plot. I was affected while reading this and it hit me in the gut, but I don't think I'll be coming back to it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Murder
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