Search - Drowning Ruth

Depressing, dark book. I don't always need upbeat stories, but this one was too serious/dark when I am reading for enjoyment.

DROWNING RUTH is deceptively clever. What seems initially like the conventional, usually predictable murder yarn turns out actually being a meticulously crafted story of considerable artistic merit. The circumstances of the drowning of Ruth's mother serves as the catalyst that precipitates an intriguing flow of interrelated events in the lives of Amanda (the drowned woman's sister) and her niece Ruth. Christina Schwarz is a wonderfully talented writer who has woven a rather intricate tale of psychological suspense. There are many engrossing trwists and digressions (but quite necessary) in this very emotional marrative. The mystery is sustained throughout because the reader, as if carefully and thoughtfully fitting together all the jagged pieces of a puzzle, learns in successive chapters what actually occurred that particular wintry night so long ago in the past of both Amanda and Ruth. The writer does a marvelous job in pacing the delicate unravelling of the knitting. This is a thoroughly enjoyable thriller.
I recommend this book very highly.

This book was a dark book to read but it was intriguing. It was just a simple glimpse into the human psyche. Story of death....accidental or not? Family secrets to be explored and unraveled. I actually enjoyed it.

this book is as haunting and beautiful as the lonely landscape through which the events take place...repressed passion, living in a society where sexuality is so completely repressed and rejected that horrible events occur as a result.

This is a dark story, but very good! I thought it was pretty predictable at first, but it wasn't at all. It's written in a mix of first and third person and the story bounces from present to past. Definitely kept it interesting.

Incredible story. Writing is amazing. No wonder it made it on the NY Times best seller list and Oprah's book club! Read it and pass it on.

Set in Wisconsin in the early 1900's. Family secrets and sad lives but you want to get to the end to find out exactly what happened. why are Oprah's picks so dark?

This is a mysery set in 1919 about a family with secrets. I really enjoyed this book and the narrative really lets you get into the characters minds. This book really sucks you in. A great read.

I thought this was a very well written book. It had me guessing till the last minute about what "really happened". My book club loved it!

Deliciously morbid. This book keeps you guessing with every turn.

A little confusing at times but good.

A great smooth read, fast.

This novel tells the haunting story of two generations of a Wisconsin family brought together and torn apart by the lake adjacent to the family home. Focused on four women, sisters of two generations, the novel develops around the sisters' relationship with the lake, and the tragedy that ensues when it claims one of their lives. Much of the book is spent untangling the secrets which led to the drowning, and working out the complicated problems which arise from the family's attempts to keep these secrets.

Scwartz's story jumps back and forth across time, from past to present and back again. This means that the story develops piece by piece, and this is what makes it something of a mystery. I found the plot development to be one of the more satisfying parts of this book, seeing the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. I enjoyed the developments leading up to Scwartz's telling of what actually happened the night of the tragedy. After that point, however, I found the plot to be something of a let-down. The conclusion seemed a bit too neat, and a bit forced.

The most enjoyable part of this book to me was the way in which Scwartz set the scene- the way in which she managed to capture the sense of a time and place. The novel is set in the Wisconsin countryside in the first half of the twentieth century, with most of the action focusing on the last years of WWI, and the 1920s. Scwartz offers a convincing portrait of Wisconsin farm country in the late-1910s and early 1920s. Her descriptions are vivid, without being overstated, and her story intersects with several significant historical events, including WWI and the influenza epidemic. Scwartz gives her readers a strong sense of connection to the seasons, the land, the lake. I really did feel like I was part of the world about which she wrote.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this novel. The development of the plot engaged me, and the scenery captivated me. I was a bit disappointed by the ending, but my reading was by and large time well spent.

I normally do not like mystery books, but I could not wait to get to the end of this one. It keeps you guessing till the end and leaves you with a great story by the end.

Certainly different, not my usual read.

A slow read, never really grabbed me by the horns.

Oprah's Book Club

Anything endorsed by the Oprah's Book Club seal is a winner in my estimation. This one is no exception

I did not ever finish the book.