Book Reviews of Drowning Ruth

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 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.

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

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.

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

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!

This book was extremely good. I was engrossed in it from beginning to end. I especially like the way it was written by switching characters throughout the book. Christina Schwarz did an excellent job with the storyline as well. I highly recommend this book to all!

Wasn't too crazy about this one. While a fan of alternating narratives through past and present, such in this book were very disconjoined with an unsmooth transition. The plot was intriguing, yet predictable. No huge mystery solved in the ending for me either. Very flat in my opinion.

This book was very disturbing. I kept thinking I should stop reading it because I disliked the characters so much, but I am glad I finished it. It was worth it in the end.

I enjoyed this book. It kept me up at night turning pages.

A bit of a dark story, but a very good read. I didn't want to put it down.

I just finished this book. After a slow start, I was hooked. I loved the author's flashback techniques, and the "gems" of thought and reason sprinkled throughout. I definitely recommend this book to any serious readers who love intrique and yet are drawn to the reaslistic writing style.

Very strange book.

I loved this book.It kept my interest to the end and was one of those books that is hard to put down.

This has become one of my favorite books! I could not put it down!

EXCELLENT!

Unusual style of writing. A thriller about family. Good book.

At times the book ran a bit slow, but it picked up as the story progressed. It became much more engrossing and the ending made it very worthwhile.

An engrossing book about family secrets and relationships. A young mother drowns beneath the ice of a rural Wisconsin lake. The shifting narration takes some getting used to, but as the mystery of her death unfolds you'll find you can't put the book down. Well worth the effort it takes to read.

Tale of family secrets and rivals. Captavating and I like how it takes you from the present to the past. Excellent book

This one kept me guessing to the end. Surprisingly broad and deep, the unusual but believable characters have stuck with me for months after turning the last page.

I thought this book was very compelling. It was really great how the author switched from past to present in the different charachters thoughts. Extremely suspenseful. A definite must read!

Wow, what a story. You don't know where it's going and you can't imagine what's going to happen next. With an ending that will leave you breathless, it's a surefire winner.

I don't usually enjoy Oprah book club books but this one I just couldn't put down. Kind of a dark story but with an interesting twist. Great read.

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 heard there making a movie out of this and while I don't think it will translate well I did feel like it was a good story. Surprise ending that wasn't that much of a surprise. Good but not great story. The flat secondary characters made the macabre tendencies of the protagonist seem almost comical at times. A little too dramatic.

This is one of Oprah's recommendations. Very good story.

I can't say it's not a good book... I just found it sort of disturbing. Maybe not my cup of tea.

A gripping psychological thriller. In the winter of 1919, a young mother named Mathilda Neumann drowns beneath the ice of a rural Wisconsin lake. The shock of her death dramatically changes the lives of her daughter, troubled sister and husband. Told in the voices of several of the main characters and skipping back and forth in time, the narrative gradually and tantalizingly reveals the dark family secrets and the unsettling discoveries that lead to the truth of what actually happened the night of the drowning.
taken from the back cover of the book

Oprah's Book Club book!

LOVED this book. It was an easy reader but couldn't put it down.

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

Very moving story, well put together. Surprise ending.

Good read. Goes back and forth and from different characters views. It was done well though.

Tear jerking and heartrending.

An Oprah Book Club choice. A young mother drowns beneath the ice of a rural lake. Her death profoundly impacts her sister, young daughter, and husband. Told in all their voices, the story gradually reveals dark family secrets that lead up to what actually happened the night of the drowning. Excellent read.

Great read!

I really liked this book...you saw many sides and facets to the characters...yet in was unsettling in some ways as well....showed many sides and types of love.

a gripping psychological yet touching thriller.all i can say is EXCELLENT!!

Very good book, need to read to understand.

I wasn't expecting to like this book, as Oprah and I have dissimilar tastes. but I did. Very much.

This was an excellant book. The ending was not what you would think.GREAT BOOK!!!

A wonderful story that twists & turns ... very enjoyable.

Suspenseful! Great, great read!!

One of my all time favorite books!

I did not ever finish the book.

One of the best books I have ever read! Can't put it down!

This is possibly THE best book I have ever read! The whole story was great and not one time was I able to put it down!

Sad story but very good book. I couldn't put it down.

I really liked the way the author told this story, revealing just a little bit at a time, until it all comes together at the end.

Thought this book was great; read it very quickly because I was so excited by it.

Different - a page-turner.

Engrossing and suspenseful, just the way I like 'em. Great read.

Awesome! It is a fast read and very riveting, wish more books were this exciting to read!

A little confusing at times but good.

A great smooth read, fast.

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.

Oprah's Book Club

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

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