Ephram Jennings works bagging groceries in the town he has lived in all his life. He lives with his sister Celia who also raised him as a son, and is surrounded by a deeply religious, close-knit community of other who know little of the world outside of Liberty Township, Texas. When Ruby, he girl who Ephram loved in his youth, returns from New York City to Liberty because of the death of her cousin, she quickly descends into madness. The locals ostracize Ruby and the men are especially cruel, but Ephram sets about to gain Ruby's trust and build a quiet life for the two of them.
Celia and the people of Liberty use emotional manipulation and violence to keep Ephram away from Ruby. Though Celia's motives are obvious, those of the rest of the characters are not, and the dark secrets of the town and the Jennings family are slowly revealed.
This book is one of the most depressing books I have ever read. Cynthia Bond bluntly depicts the devastation that racism, poverty, and abuse can have on individuals, and the poison those things bring to a community. There is a supernatural element to the story that didn't work for me, but Ruby is a strongly written and affecting novel.
Celia and the people of Liberty use emotional manipulation and violence to keep Ephram away from Ruby. Though Celia's motives are obvious, those of the rest of the characters are not, and the dark secrets of the town and the Jennings family are slowly revealed.
This book is one of the most depressing books I have ever read. Cynthia Bond bluntly depicts the devastation that racism, poverty, and abuse can have on individuals, and the poison those things bring to a community. There is a supernatural element to the story that didn't work for me, but Ruby is a strongly written and affecting novel.
One of the most haunting books I've ever read. Skillfully written, poetic. The images can be disturbing, but I found it spellbinding as it unfolded.
The author is skilled in creating vivid images; however, most of them are ugly, dirty, and violent, making this a challenging book to read. The author is the narrator on the audio book. I nearly stopped listening after 10 minutes because when reading narrative, her voice is very monotone. However, her voice comes alive when reading dialogue, dramatically using accents and other means to bring the characters and setting alive. If you want to walk in the shoes of people whose hard lives, beginning in childhood, have formed them into the unlikeable characters they are as adults, Ruby is an excellent tour guide.
Ruby by Cynthia Bond is set in small rural town in East Texas. It is a story of the terrible secrets a small town can hold. This book takes on some extremely challenging topics - physical and psychological abuse, prostitution, abandonment, racism, and devil worship. Be prepared, this is not an easy read. But at the same time, it is a book I could not put down.
Read my complete review at: http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2014/04/ruby-novel.html
*** Reviewed for GoodReads First Reads program ***
Read my complete review at: http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2014/04/ruby-novel.html
*** Reviewed for GoodReads First Reads program ***
