Drowning Ruth

Rating:
Summary: A Great Read
Review: This is a great read. The characters are subtley developed. The book speaks to weaknesses in all of us. It describes much of the meodramas of our daily lives that are so familiar. The white lie and occational deception. I doubt there are few that cannot relate to this book, or few that this book would not invoke some memory of something treachorous. It also shows the lengths a person will go to in order to protect one's own. In short, your time is not wasted reading this book.

Rating:
Summary: REMARKABLY WRITTEN
Review: DROWNING RUTH is Christina Schwarz's first novel, and what a brilliant outing it is! I can see why Oprah choose it for her book club selection. DROWNING RUTH starts off in the winter of 1919 and takes place in Wisconsin. Amanda Starkey, a nurse in Milwaukee, finds herself burned out and returns to her family's farm on Lake Naguwaukee. Her sister Mattie and 3-year-old niece Ruth are living there and taking care of the farm while Mattie's husband Carl is away at war. Amanda soon realizes that she cannot leave problems behind so things are stormy on the farm. About a year later, Mattie turns up missing and is soon found dead in the frozen lake. Amanda assumes all responsibility of the farm, and Ruth until Carl returns. When Carl does return, he is wounded, and it soon becomes clear that Amanda would rather not have him there at all. Amanda wants to have Ruth all to herself. Ruth's childhood is not a very happy one; Amanda is over protective and rigid. As the story unfolds, so do the secrets that were never meant to see the light of day. The story goes back and forth from the past to the present and is told in the voices of Amanda, Carl, and Ruth. I actually thought that I had the ending figured out before hand, but I was wrong. I must admit that I was a tiny bit disappointed with the ending, but that does not take away the fact that DROWNING RUTH is remarkably written and a very splendid read.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: I always ask myself at the end of the year, what was my favorite book of the year. This would have to be it. I loved this book, the characters, the setting, the time period, and the plot that slowly unraveled as the book went on. I loved the way the story lines kept crossing from one character to another and how entwined their lives became. I was fascinated with Amanda and Ruth and I was very happy that the ending finally revealed the secret that was on my mind from the beginning. This was a wonderful debut book from Christina Schwarz and I am really looking forward to her next one.

Rating:
Summary: One of the most intriguing books I've ever read
Review: When I discovered that Drowning Ruth was Christina Schwarz's first novel, you could have knocked me over with a feather! She writes with the authority, confidence, and skill of a seasoned author and spins a tale of amazing intrigue that keeps your eyes glued to the book from start to finish. I am very much looking forward to reading more from her! --Nicole

Rating:
Summary: If this lake could talk!!!
Review: Loved this book. The expectations back in the early 1900s were alot different than they are now. It was disgraceful to have a child out of wedlock and this story touches on that; actually the whole story is based on that. And the lake seemed to be the fun of this summer tourist town as well as being the punishment for some. And the little secrets in a family that seem better hidden always pop back up at the most unopportune times and usually don't stay secrets. Very good book.

Rating:
Summary: Page Turning
Review: Keeps you in suspense until the last page.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful First Novel!
Review: This book grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go until the last word on the last page of the book. A wonderful first novel by Christina Schwarz! I will definitly be on the outlook for her next book!

Rating:
Summary: A one day do-nothing-else-but-read book!
Review: It's a gray Michigan winter day and there is nothing better than finding a great page turner like "Drowning Ruth". I loved the haunting reality of the cold November night and the awful secret that was never really known until the end. I could not put it down.

Rating:
Summary: Mesmerizing!
Review: Drowning Ruth is an emotional powerhouse of a novel. Schwarz' unique writing style will keep you captivated and captured until the very end. Just as Amanda has done to Ruth, you won't be able to escape! The narrative switches between Amanda and Ruth and this is what keeps us guessing until the very very end. Even though you may think at different times that you know why and how Ruth "drowned", I doubt you'll be able to get it exactly right. Family secrets are powerful, deadly, and life-changing, as Christina Schwarz so aptly demonstrates in her first and wonderful novel. This poignant storyline will make you review your own family's secrets to see how they have affected your decsions and life. This alone makes the book worth reading. But there are many more reasons to buy, borrow, and savor this book!! Keep 'em coming Christina.

Rating:
Summary: Drowning Amanda
Review: First, let me say that I know alot of people have given this book a great review and that's fine, as everyone has their own opinion and their own take on every book that is read. Personally, I would have liked it if Amanda had drowned instead of her sister. It is hard to read a book where you seriously dislike one of the main characters from the very beginning. And it never gets better, if anything it gets worse. Don't get me wrong, this is a very well written book, which is mandatory for me. However, I found the character of Amanda to be so awful that I have to rate it very low simply because of the intense dislike of her. She is weak, distrustful, manipulative and conniving. This is the first time I have had to rate a book so low simply because of character flaw, but it really distracted me from the rest of the book. I did not like it at all and really wonder why it ever got to be an "Oprah" book.