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Summary: The futility of trying to keep family secrets secret
Review: The structure of this novel is what makes it such an interesting read. The perspective is constantly shifting as the narration moves from character to character. Today's younger readers may find it difficult to understand why a pregnancy would cause such shame, and cause a young woman to go to such pains to conceal it, given society's acceptance of such situations nowadays.
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Summary: Intriguing
Review: This deceptively simplistic book is the story of secrets kept and the far-reaching effect they have on the person who perpetuates them. I found the characterizations to be well done. At the end of this novel, the reader has a good comprehension of their motives, their insecurities and their hearts. I look forward to more insightful books from Christina Schwarz.
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Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: Here is another great Oprah pick! This book caught my attention from the first page and held me til the end! I hated to put it down. For a first novel it was really well written with good character development. I lok forward to her next novel.
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Summary: A great first novel
Review: A story that says keeping secrets can turn around and bite you in the you know what. I read this book in 2 days. It was truly spellbounding. This is a great first novel for Christina Schwarz. This story takes place in the early 1900's and continues through the years. Drowning Ruth captures the bare essence of human nature in smoothering someone in love. These choices that we as human make and the consequences and repurcussions of the decisions made can leave an imprint on one's heart. Amanda is coming home from being a nurse to live with her sister Mathilda and her daughter Ruth. Their lives begin to change when her sister drowns leaving Amanda to raise littel Ruth. Ruth is a child that goes through so many life changing events that molds her life. Her mother drowns in the lake surrounding her house and no one seems to tell her the full story about her mother's death including her Aunt Mandy. Her Aunt Amanda becomes very protective of Ruth when Ruth father comes back from the war to live with them. Amanda wants to keep her all to herself, wants Ruth to love only her. Ruth grows and learns more about herself and her family and this is when the story really starts. This book kept me up to the midnight hour dying to finish the book. This is another great pick by Oprah.
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Summary: Another winner from Oprah!
Review: I've got to hand it to Oprah...she keeps picking winners! Drowning Ruth was no exception. I loved the way the author switched back and forth between Ruth and her Aunt Mandy telling the story. The setting is 1919 and Amanda finds herself falling apart after nursing wounded soldiers and then finding out that the man she loves is married. Upon returning home to her sister, Mattie and niece Ruth, Amanda begins to recover and helps Mattie care for Ruth while her husband Carl is in the war. Unfortunately, Mattie drowns, and there is where the mystery begins. The author leads the reader to wonder how she drowns; was it an accident or did Amanda have something to do with it? I enjoyed the book and read it in almost one sitting. I will be looking forward to other novels by Chrisina Schwarz.
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Summary: Wonderful, Intriguing Story
Review: 'Drowning Ruth' is a novel you can curl up with and not let go. I started reading it and simply couldn't stop. The characters are all beautifully described, the setting is as intimate as if you are there, and the unravelling of all the mysteries keep unfolding at a slow but non-stop pace. We are introduced to Amanda as she seems to be losing it at her job as a nurse in 1919. She decides to go back home, to her sister Mathilda and her niece Ruth, where their parents are dead and Mathilda is living alone with her daughter while her husband Carl is away at war. Unclear actions (for the time being) lead to the drowning of Mathilda, and Amanda is left to raise Ruth. Just what happened that night out on the dark ice? Layer after layer seemingly unfolds to more information, more secrets, in a story told in several different voices and times. We go back and forth, between past and present, from Ruth to Amanda to Carl, and we find more and more questions unanswered, more suspicions uncovered, buried memories resurfacing, and a family filled with lies begins to find the truth. The story moves slowly, building the tension as it goes. We can figure out where it is going, but have no idea how it can possibly end. That this novel is Schwarz's debut is astounding. The writing is deft and smart; the author never talks down to us or shows us things until she means them to be known. The consistency is great, little things that are mentioned pop up again where you least expect them. This is one of the best books I have read all year.
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Summary: A Disappointment
Review: This is, unfortunately, my first review of a book on amazon.com. We have purchased many books and read voraciously. I do not understand the interest in this very obscure, unclear, and uninteresting book. One waits for something to " happen ", some insight to be seen, which never happens. Who are these people ? What do they have to say ? It is interesting how " herd-like " we humans are.
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Summary: big let down
Review: this book was a disappointment...it started off good but lost so much of its intensity and the eerie phychological atmosphere. the horrible family secret wasn't that horrible....the story became so ordinary and the plot unraveled to a disappointing end....
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Summary: Deliciously depressing!
Review: Whatever could go wrong for the heroines seems to happen. It is exciting and almost satisfying to have your worst fears for these characters realized time and again, unlike most writing of mainstream novels. I'm not a mean or morbid person, but this book feels like an outlet for your fears and worries. The worst does happen and life goes on. Wipe your brow of its sweat and read on. Let something bad happen to someone else for a change!
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Summary: extraordinary!
Review: For those looking for a one-dimensional tale told in a pedestrian fashion, look elsewhere! Yes, this novel is moving and a page-turner, but it is also exquisitely, subtely written. Its characters are compelling--nuanced (especially Amanda) and complex and its story haunting. This is far and away the best new novel of the year.
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