Rating: 
Summary: Hamilton has redeemed herself!
Review: I was leary of taking the time to read (actually listen to) this book as I wasn't nuts about "A Map of the World". I sure wasn't disappointed this time. Alot of people feel it was too depressing and there were alot of miserable times for Ruth and her family, but Hamilton used some humor in the story too. I laughed over several things, such as the time Ruth tried to make supper and instead of peeling onions, accidently grabbed tulip bulbs. Sounds like something I'd have done. Also, when Randolph, the fat neighbor boy, supposedly had a girlfriend. Ruth is amazed and asks his sister "who?", to which she simply replies "BAAAA". The story is a good example of what can happen to a child if they are constantly put down and told they are worthless and stupid. If Ruth had had a better mother, I think things would have turned out alot differently for her. When she finally met Mr. Right, Ruby, I thought he would turn out to be abusive, but he was just like Ruth. Not real smart and just needing to hear someone say something positive to him once in a while. I did get a bit fed up with the way Ruth allowed him to be so lazy and didn't really blame her mother for getting mad at Ruby. I would have kicked them both out a long time before it came down to the final blow-up. My only complaint about the story was the ending. It seemed like Jane Hamilton kind of ran out of steam and just wanted to get the book finished. The interesting storyline seemed to fall apart and did get really depressing towards the end. I hoped to see Ruth finally having some good luck after she moved in with her aunt and cheer up, but the story ended before we got to find out if she did or not. "The book of Ruth" turned out to be one of my favorite Oprah picks. I'll look forward to Hamilton's next novel.
Rating:
Summary: The Book of Ruth is AMAZING!
Review: It upsets me greatly to see people ripping this book apart because it's too depressing or they can't identify with Ruth's passivity. Her passivity is what makes her Ruth, lovable, naive, and with an innocent intelligent that comes from within. I am sorry some of you could not understand Ruth, because for the past two days, I have been living and breathing every second with Ruth. I am walking around at my job in a daze, waiting for the seconds to pass by so I can find her again. Only one other time (and I graduated with an English major--I have read a lot!!!) has a book effected me so profoundly that I believed in it as reality--that was Morrison's Beloved. I want to go and find Ruth's town, the hillside she cried upon, the old, empty farmhouse . . . I want to breathe where she breathed, to walk where she walked. I am so disappointed in the shallowness of people in our "electronic, media, TELEVISION" world, that they are unable to grasp the concept that people like Ruth do exist, and that Ruth is beautiful, wonderful, and ALIVE. Thank you, Jane Hamilton. I know I will never forget her story.
Rating: 
Summary: Too much unnecessary violence!
Review: I didn't like reading this book. I'm glad I'm finished.
What's the point??? Young girl is born into a disastrous family,
gets involved in a disastrous marriage. The only good thing she has to show for it is 2 sons. This was definitely a book of survival!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Hamilton keeps you engaged
Review: The Book of Ruth is one of those books that is very thought provoking. It is not exactly the most upbeat book that I have read, but Ruth is in her own way trying to survive the best that she can. Ruth's main tormentor in the book is her mother, May, who is so consumed by negativity that it is really pointless to try to argue with her. Ruth learns to survive her mother's negativity with the dream of visiting her Aunt Sid, who is May's youngest sister. Aunt Sid is like the polar opposite of May. Unfortunately, Ruth has to deal with her brother, Matt, who is a math prodigy. May always seems to be more preoccupied with Matt. Thus, Ruth is always second fiddle. When Matt leaves for college, May still thinks that Matt can do nothing wrong. Even though, he basically cuts off communication with their family. Ruth does eventually hook up with Ruby, who is a very emotionally disturbed man. They form a unique bond that eventually leads to marriage, which leads to Ruth, Ruby and May living under the same roof. All I can say is that the ending is unbelievable. I could see the signs of major tension, but the ending still caught me off guard. I knew that I would finish reading the book, but I had to put it down after the shock in order to get some fresh air. Hamilton has this knack for making you believe that things cannot get any worse, but then they do and you still cannot put the book down. I was glad that there was some hope for Ruth at the end of the book. I'm not sure if Hamilton is trying to emphasize the fact that what we endure will make us stronger, but that is definitely what I get out of this book. I would recommend this book only if you want something that is thought provoking and engaging. If you are in the mood for something light, then this is not the book for you. The Book of Ruth will definitely open your eyes up to someone who has had a rough life. Jane Hamilton has done a good job.
Rating:
Summary: Ruth's voice came to life on tape
Review: As I got on the treadmill and turned on the tape, the plantiff sound of Ruth's voice made me feel I was reading her private journal and I hesitated for a moment. Did I want to know? Like other readers of this book, at times I felt repelled by the life circumstances of this troubled family. But having come from a poor, troubled family in a small town myself, I somehow found empathy even for May and Ruby. Could this have been my life if, by the Grace of God, things hadn't been different? Ruth, telling me her story in her own words, somehow helped me restore a link to my childhood that I had severed sometime in the past when I felt threatened by it. I don't know whether I would have loved this story so much if I had merely read the words off a page. My first experience with an audio book version of a novel was superb! Thank you
Rating:
Summary: Very well written
Review: This book has been in my bookcase for several years waiting to be read. After seeing the made-for-tv movie version of this book a couple of weeks ago, I decided to pick it up and read it. There were many parts of the movie that were unexplained and I knew that the answers would be found in the book. I was right. This book examines how people adjust to their environments and how sometimes they love unloveable personalities. Throughout the book, Ruth makes excuses for her mother's behavior, her husband's behavior and to a small extent, her brother's behavior. She reasons away other people's bitterness, slothfulness, drug addictions, etc. until it comes to a point when she can no longer make excuses or look the other way. It's a good observation of the different kinds of people that make up this world that we live in.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Read!
Review: I read this book many years ago but it left such an impact on me. I still remember the words from the first paragraph and the horrific ending. I didn't find it to be an easy read but it was well worth it. I felt it made such a powerful statement. Would highly recommend.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing book
Review: It's about a young girl who has a mean mom.It gives the feel of you are not alone to abuse victims.Helped me alot
Rating: 
Summary: Did not like the book
Review: I belong to a book club, only one person was able to finish the book and she only like the endng. I thought it was boring, it did not hold my interest.
Rating: 
Summary: unconvincing...
Review: I thought the narration was good, but unconvincing that Ruth was supposed to be mentally deficient...the way she narrates proves that she wasn't as stupid as she and others thought she was. I also find it interesting that Oprah's book picks are usually stories about lower class families surrounded by violence, abuse, and sexual frustration.
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