Rating: 
Summary: The Book of Ruth
Review: I absolutely, positively, loooooooovvvvvvveeed this book ( however, I have been known to be kinda...well...very morbid :). This book was a hit with me. It actually gets you into the characters thoughts and inner-most feelings - one of my friends said that she absolutely hated the book, and I'm thinking, 'Are we from the same planet???' I mean, this book has truly changed my perspective of many things, including so-called 'trailer-trash'. You gotta read this book, but be prepared to be amazed at how seemingly simple, everyday life, when really looked at, can be as horrifying as any Stephen King novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Still a Little Unsure
Review: I'm still unsure how I felt about this book. I found it rather depressing. Ruth is such a simple person, you almost feel sorry for her. Yet there is something in the way she looks at things, a view so simple that it almost becomes complex. To Ruth, people are not just good or evil. For Ruth, there is a gray area to humans that allows all of us to do evil things without being completely evil. The book brings up some interesting points, but I thought it moved rather slowly. While it is a decent novel, it is not Hamilton's best.
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Summary: A writer on par with Joyce Carol Oates
Review: I have read both this book and Map of the World (which I loved and lived in and wanted to return to when I was finished). "Ruth" is, in my opinion, even more breathtaking than "Map". Hamilton has a fine gift not only of fleshing out a character.. but of fleshing out a relationship in all its subtelties and meaning. Her narrative is as intricate and unpredictable as life itself. Hamilton's writing is so fluid and emotionally tactile it not only brings the reader into the story but lets you inside the characters and their relationships... you will live in Ruth's head and heart, you will truly know what it is to be her... the reader is not left wondering at her motives or reactions. The narrative is so finely woven you find yourself understanding completely the most questionable of characters. It is Hamilton's keen understanding of human nature and the dynamics of human interaction which makes these characters shine with their own particular beauty and intelligence and at the same time with the dark horror of their "mean" "kernel"s. Hamilton's writing is not "meandering" or "boring" at all... there is no line that could have been left out of "Ruth". The story is actually quite spare and we hear all and only what we really need to know. I also do not understand how some readers can give "Ruth" bad reviews simply because it is 'depressing' and 'uninspiring'... Ruth is a victim of circumstances... but we know from living through her all the intricacies of the circumstances and thus how things could have been made better. The story starts with Ruth's feeling that her life's story started with the "meanness" in people... that we all have a kernel of meanness... we see how the subtleties of familial interactions can form the shape of their relationships and people's hearts and ultimately lead to destruction or salvation... the feeding of the kernel of "meanness" or it's eradication through patterns of expected behavior or by deviating from who your world has told you you are. We see how we can change our lives by breaking out of the behavior patterns we follow through the confines of the way our intimates (for better or worse) have drawn us. The only character brave enough to finally leap out of her casted role is Daisy, Ruth's "slutty" friend. Ruth's mother May, tragically, does not have the courage to end the cycle of her expected behavior and neither did Ruth.... but we are left at the end with the possibility of real change for Ruth... by virtue of her having learned how she got to be who and where she is... a revelation we should all be so lucky to make. I found "Ruth" wholly satisfying and also inspiring. This is definitely a book and a character I will carry with me for life and I eagerly await another novel from Hamilton.
Rating:
Summary: Novel not worth all the Oprah hype or maybe it is . . .
Review: Maybe it is just me but I am so tired of reading overhyped, overexposed, sensationalized depictions of women's lives that are riddled with violence, poverty, abuse, and depression. The Book of Ruth clearly fits the Oprah bookclub mold of novels, written by women, which, in prurient detail, discuss women as victims. I find this incredibly boring and uninspiring. The main character Ruth suffers from a horrible home life--an abusive mother who lavishes all her attention and affection on her son. Ruth, as a character, demonstrates no motivation, no desire, and generally no sign of life. She makes erroneous choices and then pretends not to understand why her life falls apart--I could say more about this but I prefer not to give the novel away. Furthermore, I simply do not appreciate Hamilton's style as an author. First, her novels are in-your-face depressing. Second, her prose is not as "poetical" as other reviewers have described it. However, I do not think she is a bad writer. As an alternative, I would suggest Connie May Fowler's somewhat autobiographical novel Before Women had Wings. This is another Oprah bookclub novel that is truly inspirational and truly poetical. The main character in this novel actually strives to rise above the abuses and poverty in her life. And Fowler is, quite simply, a better writer. I've also read Hamilton's A Map of the World and found it just as uninspiring and depressing as The Book of Ruth but that is another review.
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Summary: Wonderful, yet dark novel
Review: This was a very interesting read, yet very disturbing. It's the story of Ruth, growing up and her painful life. Ruth gets picked on because she is poor and not all that smart. As she gets older her life doesn't get any better, that is until she meets and falls in love with Ruby. Little does she know what lies in her future. I started this book and could not put it down. You feel so sorry for Ruth yet you have a feeling that she will not experience the true happiness you wish for her. One character I wish we saw more of was Matt, Ruth's genius little brother, who moves to Boston early on in the novel. A highly recommendable book, not for every one though.
Rating: 
Summary: complex reality
Review: I have a lot of different thoughts and feelings about this book. The story richly describes the gray area of life. We are neither "all good" nor "all bad". Ruth is a woman who seems to live a life of low expectations and simplicity. Ruth is labeled as "mentally retarded" and is forever in the shadow of her brilliant brother. We learn that Ruth is more complex and creative then what appears on the surface. On one hand, you are pulled to unconditionally support her given her lot in life. On the other hand, you want to knock some sense into her; I wanted her to make choices that would challenge her, get her to stand solid on her own and explore the world around her (not just rely on books-on-tape as a means of escape). You want to hate her mother May as she evokes the critical and unappreciative voice that seems to immobilize Ruth. Yet we learn May's history of shattered dreams and gain some understanding of her choices too. You want to hate Ruby for being such a loaf. He seems to have no redeeming qualities, just a lost soul, yet I found myself enjoying his perspective and words of wisdom. Definitely not an easy read but one that left me with very real and memorable characters
Rating:
Summary: Depressing
Review: I have just begun reading Oprah's book club selections, and this one did not leave me with a good first impression. Although the author was very vivid with the descriptions of each character and the environment around them, I could not help but feel like I was in a dark maze and could not get out. The good point about the book is that the author allowed for the reader to develop each character and their personalities very clearly. I could picture May bickering around in her daily robe after work, and Ruth moving about trying to be extra careful not to strike one of May's nerves, and Ruby constantly smiling with those rotten teeth of his. However, I could not help feeling sorry for Ruth and the whole life she lived. From the time she was a child, she had no choice but to accept that she could not have a better life. May was mean and miserable and eventually got what was coming to her, although I did feel sorry for her in the end. Ruby seemed to have a heart, but his child-hood destroyed any hope that was left for his sanity. The ending of the book was surprising and finally had my attention. The most depressing part about this book is that Ruth was so unfortunate in her upbringing that she never did believe that there was hope for her in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Very Intense and Moving Albeit Frustrating.
Review: Perhaps the biggest mistake I made was reading all of the reviews. Everyone raved about this book. I began reading it with hopes of reading a wonderful novel that would leave me feeling satisfied. I wasn't. I can't quite understand my feelings; I can just say that part of me loved this book and part of me didn't. Ruth grew on me as a person and I loved who she was. I just found it difficult to figure out what she was all about. Was she retarded, slow, or normal with a repressive Mother? I realize "retarded" is politically incorrect, and I understand and respect why. However, the reason I use it here is because the alternative term, "mentally challenged", definitely applies to Ruth. But to what degree? And why? What was the cause? Her small town upbringing, her living in the shadow of her brilliant younger brother, her sensitivity? Somehow you get the feeling, she was "normal", but perhaps not. Even still, it was frustrating for me not to understand the root, and precisely, who she was and what her problems were. I also could not "see" her Mother May. Another reviewer said the same thing and I understand completely. May was a major force in this book, and a major influence in Ruth's life, but I just couldn't get a good picture of who she was either!!! Another odd thing is that you never even here the name "Ruth" throughout the book. You don't even think of 'Ruth' as Ruth. I thought of her as this young woman who was given no opportunities in life and who was repressed by her overbearing Mother. She was strong, but may be not strong enough. This book does not give you the answers on a silver platter and perhaps that is the beauty of this story. You are drawn in and become emotionaly attached to these non-entities. I was very frustrated with the ending. Ruth, who persevered through so much, just seemed to crumble, probably with good reason though. But still, I hated that. That doesn't mean to say that Ruth doesn't succeed, she probably will, you just don't get that satisfaction here. Still, I ended the book feeling very emotional, and perhaps that in itself says alot about this story. To feel so emotional about characters you do not completely know or understand and yet still feel for, is quite remarkable. And that is why I have such mixed feelings; my head is stil spinning on this one. I feel as if I only scratched the surface of a very deep story... yet I still feel moved.
Rating:
Summary: The Book of Ruth
Review: Overall I enjoyed Jane Hamilton's "The Book of Ruth." I enjoyed reading the story of Ruth's life and how she got to her dramatic situation in the end. Although I really enjoyed the ending of the book, I didn't like the beginning so much. At first, Ruth just continually tells stories about her childhood and skips around to different years of her life. It was hard to figure out what year of her life she was talking about, but eventually the book moved into chronological order, making it much easier to read. This book is a really fast read. As Ruth continues to tell her story, I feel how stressful and hard it was for her to grow up with her mother, May. All of Ruth's life her mother rejected her and made Ruth feel like she was nothing. The shocking ending was the best part of this book. After reading this book the only part I think of right away is the ending.
Rating:
Summary: An accomplished work
Review: I have been slowing working my way through the novels of Jane Hamilton over the last few months and think I can now safely say that, in my opinion, she has well and truly joined the ranks of other outstanding North American female writers such as Margaret Atwood, Carol Shields and Annie Proulx. 'The Book of Ruth' is such an accomplished work it is difficult to credit it as a first novel. 'The Book of Ruth', naturally enough, is the story of Ruth. The reader shares her journey from a young child, always in the shadow of her brilliant brother, through to the time when she is a young woman with a child of her own. Her life is often harsh and full of difficulties. Ruth is from a disadvantaged family but while she is materially poor she has a rich internal life that is full of an intelligence and insight that those around her would never credit her with. There is a harshness that encompasses her everyday life that would drag most people down yet Ruth always manages to survive. Hamilton shows a wonderful affinity with her character, no matter how far removed from her own experiences that Ruth might be. Her writing is full of moments of grace and dignity that belie their settings. She has a real feel for the way people - in all their base and selfish ways - truly are and this can sometimes be confronting for the reader. Oddly, it is when Ruth's world erupts in violence that Hamilton's writing is at its most compassionate. Hamilton forgives her characters their humanity, allows Ruth to discover her inner goodness, and permits the reader a glimpse of a better world.
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