Rating: 
Summary: Incredible
Review: I loved this book. To imagine that this was Jane Hamilton's first book! The way she put words together. After I was done reading it I had to go back and read certain sections over again...so beautifully written. I know it's an Oprah book -- but so what! Beautifully written.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't let the "Oprah" label scare you away!
Review: I, for one, have shied away from buying books with that big orange "O" on the cover...I have not been entirely impressed with Oprah's book club choices (with a few exceptions of course). But after reading "A Map of the World" I thought I'd give "The Book of Ruth" a try. Admittedly it took me a while to get into, it didn't seem like there was any sort of plot, simply a sort of autobiographical novel about one woman's life. But I found myself getting sucked into the book more and more. Is the book depressing? Yes, of course it is. I find it funny that so many readers complained about that, considering that SO much good literature IS depressing. But it was so interesting to me to read about a character with such a bad lot in life who really, truly tries to see the best in everything. I could really relate to Ruth's relationship with Ruby. From a distance, it would be so easy to think that Ruth was stupid for even getting involved with someone like Ruby. But clearly it was hard for her to see the bad side of Ruby when he would do such other wonderful things for Ruth. I was totally shocked by the ending of the book. I don't think I've been that suprised by a book for a long time. And I don't think I would have liked the book as much if the ending wasn't so shocking. Another great one by Jane Hamilton--get your tissue out!
Rating:
Summary: It Will Become a Part of You
Review: Ruth is a girl we all know. We see her in the laundry mat. We catch a glimpse of her buying groceries. We past her rundown house. We sit next to her in high school math. We watch her struggle. We may be the one who always looks away. Or we may be Ruth, unsophisticated, confused, and desperate for love. The point is that she's there. She's everywhere. None of us may have ever given her the time of day, but Ruth has feelings too. Ruth has opinions, friends, goals, and Ruth is living life, just like the rest of us. Give Ruth a chance. See her for who she is. She doesn't want your pity; she doesn't want your scorn. Ruth just wants to be accepted for who she is: Ruth. Be careful when you read this novel. It will creep into you, and Ruth and her friends will become a part of your life.
Rating: 
Summary: What a chore to get through!
Review: I have read many of Oprah's picks and have enjoyed them. This surely was the exception. The characters were not "real" to me. They didn't grab my attention and I didn't care enough about them to be interested in the book. I finished it but it certainly was a chore. It was not the book I hoped it would be.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, quirky heroine...
Review: I, for one, did not feel sorry for Ruth. She was a hoot - had a great sense of humor about all the squalid things happening around her. I did not find her mother as objectionable as the bookcover blurb implied, either. However, I did find the characterization of the mother one of the book's flaws. I just couldn't "see" her, for all of Ruth's talking about her. Maybe it's because she did just that - talk ABOUT her. She was just too much of a cartoon for me - not human enough. Still, that didn't spoil the book for me. As for the previous reviewer who complained about Ruth's (and Hamilton's) jaundiced views on organized religion: MORE POWER TO THEM! Praise God (who is probably amused as Hell by organized religion) for Great Writers. Most of them, throughout history, have presented us with a clear view of the sham - the hypocrisy, the abuse of power, the ignorance bred in the institution. After having seen the movie version of (and then read the book of "Map of The World" ) I am a real fan of this author and look forward to everything else she brings us in the future.
Rating:
Summary: STRONG PLOT, NONSENSE & SACRILEGE BY THE AUTHOR
Review: Since I had read "A Map of the World" by Jane Hamilton and liked it, I thought I would enjoy a second book by her. Was I ever in for a disappointment; but not because the book was so horribly depressing. Some books cheer me up, some books depress me; some books challenge me. A good book is a good book, no matter what. However, this was a very different, very off-the-wall style of writing. Jane Hamilton, throughout a good portion of the book, put words in Ruth's thoughts that didn't even make nonsense; for example: "The grass was so lush and green I half hoped someone would put me out to pasture." "I bet my face looked like a raisin somebody stepped on." "It was so cold, his tears were the consistency of slush." "I called up Artie and told him I was sick as a dead pig." "My head felt like a bowl full of hot applesauce." "She waited on us hand and toe." And I've only scratched the surface. The book is chock full of this kind of idiocy. In addition, I was very offended by this story. I have a suspicion that Jane Hamilton may be an agnostic or an atheist. Nobody with the slightest iota of respect for the Word of God would write as sacrilegiously as has Jane Hamilton in The Book of Ruth. I do not care to repeat here the abominations she has put on paper concerning God, his son Jesus, and Scripture in general. She has also, through Ruth's thoughts, wiped the floor with the pastor of the church Ruth sometimes attended. I believe that Jane Hamilton, through Ruth's thoughts, has shown quite clearly what she thinks not only of organized religion, but of a person's personal relationship with the savior of the world. As a Christian, I truly resent this book. You might ask why I continued to read it. I was driven to see it to the end because, it was building up to such a violent crescendo that I had to find out what the end was like. As I mentioned in the title of my review, the book had a strong plot. Robert Morgan could have taken that plot and created a work of genius with it. Jane Hamilton created a strong plot but also created this Ruth person whose weird, nonsensical and sacrilegious thoughts emanated from her almost constantly. I saw her as a stupid woman with a deep-seated desire to destroy herself. Not once did I feel any empathy for her. She was not only self-destructive, but when she was not thinking drivel, she was entertaining sacrilegious thoughts about the church, the pastor, and Holy Scripture. So far as I'm concerned, in the end Ruth got every bit of what she deserved, but I, the reader, felt polluted! I did not want to give this novel even half a star, but I gave it one star because I guess that's the lowest grade one can assign to a book according to the "How do you rate this book?" box. Read this book at your own risk!
Rating:
Summary: A Mistake and a Surprise
Review: This book I picked up and brought home by mistake, but I was very surprised about how much I enjoyed reading this book. Ruth was a character I was able to sympathize with because of her treatment by May and others who labeled her as slow, but at the same time I was able to admire her ability to be a survivor thoughtout her tormented life and the shocking ending. I have not read any other books by Jane Hamilton but after enjoying this book so much, that will soon change. I highly recommend reading "The Book of Ruth"
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I have ever read
Review: I was required to read this book for a college English class, and I started it out the way most students would when they have to read something. The beginning is a little slow and boring. But I quickly got into this book. Ruth is an amazing character. She may not be too bright, but somehow she seems wise to me.Some of the events that took place in this book are funny, yet others are so depressing. The ending is a total shock. This is a great book which I strongly recommend to others. This book made me think about life. It was really touched me, and it made me want to read more of Hamilton's work.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Long
Review: I am a reader. I have been trying to follow Oprah's book club. However, I did not start reading the books she's choosen when the club first started. I have however gone back to try and catch up. This was her first pick. It's a "DEEP" book but I felt it took to long to get to the point, with a really good book this is not necessary.
Rating: 
Summary: Disturbing
Review: The book is ok, but I found many of the things Ruth did unbelievable. However if you watch Jerry Springer you may believe that people like this exist. I felt so sorry for Ruth, and in the end I didn't feel like she was ok. I don't mind a depressing book if it gives you a glimmer of hope at the end, but this one did not. Read this only if you want to be more depressed about life after it ends.
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