Rating: 
Summary: Easy Read
Review: An Interesting love story between 20 year old Ruby Pitt Woodrow and 40 year old Blinking Jack Stokes. Ruby was the daughter of a prosperous family and Blinking Jack was a migrant farmer who did not much to offer. Ruby, a beautiful young lady, and Jack, not a very attractive older man got together after the death of Ruby's abusive husband. Ruby had ran off with her first husband without the blessings of her family. The author had Ruby talking about her life in one chapter and Jack talking about his life in the next. There was not much said about Jack and Ruby's life together. I enjoyed the way the author had them switching back and forth in the different chapters.
Rating: 
Summary: touching in its sweetness
Review: Sweet little story of a Jack and Ruby who after 25 years of marriage have to deal with the inevitability of Ruby's lung cancer. It's narrated by both Jack and Ruby, and put together beautifully, in one chapter Ruby describes her past, and the next, Jack hiring a helper to look after him after her death. There are many poignant parts of the book, Ruby cooking and freezing food for Jack to eat after she's gone, and Jack sprinkling their bedsheets with her favourite powder, hoping to entice her spirit back. It's genuinely a sweet love story of two people who, despite the odds, found each other and comfort.
Rating: 
Summary: Not what you might expect.
Review: The first book I read by Gibbons, Ellen Foster, was really impressive. So when i picked up The Virtuous Woman, I was naturally anticipating more of the same. The story centers around a man named Jack who, at 40, falls in love with and marries Ruby, only 20 and already widowed. According to the back of the book, the main focus is their intense love for each other. While the book was interesting to read and very easily finished in a few hours, I find that I am left with more information about the neighbors, the landlords, Ruby's first marriage, Jack's years of work... everything else except Ruby and Jack's life together. This seems odd considering Gibbons speaks through the couple individually from chapter-to-chapter. One would think I would have ample information about their life together yet I do not feel as if I do. I don't want to say it was a bad book because it kept my attention and I enjoyed the plot. It just seemed a bit bland. Also, Ruby never consults her parents about any of the important decisions in her life (decisions made at 18, 19 and 20) nor does she ever live independently. She just sort of makes decisions without thinking and then hopes for the best. So, although she has a big heart, I can't really respect her as a woman. All in all, I would say it is a good book that could use some polishing to make it a great book.
Rating: 
Summary: Sheer poetry, a gem
Review: I never knew this was an Oprah selection. What I found was a truly exquisite gem of a book. Kaye Gibbons is a master writer, her novel A Virtuous Woman is a poetic work of art. This is not merely a love story . . . the work sizzles as you read it and I could not put it down. Stunning. Many layered. A rare gem. I welcome more from this exceptionally talented author. This book is not for someone looking for a typical endearing love story, or a plot line with "happily ever after". This goes deeper, and the way it is written is part of what moves you in the process.
Rating:
Summary: fiction but not fairytale
Review: Within the short span of 165 pages, Gibbons is able to capture the psychological and emotional dynamics between Ruby and Jack. Listening to their alternating voices, I was able to delve deep into who these people are and how much they love each other. (I laughed, I cried, I read sections to my husband, etc.) And though some have disparaged it for being "depressing", I think what some are really disappointed with is the lack of a "happily-ever-after". Life is rarely a fairytale, with love riding in on a white horse, trumpets hailing, and rose petals falling. Instead, Gibbons shows us what "true" love in real life can be-something that endures and warms us even after the person has gone.
Rating:
Summary: It was OK
Review: While I wasn't fully moved my the book, I did feel that Gibbons dipiction of love was quite accurate. Falling in love with Prince Charming may not happen to all of us, but finding one person in our life who we feel safe with and can love forever is what is truly importnat.
Rating:
Summary: Good enough
Review: This book did not really touch me or changed my life. But it made me realize something - When it comes to love, no matter what or how high we set our standard for the "man of our dreams", ultimately in the end, we will want a man who would take care of us and love us unconditionally. And surprise surprise, it may come for the most unexpected source
Rating:
Summary: Watch your language - PLEASE......
Review: I LOVED Ellen Foster .... for the story and the style.... many southern people really talk like this, very real... but this one was FULL of distasteful language and the main characters made fun on Christianity a lot, which really bothered me.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring
Review: I kept waitng for something to happen. I still don't understand the point of it all. If it's a love story, it's an odd one.
Rating:
Summary: A FAIR BOOK
Review: I found this book to be one that I could read easy enough but question why it was one of oprah's choices.. .It seemed very common and nothing outstanding about it... but entertaining in it's own right. .. If you liked this book, or want to read one that goes straight to your heart, read Stolen Moments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. . .It is a beautiful story of unrequited love. . .for certain the love story of the nineties. I intended to give the book a quick read, but I got so caught up in the story that I couldn't put the book down. From the very beginning, I was fully caught up in the heart-wrenching account of Julie Hunter's battle with lupus and her growing love for Don Lipton. This love, in the face of Julie's impending death, makes for a story that covers the range of human emotions. The touches of humor are great, too, they add some nice contrast and lighten things a bit when emotions are running high. I've never read a book more deserving of being published. It has rare depth. Julie's story will remind your readers that life and love are precious and not to be taken for granted. It has had an impact on me, and for that I'm grateful. Stolen Moments is written with so much sensitivity that it made me want to cry. It is a spellbinder. What terrific writing. Barbara does have an exceptional gift!
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