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Summary: For Mr. Powells English 11 Class
Review: Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz is a breathtaking novel that depicts human nature when it comes to protecting the ones that we love. As the plot intensifies, it seems as if you are present, listening to the conversations between the characters. Schwarz does a wonderful job illustrating this complex novel into a masterpiece that becomes impossible to put down. The theme of the novel is the result of secrets, and the impact it has on the lives of those involved. She carefully explains this theme in a way that one can find themselves wrapped up in the situation, and relate with the characters and their feelings.
The novel takes place in the early 1900's when Amanda, a nurse, returns home to live with her sister Mathilda, and her three-year-old niece Ruth. No later than a year after Amanda's return, Mathilda mysteriously disappears, and is later found frozen beneath the lake beside their home. Amanda takes it upon herself to raise Ruth, and to handle the farm alone. Ruth grows up with only one true friend, Imogene. When Imogene falls in love with Arthur, a local boy, Ruth cannot understand why her aunt objects to their relationship. It isn't until secrets about Imogene's parents and the events that occurred the night of the drowning are revealed that Ruth and her aunt grow apart, yet realize they are not so different after all.
Because Ruth was only three years old when her mother disappeared on that cold winter night, the only memories Ruth has of her mother are short flashbacks, which she cannot piece together to discover the truth. Although Ruth grows up heavily guarded by her aunt, curiosity and strong will lead to her development as a young woman who will eventually discover the truth behind her family's secrets.
Amanda is a very complex character. She drives herself to insanity at one point in the story, believing she is responsible for the death of her beloved sister, and parents. She also carries around a lot of anger for the man who mistreated her. Amanda is a very life-like character, for she exemplifies human nature, and the way people try to hide from the truth, as a way to escape from reality.
The book is written in past and present tense through the eyes of Amanda and Ruth. Amanda recalls the events that lead up to Mithilda's death, while Ruth has flashbacks of the terrible night. According to Anita Shreve, Schwarz creates "a strong sense of portent and unusually vivid characters." Drowning Ruth is slow to start, but as the plot intensifies, and secrets are revealed, the pace accelerates.
Schwarz does a very good job in writing this novel. Although she writes on a very complex situation, she careful in her clarity on the story. The only weakness I found in the novel is the ending. Schwarz creates so much intensity throughout the novel, but quickly explains the impact it has on the family. She leaves the reader hanging. Overall, I believe this is a very well written novel, and would recommend this to anyone who enjoys intense stories.
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Summary: Suspenseful and Unpredictable
Review: "Drowning Ruth" kept me engrosed in it and as they say, "on the edge of my seat" the entire time. I had to keep picking it up as soon as I put it down to read more and more. It's fast reading and well written.At times you think you have it all figured out (the plot and the story line behind the name of the book). It's creatively written, with the story told in many of the main character's voices, and skipping from the past to the present - back and forth in time. The writer keeps you gripped in suspense up until the very end. Well worth reading!
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Summary: A Edge of Your Seat Masterpiece!
Review: "Drowning Ruth" is by far the best novel I have ever read. The characters and the storyline are so perfectly woven together and the author leaves you wondering, "What will happen next?!" And then, what happens next, is such a twist that it leaves you breathless. I highly recommend this wonderful masterpeice to anyone who is looking for a good book to read, and even those who aren't; avid readers and hopeless nonreaders alike will find "Drowning Ruth" a book worth curling up with come rain or shine.
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Summary: Good book!
Review: The author makes you want to just know what the heck happened. She doesn't tell you until the end, so you keep reading on. It's a good story, although at times I found myself skipping paragraphs just to know already what happened.
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Summary: drowning ruth.. one of the best books i've ever read!
Review: I definitely recommend this book. I could NOT put it down! I loved the style in which it was written (the perspectives of Ruth and Amanda then the original narration) and all the skips from the past and present. It could be confusing if you don't catch onto things quickly, but even then you should understand it. I have to say one thing: EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE in this book has a connection to eachother, whether they know it or not! I mean, it's a SMALL WORLD! (You'll see what I mean when you read.. which you SHOULD ^_^) It's definitely mysterious and supsenseful. I think Ruth grows up too fast, but that's just my opinion. Wonderfully written, I love it!
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Summary: Boring and implausible
Review: At the end of the paperback version that I purchased and read there were comments by the author. Scharz wrote that the plot was the most difficult element for her and so the book had too much plot. I can see why she thought the plot was the most difficult element because I don't think the book had much plot. The associations among the some of the characters and some of the key actions by characters were implausble. The writing was good but the story-telling was cryptic. I'm originally from Wisconsin and I bought the book mostly because the author grew up in Wisc and the story was set in Wisc. Using these criteria to choose a book was a mistake.
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Summary: A Disappointment
Review: After having read several of the books highlighted in "Oprah's Book Club," and enjoying them immensely, I expected to be similarly impressed with "Drowning Ruth." I was disappointed. I found the plot tedious, most of the characters shallow and unbelieveable, and the symbolism crude and obvious. I have learned my lesson. Never choose reading material based solely on its inclusion in Oprah's Book Club and the resulting hooplah.
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Summary: Keeps promising and promising . . . but never delivers
Review: Christina Schwarz is a good writer. I envy her command of the language and her descriptive skill. Unfortunately, this book was derailed by the cumbersome plot, which was complicated by the way the author chose to present it. I have no problem with non-linear plots, as long as the author has the mastery to pull it off . . . you know, like Toni Morrison. I think this novel would have been strengthened had Schwarz not tried so hard to make it seem more complicated then it had to be. I feel she exerted too much effort convoluting the plotline and concentrated more on making the story more potent. I'll leave it at this: the end, when everything is finally explained, is a big disappointment.
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Summary: Wonderful story-telling
Review: Amanda, in an unstable state of mind after an unhappy love affair, returned to share her sister Mattie¡¦s and niece Ruth¡¦s lives. A tragedy claimed Mattie¡¦s life. As the story unfolds, the reader finds out what happened before and on the tragic night of Maureen¡¦s death.
The plot is simplicity itself, but what captivated me and kept me turning the pages was the wonderful story-telling style of the author. The story and answer evolved naturally, there was no pretentious attempt to hype up the ending, which made the whole story subtly touching.
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Summary: Not as good as Saving Elijah or Rebecca
Review: This is a book with a lot to recommend it--lovely descriptions, powerful feelings, and a sense of mystery woven throughout. The thing that bothered me is that it manipulates you as a reader and the mystery is contrived, not real--the central character knows it all and only makes it seem mysterious through cryptic and essentially misleading narration for no real reason--just to confuse the reader. This is not the case at all in great books like Rebecca or Gaslight--there, the mystery is real and the heroine, too, does not know it all. I loved Saving Ruth for the power of maternal love, like the contemporary Saving Elijah. But that has more real mystery and is a genuine, not contrived, psycological thriller. By the end of Saving Ruth I felt quite let down.
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