Drowning Ruth: A Novel (Oprah's Book Club) by Christina Schwarz Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Drowning Ruth: A Novel (Oprah's Book Club)
Book Review: A haunting tale of past secrets
Summary: 4 Stars
I think it was Oscar Wilde who said nobody is rich enough to be able to buy his/her past. This is a haunting tale of past secrets coming back. A beautifully written, often heartbreaking, book that evolves into a real page-turner. One could say that it speaks of the unbearable decisions people have to make under extraordinary circumstances. I first heard of it when (if I'm not mistaken)it was selected for Oprah's book of the month in the US and it is especially suited to female readers. Christina Schwartz is an author to keep in mind.Book Review: A beautifully crafted tale of the affects of a secret
Summary: 4 Stars
This brief story of how one secret changes the lives of a family is a tense and inticate unwinding. Many times you will try to guess what happened on that fateful night and then one more clue changes everything. A weave of character, atmosphere and regret I would recommend you dip your toe into the waters that are "Drowning Ruth".Book Review: Not bad
Summary: 3 Stars
I found this book quite poor. I have to admit that I don't normally read books like Drowning Ruth with the exception of a couple of Anita Shreeves. However, I read it one Saturday afternoon (its quite short 2-3 hours max) and finished it feeling almost cheated. Frankly, I found the beginning and ending intolerably dull and it was only the suggestive middle section that made me continue, as I dreamt up several end scenarios ,which in hindsight, are more exciting than the authors. Maybe some would consider that a strength of the book, I don't know. Still it is extremely easy reading and the author does have extraordinary skill in choreographing the novels complex structure. She flits effortlessly between different characters narration remarkably well for a debutant. I have no doubt that we will hear much more about Christina Schwartz in the future, but hopefully she will have dreamt up a more passionate and engaging novel by then. I would be interested to read her follow up.
Book Review: With Kathy Bates, it could be a terrific film.
Summary: 4 Stars
With its vivid depiction of its post-World War I setting in Wisconsin, its nightmarish complexities as a family saga, its carefully developed suspense, and its simplicity of theme, Drowning Ruth has "blockbuster movie" written all over it. These statements are not negatives, however. Drowning Ruth is a very good read!
The author is precise and careful about building her suspense with excruciating slowness. She has created intriguing characters--at heart, not all that different from you and me--characters who are confronted with difficult problems to solve, some of which are not of their own making and some of which are the unexpected results of desperate decisions made in the long ago past. Her alternations of point of view help to give breadth and depth to the conflicts within the main characters, while the fragmentary memories which Ruth contributes add to both the mystery and the sense of dread.
Although Schwarz ably illustrates the restricted roles into which women had to adapt themselves during the period, the mores which applied to "good girls," and the limited choices open to them, the lack of liberation is so natural a part of her story that her novel and its complications are by no means part of a liberation manifesto. Drowning Ruth is a simple story presented clearly and suspensefully by an author who, like Amanda, is careful to keep her grasp completely within her reach. Mary Whipple
Book Review: An Oprah Fan
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved this book. I have read a few of Oprah's book club books and they are not "happy ending" type books at all. This one is the best one I have read so far. I've never read a book like this before. Usually, a story will be told by the first person or by the third person but this is told by two of the characters. It keeps switching from one to the other which is quite unusual. It tells the story of two very different sisters and it keeps you guessing right up to the end. I found it a very emotive ending. I would definitely recommend this book.