From the Bookshelf of Sir Walter Scott Appreciation…

Ruth

Elizabeth Gaskell

Start date: October 28, 2017

Finish date: November 23, 2017

Discussion leader: Tracey

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Sep 14, 2016 Haaze rated it liked it

Shelves: lit_classics, literature-19th-century, literature, lit-english

7/10 Gaskell wrote this book in the wake of her first success 'Mary Barton'. I wonder if the expectations of the public somehow colored her approach to building the story line? The novel definitely made me appreciate Gaskell's writing and makes me look forward to additional works of hers. The first two-thirds of the novel was excellent. However, the last part had some major issues. I felt as if the plot was getting twisted in a way that made the novel less realistic. The events that occurred w 7/10 Gaskell wrote this book in the wake of her first success 'Mary Barton'. I wonder if the expectations of the public somehow colored her approach to building the story line? The novel definitely made me appreciate Gaskell's writing and makes me look forward to additional works of hers. The first two-thirds of the novel was excellent. However, the last part had some major issues. I felt as if the plot was getting twisted in a way that made the novel less realistic. The events that occurred were a bit too far-fetched even though symbolic in nature. They made me squirm as they seemed awkward and unnecessary. It is an excellent novel, but one I would not read again unless imprisoned with it in a tower or stranded on a deserted island.
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In my mind a 3/4 star rating is an excellent novel. The difference is that a 4 star one is a novel I will re-read in my future. Unfortunately, 'Ruth' did not make it into that tier even though filled with language reminding me of Charles Dickens' descriptive powers and George Eliot's psychological intuition. Great stuff, but with a plot that meekly twists itself into a bizarre ending. ...more

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May 20, 2024 Brian E Reynolds rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is author Elizabeth Gaskell’s 2nd novel after Mary Barton, and I thought it was a better reading experience. The prose here flowed more smoothly, perhaps aided by the lack of the dialect prevalent in Mary Barton. I also found the plot and characters to be more pleasing.

The story is a about a naive 16-year-old who has a child out-of-wedlock after engaging in an affair with an aristocratic young man named Bellingham, who disappears when momma drags him away from the strumpet who she believes This is author Elizabeth Gaskell’s 2nd novel after Mary Barton, and I thought it was a better reading experience. The prose here flowed more smoothly, perhaps aided by the lack of the dialect prevalent in Mary Barton. I also found the plot and characters to be more pleasing.

The story is a about a naive 16-year-old who has a child out-of-wedlock after engaging in an affair with an aristocratic young man named Bellingham, who disappears when momma drags him away from the strumpet who she believes corrupted him. Ruth is saved from self-destruction by a kindly and wise hunchbacked middle-aged minister named Thurston Benson and his spinster sister who aid Ruth is assuming a new identity to raise her son Leonard. Also prevalent in the story is the Benson’s congregation’s major benefactor, Mr. Bradshaw and his family, including a daughter Jemima that Ruth befriends, two other daughters that Ruth eventually serves as governess for, and Bradshaw’s young business partner and Jemima’s crush, Mr. Farquhar. As time goes on, Ruth develops into a devoted mother and diligent, dependable governess.

The story’s dramatic tension is the constant concern over whether Ruth’s past will ever get revealed and what the consequences would be. Eventually, the stress over her past changes Ruth’s character to an extent that she became more one-dimensional than the more varied character she had been. Until then, I had considered Ruth a very endearing and flawed heroine that I empathized with and rooted for.

Despite my dissatisfaction with the ending, I felt the overall storytelling and character development in this book were some of Gaskell’s better efforts. The Bensons in particular were well-formed, interesting and endearing characters. I will rate this as 3.7 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

MY RATINGS OF GASKELL'S WORKS
Novels
1. North and South - 4 stars
2. Wives and Daughters - 4 stars
3. Ruth - 4 stars
4. Sylvia's Lovers - 3 stars
5. Mary Barton - 3 stars
6. Cranford - 3 stars
7. Mr. Harrison's Confessions - 3 stars
Short Stories
1. The Grey Woman - 4 stars
2. The Old Nurse's Story - 3 stars
...more

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