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Who is reading Ruby by Cynthia Bond with us?
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message 51:
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Angela M
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May 12, 2015 08:11AM
Starting Ruby today .
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Be prepared for a unique and powerful story!
Brenda, I'm holding on ! From what I've read , I'll need to .
I finished it today and I have to admit that I was relieved it was over . Tough read , beautiful writing and I'm glad there will be a continuation. 4 stars for me . Here's my review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
So I'm back to reading Ruby and just finished chapter 8. Am I right in thinking that Ruby is suffering from hallucinations? I caught that she's been molested and raped since she was a kid, Ephram seems to have confidence and boundary issues, and then there's the dybou. Just realized the story is also a southern gothic when the dybou started messing with Ephram.The story reminds me of Sula by Toni Morrison. I didn't care much for that book and I'm starting to feel that way about Ruby. But I'm gonna stick to it and hopefully, chapter 9 will be better. And what is the deal with Ephram and that cake? It seemed like he was walking around town a few days with that cake.
Angela, I was soooo relieved when I finished Ruby. Probably can't say I loved the story because who loves pain? But, I did love the writing! The strength it must have taken to write it! Wow.
Rose, my vote: YES! As we described, it's not a light read but the writing is incredible. I have persuaded several people to try it & they all love the book but, like me, found it difficult. I think part of the reason is that it made us really look at the legacy of slavery and the reality of racism.
Lela wrote: "Rose, my vote: YES! As we described, it's not a light read but the writing is incredible. I have persuaded several people to try it & they all love the book but, like me, found it difficult. I thin..."I agree with all of you. It is hard for us to believe that things like that could actually happen in the South. I grew up in a mostly white neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey and blacks and whites went to school together. We did not live in the same neighborhoods, but we did go to the same schools. I don't know what happened on their side of town but we never heard of things like Ruby did. I was shocked and spellbound. The writing was terrific and I can't wait for the next two to come out. I believe it is well worth the time to read.
Rose - happy you've decided to give it a go!
One more chapter left. I wanted to be impressed, I was definitely hoping for it. Unfortunately it hasn't happened. I like the surprise twist with the fire pit meeting, certainly didn't see that coming. The book had some funny and a few interesting moments, but overall, looks like I'm gonna give this 2 stars. Her poetic writing style is good, she isn't a bad storyteller, she just isn't knocking me off my feet. So many said this book was amazing and I'm just not feeling it. Maybe it's because before this one, I had read The Grapes of Wrath, which was absolutely amazing. So I'm feeling a bit let down afterward. I'm hoping this last chapter is gonna redeem this book at least a little.
Adalis, I am sorry the book didn't have what you wanted. Isn't it amazing how differently people feel about a book. Keeps things interesting!
Yes it is a wonder. On her site, she says she's writing part two. Not sure if I'm gonna read it. The last chapter was interesting for a while, then it just kinda went down hill for me. Perhaps the second book will be a bit more exciting.
I'm not sure I can survive more! That one almost did me in. I grew up so close to the book's setting so a lot of it was way too familiar! I prefer character-driven novels to plot or action- driven so thst could account for my liking it and your not. Who knows? I see we are both reading "Watchman." Wonder if we'll agree on it? LOL
Well so far I'm liking Watchman. The part when she finds out the truth of about her father was somewhat difficult to handle. It's always hard to see the hero fall.
Spoiler alertI just finished reading this. It was a little hard to get into at first, a different writing style than I usually read. But I made myself keep reading and I'm glad I did. I know it is a hard subject matter in some places, but these bad things actually do exist in the world. My favorite part was where he was cleaning her house and bathing her. I could just feel the love there. And I loved the ending. After enduring so much, she needed it.
I've finished it! It's completely different than what I normally read, that's what I liked about it.
At first was difficult to read, but then it got me and I wanted to keep going.
The story is so heavy, so sad... I wish the book wouldn't be all sadness...
I finished the book, I must say it is a very haunting story. A lot of symbolism is used in the book to illustrate the points. I loved her usage of allegory instead of spelling it for you. The cake, the dybou, Ephram lack of courage are all symbols of a larger issue. Social issues. These things were once as common as apple pie but now we wish to pretend they never happened. That's what the ghost of the children were. The victims of the past. The restless pain of past events and that the victims were helpless as children. The dybou was an evil personification of the town's evil deeds made a living being. Over the hundreds of years this is what this evil became. It fed on the town's evil deeds. The non-progressive town symbolized society as a whole not really progressing and the unwillingness to progress. Ruby's pain and suffering symbolize the pain of those who have tried or are still trying to bring about progress for the betterment of all in the face of resistance from ignorant. The cake symbolized hope.
Great review, but I have the feeling this type of book is not for me!I do not mind books that do not end happy, but to much negative issues can depress me. I do recommend the Underground Railroad if you have not read it.
Mary
The book reminded me of Zora Neale Hurston, "Their Eyes were Watching God."
