How did this book change you?

[Charlotte]

Ruby

I just finished this novel horrified, hopeful, ashamed and enlightened. Fictional characters gave light to the horrors of the black life from a small black town in rural Texas to a segment of NYC life from the 40's to 60's. Domestic abuse, child abuse, child trafficking, how to go along to get along, a heavy dose of voodoo and southern Christianity and people who simply look away. Again, and again and again.

Once more, I am struck with how much I don't know about the black experience and how it is my obligation to learn.

Can you tell me how this book effected you?

[Anita]

This book didn't change me. It just validated my beliefs. While I don't know all the horrors that black life has entailed, I am a voracious reader and have read similar before. When I finished the book, I did remind myself of my white privilege.

While I thought the book very well written and a topic of interest to me, I do know I can't recommend it to everyone, while wishing more would read it.

[Chris]

This books was very difficult to read because of all of the abuse and silence. Reading it through a therapeutic lens it allowed me to see how trauma begats trauma. It affects everyone and continues until ?

As a society it's not just black life,
yet I understand that in this book it is projected like that. Lots of cultures have experienced abuse like this but it's silenced, prayed away, shamed and found a way to hide it. Ruby has recieved some pure love. Will this prove healing?