Gal: A True Life

Rating:
Summary: Touching
Review: Gal is a story of a life, one of ups and downs....as every life is. But this is also a story of moving on, in learning to accept the sour note that life throws our way and conquering it. It is filled with hope despite the trouble. Gal is tough. She is broken at times, but I strongly admire her for moving on, for learning---to some degree--that life is a journey forward. This is admirable. Couple the fact that poverty, hopelessness, racism, and familial adversity are all themes in this book, Gal teaches us a lesson: learn from the past, move toward the positive. It is worth it.

Rating:
Summary: GAL is a heart felt novel that will capture the reader!
Review: Gal was an honest and heart felt look into the life of a young girl from Charleston, SC, who grew up under brutal and un-loving circumstances and was still able to find and return love later on in her life. This book is definately one to be read by everyone, and will deeply touch anyone that has a heart.

Rating:
Summary: Gal, the True Life of Ruthie Bolton
Review: Gal, the true life of Ruthie Bolton is a story written through the eyes of a child who never knew the meaning of love. Born in 1961 to a mother just aging 13, Ruthie Homer was left in the hands of her grandparents, Clovis and Ruthie Fleetwood. Not long after Ruthie (Gal) was five things seemed to become a bit strange. Clovis Fleetwood, or Daddy as Gal called him, had a sudden urge of violence and depression which he took out on everybody in the house. Daddy started forcing the other girls in the house to cook, clean, and tend to his every need. If they did not do exactly what he asked, when he asked, he immediately beat them with a belt or a skinny tree branch. Getting caught up in sex, drugs and alcohol was what Gal considered that to be a "normal" life. The road through Jr. High and High school was long and windy for Gal. It took her on journey's through living life on her own, the death of her mother, the encounters with drugs, and the price you have to pay for having a selfish father. One day, after pretty much giving up on life, Ray Bolton walked through the door of Ruthie's one bedroom apartment. He came from the family Ruthie has always dreamed of having; a family who showed kindness, and happiness towards her at every waking moment. In this family Ruthie found everything she lacked as a child. Through this wonderful family, the little girl who got caught up in the life of a drunken old man soon found out what it was like to be loved.
This book is a very well written book. The details can be a little much at times, but with that, its almost like we could actually be there. The way the author wrote the book makes it easy to understand what Ruthie was going through in her childhood days and she always keeps you wondering, "what's going to happen next." This book is written in dialect so its easy to get the just of Ruthie's life in the South. However this dialect can sometimes be confusing when there are multiple people speaking, and when the transition from Ruthie Homer to Ruthie Bolton occurs.
This book is a terrific book for all reading levels. The summary starts off going through the horrible life of a little girl, then goes on to everything this girl had ever dreamed of, making it almost a fiction book. After reading when I went back and thought about it, I realized that it was a true story, so it gave me another perspective on her life. On a scale of one to ten I would rate this book a nine and a half, but I would recommend it to just about anybody interested in reading.

Rating:
Summary: good good good
Review: i am much familiar with the author and her situation and the author we went to school together and we were at one time close. all i can say is that is has been overwhelming and exciting to read. i am still living down here in mt. pleasant, sc and still in the hungery neck of town.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!!!! Highly recommend it!!!
Review: I could not put this book down!!! It is definitely one of the best books that I have ever read!! For anyone who loves memoirs as I do, make sure you read this one!!

Rating:
Summary: The Absolute Best
Review: I first read this book when I was in the 8th grade. I loved it right away and over the years, recommended it to many friends. Now I am reading the book as a college student and I am able to read with a more adult insight. The pain and torture that Ruthie went through made me thank God that I did not have to endure the torture she and her sisters did. She was able to come from a poverty ridden background to become the woman she is today. I think Ruthie is the epitome of true inner strength. I think everyone, not just women, not just African-Americans, everyone should read this book. It is truly a rewarding experience.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book.
Review: I had this book in my closet for about 2 years, now I wonder why it took me so long to finally make up my mind and read it. I was so mad with myself. This book was wonderful, I really enjoyed it. Gal really told the story to the point it make you feel that you were right there when everything was happening to her. I give this book 5 stars. Excellent!

Rating:
Summary: One who endures and triumphs
Review: I have never known the physcial or mental cruelty that one faces in a relationship or in a family life. I triumph in the fact that God has spared me such pain and humiiliation but I also triumph in the fact that one such as Ruthie Bolton was able to over come such immeasurable odds. My family and relationships have all been the kind that Ruthie fell into. Tough as she learned to become God brought her a good family and a loving man to stand by her side. And the fact that the story concluded as it did showed that she was the only one who was able to open her heart and give of herself in spite of it all. Of all the children in the family "Gal" was the "lucky" one. Praise God for your family and GOD Bless you. You cannot imagine the reward you will reap in heaven.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read For Every African -American Woman
Review: I have read many books and I feel that Gal is among one of the very best. Every black woman should be able to identify with it and if they can't then they are trying to hide something. Gal is the epitome of strength and hope and this is one thing that is lacking among many women; no matter what national origin they happen to be from.

Rating:
Summary: A great surprise...
Review: I picked up this book at Goodwill for 25 cents. It just looked interesting. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. A very sad, disturbing story, but Gal's strength was uplifting. I would recommend it to anyone.