Rating: 
Summary: Hamilton keeps you engaged
Review: The Book of Ruth is one of those books that is very thought provoking. It is not exactly the most upbeat book that I have read, but Ruth is in her own way trying to survive the best that she can.Ruth's main tormentor in the book is her mother, May, who is so consumed by negativity that it is really pointless to try to argue with her. Ruth learns to survive her mother's negativity with the dream of visiting her Aunt Sid, who is May's youngest sister. Aunt Sid is like the polar opposite of May. Unfortunately, Ruth has to deal with her brother, Matt, who is a math prodigy. May always seems to be more preoccupied with Matt. Thus, Ruth is always second fiddle. When Matt leaves for college, May still thinks that Matt can do nothing wrong. Even though, he basically cuts off communication with their family. Ruth does eventually hook up with Ruby, who is a very emotionally disturbed man. They form a unique bond that eventually leads to marriage, which leads to Ruth, Ruby and May living under the same roof. All I can say is that the ending is unbelievable. I could see the signs of major tension, but the ending still caught me off guard. I knew that I would finish reading the book, but I had to put it down after the shock in order to get some fresh air. Hamilton has this knack for making you believe that things cannot get any worse, but then they do and you still cannot put the book down. I was glad that there was some hope for Ruth at the end of the book. I'm not sure if Hamilton is trying to emphasize the fact that what we endure will make us stronger, but that is definitely what I get out of this book. I would recommend this book only if you want something that is thought provoking and engaging. If you are in the mood for something light, then this is not the book for you. The Book of Ruth will definitely open your eyes up to someone who has had a rough life. Jane Hamilton has done a good job.
Rating: 
Summary: The circumscribed world of a tragic heroine
Review: The Book of Ruth does a masterful job of showing the reader the world view of a person who is blinded by her circumstances. Ruth is like a person with impaired sight. She sees the world from a devastating perspective and cannot get herself to shift her vision until she is forced to by horrific events. Jane Hamilton writes without losing Ruth's limited perspective and gives the reader the gift of insight into all our lives. We all see the world limited by our experience; some of us are more fortunate than others in that our experiences are more expansive and loving than Ruth's are. But to some extent, we all make choices based on where we see (mostly) artificial boundries. Ruth's extreme situation highlights this common denominator. I think we would prefer not to identify with Ruth and her life, but the impact the book has on the reader--the way the characters stay with the reader long after the book ends--is a testament to how much Ruth and her strange family really live in each of us. I congratulate Jane Hamilton for giving us Ruth and her beautifully written book
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Read!
Review: I read this book many years ago but it left such an impact on me. I still remember the words from the first paragraph and the horrific ending. I didn't find it to be an easy read but it was well worth it. I felt it made such a powerful statement. Would highly recommend.
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Summary: Ruth's voice came to life on tape
Review: As I got on the treadmill and turned on the tape, the plantiff sound of Ruth's voice made me feel I was reading her private journal and I hesitated for a moment. Did I want to know? Like other readers of this book, at times I felt repelled by the life circumstances of this troubled family. But having come from a poor, troubled family in a small town myself, I somehow found empathy even for May and Ruby. Could this have been my life if, by the Grace of God, things hadn't been different? Ruth, telling me her story in her own words, somehow helped me restore a link to my childhood that I had severed sometime in the past when I felt threatened by it. I don't know whether I would have loved this story so much if I had merely read the words off a page. My first experience with an audio book version of a novel was superb! Thank you
Rating:
Summary: A stunning novel
Review: This book is definately set at a slow pace and rich in confimration of Ruth's harsh reality. It is incerdibly well written and thorough of this woman's life. I began reading it with no prior information, and was constantly looking for signs of a positive turn in Ruth's life. Don't read it and expect to feel warm and fuzzy. I think that the redemption in The Book of Ruth is that each character is subtle in showing their selfless qualities. The end does contain a note of guarded optimism and leaves the future open for readers.
Rating:
Summary: Very well written
Review: This book has been in my bookcase for several years waiting to be read. After seeing the made-for-tv movie version of this book a couple of weeks ago, I decided to pick it up and read it. There were many parts of the movie that were unexplained and I knew that the answers would be found in the book. I was right. This book examines how people adjust to their environments and how sometimes they love unloveable personalities. Throughout the book, Ruth makes excuses for her mother's behavior, her husband's behavior and to a small extent, her brother's behavior. She reasons away other people's bitterness, slothfulness, drug addictions, etc. until it comes to a point when she can no longer make excuses or look the other way. It's a good observation of the different kinds of people that make up this world that we live in.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing book
Review: It's about a young girl who has a mean mom.It gives the feel of you are not alone to abuse victims.Helped me alot
Rating: 
Summary: Did not like the book
Review: I belong to a book club, only one person was able to finish the book and she only like the endng. I thought it was boring, it did not hold my interest.
Rating: 
Summary: unconvincing...
Review: I thought the narration was good, but unconvincing that Ruth was supposed to be mentally deficient...the way she narrates proves that she wasn't as stupid as she and others thought she was. I also find it interesting that Oprah's book picks are usually stories about lower class families surrounded by violence, abuse, and sexual frustration.
Rating: 
Summary: Too much unnecessary violence!
Review: I didn't like reading this book. I'm glad I'm finished.
What's the point??? Young girl is born into a disastrous family,
gets involved in a disastrous marriage. The only good thing she has to show for it is 2 sons. This was definitely a book of survival!!!
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