The Book of Ruth

Written by Jane Hamilton

Narrated by Angela Jayne Rogers

Award-winning author Jane Hamilton touched readers' hearts with her emotionally-charged novel, A Map of the World. She intimately involves her readers, again, with The Book of Ruth, winner of the PEN/Ernest Hemingway Award. Growing up in a world of physical and emotional poverty, Ruth believes her shrewish mother's assessment of her-that she is dimwitted and worthless. When she marries an emotionally unstable ne'er-do-well, her troubles only multiply. Her job at the dry cleaners can't afford her little family the luxury of moving out of her mother's house. As the incessant bickering between her troubled husband and her abusive mother reaches a violent climax, Ruth must find a way to survive. Angela Jayne Rogers' sensitive narration brings to life the enduring wisdom, compassion, and strength of this innocent but battered soul. The Book of Ruth shines as a bittersweet testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 3, 2009
• ISBN: 9781440734465

Jane Hamilton

Jane Hamilton lives, works, and writes in an orchard farmhouse in Rochester, Wisconsin.

Reviews for The Book of Ruth

[indygo88 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I think a lot of people would either love or hate this book. It's terribly depressing, from the beginning and all throughout to the end. Although I like endings that are non-traditional and not predictable, I found myself plodding through this, waiting for a climax. Fortunately, there was one, but it was sort of slow going to get to that point. If you're looking for a "happy" story, this one's not for you.

[evelynbernard · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ruth is a small-town young woman with not too much going for her. She works at the local dry cleaner; she and her husband live with her mother; she goes bowling on a Saturday night. Ruth's Aunt Sid has made a life for herself as a musician and teacher and their written correspondence gives Ruth a glimpse into life outside her small town. The author has a beautiful writing style. She paints a picture of a complicated mother-daughter relationship and a troubled marriage as seen through Ruth's eyes. She has created a character who put me in mind of Rohinton Mistry's two beggars in 'A Fine Balance' - no matter how life kicks you in the teeth, you accept and carry on because, well, what else is there to do? Toward the end of the book, a family tragedy changes Ruth's life - perhaps for the better. But I never really got the feeling that she felt she needed to be saved.I liked this book rather a lot. It's pretty slow moving, but every page can be savoured.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an emotionally difficult book to read, but extraordinarily well written. Highly recommend it. A very good book for group discussion. What happens is so chilling; but I believe Ruth will triumph and I would love to read a sequel.

[bookworm12_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Ruth lives in a small town with her equally small-minded mother. Her brilliant brother gets out as soon as he graduates from high school, but Ruth seems content to settle into an unhappy oblivion of work at a dry cleaner. In theory Ruth is an interesting character because she is so ordinary. She’s not that smart or pretty or ambitious. She is an average person, one that you meet every day. The problem in that in her ordinariness there doesn’t seem to be anything new to be said about her. She settles quickly for whatever life hands her, whether it’s a job where her mom works or the first man who expresses and interest in her. Instead of trying to get out from under the thumb of her overbearing mother, she continues to live with her even after she’s married. I have an incredibly hard time relating to and respecting people like Ruth. She has an awful life, one that she continually complains about, but she does nothing to improve it. I just want to shake her and yell, “You can do better!” She marries Ruby, a man who is basically still a child. He’s lazy and spoiled. He forces himself upon her on their first date, but she decides that’s okay and agrees that taking care of him is her new second job. The two most interesting characters in my opinion are Ruth’s brother and her aunt, both of whom always remain on the periphery. Both are villainized in some ways, particularly her brother, for working to improve their lives. By the end of the book I just wanted to be finished with all of the horrible characters I’d met. BOTTOM LINE: I couldn’t stand it. I kept waiting for it to get better or for some lesson to be learned, but it never happened. I stuck with it because it was a book for my book club and I always read those all the way though so I can discuss them.  

[randoymwords · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I feel like I've read an entirely different novel from other reviewers. The great thing about Ruth is that she has an inner strength and that she enjoys life. She doesn't need to be saved, rescued or redeemed. As Ruth says to the Rev "Don't tell me anything about the resurrection. Go down to the stinky marsh in spring and listen, and you'll hear what's come to life, what's reborn."She has tragedy in her life, yes, but she understands it. The people who think they have a better plan for us all, don't.

[kaitlynmarie_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A beautiful and harrowing book. Ruth tells the tale of a family tragedy, building her story slowly and from all angles. Ruth grows up an awkward girl in a sleepy midwestern town, tiptoeing around her volatile and emotionally abusive mother. As she comes of age, they remain within their precarious living situation out of a mutual need for each other. When Ruth marries and her new husband moves in, the atmosphere in the house becomes darker. Hamilton takes the time to explore the history of each character and the ways that these histories shaped and defined each person's view of the world. A fascinating look at the limits we set for ourselves and for other people, and the conflict between loyalty to one's self and to others.

[estellen_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked this simple story. The main character really grabbed me, although her sheer dimwittedness in choices and narrative and then her miraculous academic achievements left a little to be desired.

[amyfaerie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is SO good that it suckered me into reading her next three books, which were nowhere near as powerful. Oprah be damned!

[rcooper3589 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

while i enjoyed parts of this book i was a little distraught over how long it took for the "other shoe to drop." i was confused as to exatly what ruth's "problem" was and why we needed to know so much back story. i would have preffered to have had less back story and more information about what happened after the event. i also found ruth's voice to be very depressing and sad. i think i was just expecting a lot more.

[booksfordeb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Having read this book a long time ago it is hard for me to recall details. I remember that I fell in love with this book. The characters were well written and had depth. A great read that is on my reread list. Very well done! Grab your tissues and enjoy.

[josephking6602 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great character study, thoroughly enjoyed this one...

[firecrackerscribe · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For the record, I read this WAY before it was an "Oprah's Book Club Selection." She actually came and did a reading at my high school. I think I was the only student who actually read the book after her visit.

[cindyloumn · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Ok..sort of a very weird, eerie story. Sad characters. Ending is violent. Sort of makes you sad. Like every day life. Oprah book choice.rating=42/19/98

[angela9vaughn · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book takes me to so many levels of emotion. From the beginning you can feel Ruth's utter lack of hope. This book puts it into a story that is played out day in and day out,things that happen in real life, but no one outside lives it. Watch the news? The book is wonderful if you can handle the emotions. I do admit that I wanted the book to end a little differently, but a great read all the same.

[katie_h_11 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"The Book of Ruth" is exquisitely written and disturbingly powerful. The story illustrates the painful life of dimwitted Ruth and how a single decision would change the landscape of her existence forever. This book is a page turner through to the end, and the climax is agonizing. I will not forget these characters for a long time. Beware that this book is NOT a warm & fuzzy read.

[michigantrumpet_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Hamilton often writes beautifully and evocatively. Unfortunately, I found neither her charactors nor the plot particularly compelling. The ending was gripping, but by that time that time I'd ceased to care what happened to Ruth or her family. Wished I liked the book more.

[lynnb_64 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the story of Ruth Dahl, a somewhat dimwitted girl who lives with her mother in a small town. When Ruth marries and her husband Ruby moves in, the family relationships become strained.Jane Hamilton writes beautifully, with phrases and images that are very powerful. I loved the style of this book, and the voice of the narrator, Ruth.I found there was far too much foreshadowing. We are told over and over that something horrible is going to happen...that looking back, the author realizes certain things. This was done to excess. After a while, I thought "this better be worth it." Not sure it was.

[oldblack-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found this to be a quite interesting read, but somehow I didn't really connect with the people in the story. The narrator is a working class woman living in a small town in mid-west America. She's trapped in a miserable world and, not surprisingly, looks to a marriage to lift her out of her misery. Again, not surprisingly, this doesn't work. She has a child, but that doesn't help either. In fact her only redemption comes through her relationship with her Aunt, who accepts her and encourages her. Perhaps I am just too removed from this context to really feel part of the story?

[alera_6 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I didn’t really like this book…but I didn’t not like this book. The writing style didn’t exactly appeal to me. I never really felt I had a complete grasp of the time frame of this novel. And it focused for a long time on Ruth’s younger life…yet you never got a good look at her younger life. I connected with the story more once she became the adult who had been narrating from the beginning. I had a firmer grasp of almost all aspects of the story then. But it’s so very depressing. I don’t really feel a chance for redemption…and so much of her life was wasted by the non-interference of others. While in real life that is often how it goes, in this story it just made me all the more upset. Overall final thoughts…It was alright, just not what I expected.