Drowning Ruth
3 journalers for this copy...
Book Description
Deftly written and emotionally powerful, Drowning Ruth is a stunning portrait of the ties that bind sisters together and the forces that tear them apart, of the dangers of keeping secrets and the explosive repercussions when they are exposed. A mesmerizing and achingly beautiful debut.
Winter, 1919. Amanda Starkey spends her days nursing soldiers wounded in the Great War. Finding herself suddenly overwhelmed, she flees Milwaukee and retreats to her family's farm on Nagawaukee Lake, seeking comfort with her younger sister, Mathilda, and three-year-old niece, Ruth. But very soon, Amanda comes to see that her old home is no refuge--she has carried her troubles with her. On one terrible night almost a year later, Amanda loses nearly everything that is dearest to her when her sister mysteriously disappears and is later found drowned beneath the ice that covers the lake. When Mathilda's husband comes home from the war, wounded and troubled himself, he finds that Amanda has taken charge of Ruth and the farm, assuming her responsibility with a frightening intensity. Wry and guarded, Amanda tells the story of her family in careful doses, as anxious to hide from herself as from us the secrets of her own past and of that night.
Ruth, haunted by her own memory of that fateful night, grows up under the watchful eye of her prickly and possessive aunt and gradually becomes aware of the odd events of her childhood. As she tells her own story with increasing clarity, she reveals the mounting toll that her aunt's secrets exact from her family and everyone around her, until the heartrending truth is uncovered.
******
I have an odd history with this book. The first time I read it I picked it up from the free book pile in my high school library last year, wondering why Ms. Nevitt would give away an almost brand new Oprah book. I read it, liked it, and gave it back to her to put back on the shelf. Well, I got to school last week and found it on the free book pile again. So I grabbed it- AGAIN- and asked my dear librarian why she was trying to give it away-AGAIN. Apparently she bought a newer copy, so I was free to actually keep it this time. Well, keeping books has become widely overrated, so it is now a Bookcrossing book for all to enjoy. So, enjoy!
Deftly written and emotionally powerful, Drowning Ruth is a stunning portrait of the ties that bind sisters together and the forces that tear them apart, of the dangers of keeping secrets and the explosive repercussions when they are exposed. A mesmerizing and achingly beautiful debut.
Winter, 1919. Amanda Starkey spends her days nursing soldiers wounded in the Great War. Finding herself suddenly overwhelmed, she flees Milwaukee and retreats to her family's farm on Nagawaukee Lake, seeking comfort with her younger sister, Mathilda, and three-year-old niece, Ruth. But very soon, Amanda comes to see that her old home is no refuge--she has carried her troubles with her. On one terrible night almost a year later, Amanda loses nearly everything that is dearest to her when her sister mysteriously disappears and is later found drowned beneath the ice that covers the lake. When Mathilda's husband comes home from the war, wounded and troubled himself, he finds that Amanda has taken charge of Ruth and the farm, assuming her responsibility with a frightening intensity. Wry and guarded, Amanda tells the story of her family in careful doses, as anxious to hide from herself as from us the secrets of her own past and of that night.
Ruth, haunted by her own memory of that fateful night, grows up under the watchful eye of her prickly and possessive aunt and gradually becomes aware of the odd events of her childhood. As she tells her own story with increasing clarity, she reveals the mounting toll that her aunt's secrets exact from her family and everyone around her, until the heartrending truth is uncovered.
******
I have an odd history with this book. The first time I read it I picked it up from the free book pile in my high school library last year, wondering why Ms. Nevitt would give away an almost brand new Oprah book. I read it, liked it, and gave it back to her to put back on the shelf. Well, I got to school last week and found it on the free book pile again. So I grabbed it- AGAIN- and asked my dear librarian why she was trying to give it away-AGAIN. Apparently she bought a newer copy, so I was free to actually keep it this time. Well, keeping books has become widely overrated, so it is now a Bookcrossing book for all to enjoy. So, enjoy!
Journal Entry 2 by Czersk at Caribou Coffee in Saint Cloud, Minnesota USA on Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Released 19 yrs ago (10/12/2004 UTC) at Caribou Coffee in Saint Cloud, Minnesota USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
I'm bringing this with me to Meetup. I may release it, and I may not. We'll see how it goes.
I'm bringing this with me to Meetup. I may release it, and I may not. We'll see how it goes.
Didn't release it. Made notes for nothing. I'll save it for a better time.
I am sending this to Wiley90 in Wisconsin as part of a trade for Utopia by Sir Thomas More. I hope you enjoy it!!
Received in the mail today. THANKS!!!
This is a very good book. I am at a loss to describe it! I am going to send it out as a surprise RABCK for a special bookcrossing friend who will likely appreciate the Wisconsin connection.
This arrived in the mail from our Bookcrossing pal Wiley90--thanks for sending it! I do like the Wisconsin connection, and my wife nancy looks forward to reading it.
My wife's rating. She expected some grimness (it is, after all, and Oprah book) but it was even more grim than she expected, and she found the characters to be difficult to follow. She thought it was okay, but I'm afraid it wasn't her favorite recent book.
My mom and dad grew up in Milwaukee around the time this book is set in southeastern Wisconsin--I'll ask Nancy if she thinks my mom might like it.
It was very nice of our good friend Wiley90 to think of us in sending it to us--we both appreciate that!
My mom and dad grew up in Milwaukee around the time this book is set in southeastern Wisconsin--I'll ask Nancy if she thinks my mom might like it.
It was very nice of our good friend Wiley90 to think of us in sending it to us--we both appreciate that!
This book is on its way back to Wisconsin! I thought my sister in Lancaster might find it interesting, and I mailed it there today from Vienna, Maine.
