Sending this out as a RABCK to KAT123. I hope that you enjoy it!

Release planned for Tuesday, September 02, 2003 at to fellow bookcrosser in postal release, postal release USA.

Recieved as RABAK can't wait to read it thank you so much( Happy Birthday to me : ) )

Absolutly loved this book!!!!

Oprah Book Club® Selection, November 1996: The Book of Ruth is a virtuoso performance and that's precisely why it can be excruciating to read. Author Jane Hamilton leads us through the arid life of Ruth Grey, who extracts what small pleasures and graces she can from a tiny Illinois town and the broken people who inhabit it. Ruth's prime tormentor is her mother May, whose husband died in World War II and took her future with him. More poor familial luck has given Ruth a brother who is a math prodigy; Matt sucks up any stray attention like a black hole. Ruth is left to survive on her own resources, which are meager. She struggles along, subsisting on crumbs of affection meted out by her Aunt Sid and, later, her screwed-up husband Ruby. Hamilton has perfect pitch. So perfect that you wince with pain for confused but fundamentally good Ruth as she walks a dead-end path. The book ends with the prospect of redemption, thank goodness--but the tale is nevertheless much more bitter than sweet.

I'm starting a bookring for The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton
-us only
Here is the order of the bookring I would like to add more people but want to send it on it's way for now

1.arugh48187
2.pashmack
3. wyldanthem
4. illinicheme
5. Marken
6. jamieh2003
7. kymberlie
8. WarEagle78
9. morpha
10. BigJohnLefty
11. back to me

Caught this baby today. Will read as soon as possible and send on to the next bookray participant.

GACK! Thank God this book is over. I liked the book mostly, but it was interminable. It could have been a hundred pages shorter and I wouldn't have minded a bit. The story is written from the point of view of a retarded girl and is extremely well done. I can't imagine being able to do that convincingly, but Jane Hamilton has done it. This book was indeed quite painful to read and took me forEVER, but I am glad I read it.

I already have the address of the next person on the list, so this will go in the mail tomorrow.

Released on Thursday, November 13, 2003 at Post Office at 153rd and Garrett in Apple Valley, MN, postal release USA.

Sent off to pashmack who is next on the list.

The book arrived today, Nov.19th. I am so happy to be participating in my very first book ring/ray. It must be a tear-jerker... the last few pages look like they've seen some water! I'll start reading this later today.

This certainly was an absorbing tale. I think Ruth's intellect was grossly underestimated, especially by her poor excuse for a mother. In telling the story from Ruth's perspective, the author gives us a view of a very imaginative, perceptive, wise, and witty mind. Perhaps learning disabled instead of retarded? Ruth's observations and perceptions are beautifully expressed. It was certainly more pleasurable reading about her thoughts and ideas than it was reading about things that happened to her. I, too, am glad that I read it. Thanks, Kat123!

This will go out in the mail tomorrow to Wyldanthem.

PS- I see that right now the book is not far from its original home, Ft. Pierce, FL!

Guess what arrived in the mail today (along with "Flowers For Algernon," one of the books on my wishlist!)? Of course, as excited as I was to receive this bonus, and as impatient as I am to start it, it'll have to wait until I've finished reading "Ruth." (I wish I were one of those people who can read twenty books at once and not confuse plots!)

Will journal again to share my thoughts before passing it along. Many thanks to kat123 for starting the 'ring and pashmack for the generous surprise!

Hmm... I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. Even though I didn’t really enjoy reading it, I’m not altogether glad I’ve finished it, either. There’s no question about Jane Hamilton’s writing ability -- I don't dislike the story because of something lacking in its author. I think the fact that I disliked reading “The Book of Ruth” is actually a testament to her talent. The subject matter made me uncomfortable, and the abuse Hamilton and Ruth, the main character, so candidly confront made even the thought of reading another chapter a depressing chore -- very few authors have been able to affect me in this way.

Regardless, I’ll definitely have to pick out some lighter reading after this one. Ruth’s story was just so sad that I understand now why, as pashmack pointed out earlier, the last few pages are water-wrinkled –- it certainly made me want to cry.

Mailed this off yesterday to illinicheme, the next participant on this ring. The journal entries for this book have been interesting so far -- can't wait to see what you think!

Arrived home from the holidays today and this book was waiting! I'll journal again when finished. Thanks!

This is a beautiful book, despite its difficult story. It's so sad that one person's tragedy (May's loss of her first husband) can negatively affect the lives of so many. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that stories such as this are all too common in real life. Hamilton does an excellent job with the first person narrative, and I enjoyed this book much more than A Map of the World because I felt more in touch with the main character, even though our life experiences are completely different. This book contains many lessons about hope and resilience, and definitely reminds the reader to always be thankful for the good and simple things in life, because the challenges could always be greater.

Thank you to everyone for sharing this book. It will be on its way to Marken tomorrow morning.

It has been over a year and a half that this book has wandered lost with no journal entry. What tales will this book have for us when it resurfaces?

The Lost Book Island Resort will give this book a relaxing home until such time that a journal entry comes to tell us the fate of this book.