The Book of Ruth

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. The Book of Ruth shines as a bittersweet testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

©1988 Jane Hamilton (P)1997 Recorded Books, LLC

Beautifully read touching story

I highly recommend this listen, the story is poignantl and heartfelt and the narration is superb.

A Story of Survival

Although the protagonist is verbally beaten down by her mother and those around her, she never plays the victim. She and the other characters were wonderfully developed and the narration was great. I enjoyed listening to the story and was left wanting more at then end. It was touching how she began to become more confident, but like all of us still had her doubts.

Beautiful writing, narrated so well

This is a stunningly beautiful book dark, yet written and narrated so strongly it rises above the darkness. It’s slow, but almost every sentence is a winner. The narrator did an amazing job binging the characters to life.

One of my all-time favorite books 📚

I'm always awestruck by the story itself and its retelling. They want 15 words in a review, but this book never fails to leave me speechless.

An Incredibl Story

How Ruth survives a seemingly uncaring mother and a not very bright abusive husband is a story that keeps you listening and wondering how she survives. The narrator is fabulous

Sharp writing

The story itself is difficult to hear. Abuse, violence, and delusion abound. The writing is sharp and cold, a twisted tale that’s woven together with intelligent, clever thread.

Tragic

This was a tragic, heart wrenching story. It was like watching a train wreck that you couldn’t turn away from. You know the end result but you keep watching anyway. I felt sorry for almost every character except one. I’m glad it was so short. The narrator was perfect for this sorrowful story.

Beautiful Work!

A beautifully written book full of incredible details and poetic moments. Narrated well but the pauses are noticeably annoying. Overall a terrific listen!

An outstanding, beautiful book, gritty not pretty

What did you like best about The Book of Ruth? What did you like least?

Hamilton is an outstanding writer. This is truly a remarkable book. In Ruth, Hamilton has created a heroine for me, the story of a flawed, broken, naive observer of her life, and that of those close to her, through her eyes. This is not a pretty story but it is oh so beautiful; if you don't have the courage to live with flawed people who get hit hard by life this is *not* the book for you. Myself, I love Ruth. I care about her. I root for her. I ache for her and with her. It's probably ridiculous -- *I'm* probably ridiculous -- it's probably ridiculous that a fictional character has gotten so deeply into my heart, right into the weave. It's called "Art."

What other book might you compare The Book of Ruth to and why?

I think of Kingsolver's "The Lacuna" because of the beauty of Hamilton's writing, and also the character development which shows up in both books. I think of Catch 22, because of the incredible richness of the character development in both books. Hamilton is a master painter, she catches every color and hue and shade and texture in this story and in the people in it and she puts it onto the canvas for us to see and enjoy.

What aspect of Angela Jayne Rogers’s performance would you have changed?

I would have loved a different narrator. It seemed to me to be a workmanlike reading, and not a labor of love.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

It would have to be a Swedish movie, or Danish. Perhaps French. No US movie could catch it, no US production would have the guts or even the ability to put the grit of this story onto the screen, we'd be force-fed a slick, pretty piece of garbage, all of the character and beauty of the story sanded down and sheened over with a gloss-coat, somehow they'd get an exploding helicopter into it and I'd never, ever stop throwing up.

Any additional comments?

I know that it's an old title, and little chance of this happening, but I'd sure love to have this title with a narrator who loves and lives for us what she is reading to us.

Tragic story told in an entertaining style.

I read this book many years ago and have often thought about the author's still. I've read every Jane Hamilton book. Sadly, there aren't many. Book of Ruth is my favorite.