Synopsis
First published as "The Frogs are Still Singing" in 1988, this novel won 1989 PEN/Hemingway Foundation Award for best first novel. It is the story of Ruth, who grows up and struggles to survive in small-town America. From the author of "A Map of the World".
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Review
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.
From the Publisher
"An extraordinary story of a family's disintegration... Will be compared to Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres. Astonishingly vivid and moving." -- People.
An enthralling tale of guilt, betrayal, and the terrifying ways our lives" -- Entertainment Weekly.
Unforgettably, beat by beat, Hamilton maps the best and worst of the human heart and all the mysterious, uncharted country in between." -- Kirkus Reviews.
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The Book of Ruth
Published by
Transworld Publishers Limited, 1999
ISBN 10: 0552996858
ISBN 13: 9780552996853
Used
Softcover
Seller: Better World Books: West, Reno, NV, U.S.A.
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Condition: Very Good. New Ed. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Seller Inventory # 50642848-75
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The Book of Ruth
Published by
Transworld Publishers Limited, 1999
ISBN 10: 0552996858
ISBN 13: 9780552996853
Used
Softcover
Seller: Better World Books: West, Reno, NV, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. New Ed. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 17605140-20
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The Book of Ruth
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paperback. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_453243477
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The Book Of Ruth
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The Book Of Ruth
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The Book Of Ruth This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9780552996853
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The Book Of Ruth
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Paperback. Condition: Used; Good. Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Aged book. Tanned pages and age spots, however, this will not interfere with reading. Damaged cover. The cover of is slightly damaged for instance a torn or bent corner. Seller Inventory # CHL4209265
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The Book Of Ruth
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780552996853
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The Book of Ruth
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Condition: good. Befriedigend/Good: Durchschnittlich erhaltenes Buch bzw. Schutzumschlag mit Gebrauchsspuren, aber vollständigen Seiten. / Describes the average WORN book or dust jacket that has all the pages present. Seller Inventory # M00552996858-G
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