The Book Wheel

Books, Politics, & More

  • Genres
    • Sortable Archive
      • Reviews by Author
      • Reviews by Genre
      • Reviews by Title
    • #30Authors
      • #30Authors Reviews
      • Lineup
    • Fiction
      • Historical Fiction
      • Mystery/Thriller
    • Non-Fiction
      • Biography
      • Economic
      • Memoir
      • Science/Tech/Psychology
      • True Crime
    • Political
    • More Options
      • 1001 List
      • Classics
      • Diverse
  • Book Club Picks
  • Lists
  • Other
    • Blogging
    • Career
    • Discussions
    • Lifestyle
    • Productivity
  • About
    • Accolades
    • Advertising
    • Policies
    • Resources
      • Authors
      • Contributors
    • What is a ‘Book Wheel’?

‘Ruby’ by Cynthia Bond – A #30Authors Book Review

October 14, 2014 by Allison Hiltz 9 Comments

‘Ruby’ by Cynthia Bond – A #30Authors Book ReviewRuby by Cynthia Bond
Published by Hogarth on April 29, 2014
Genres/Lists: #30Authors, Diverse, Fiction
Pages: 352
Read synopsis on Goodreads
Buy the book: Amazon/Audible (this post includes affiliate links)four-stars


Ruby is another book that I discovered during the #30Authors event. Thank you to Cynthia Bond for participating! 

Let me start off by saying that this book isn’t what you think it is.  I went into it thinking it was going to be a love story story that followed the main character, Ruby, out of her hometown to NYC and back again, with all the ups and downs that it entailed. While this is true, in a sense, (the reader does get a glimpse of Ruby’s transient life), the bulk of the book focuses on Ruby in the present day, with flashbacks to the past to explain who she is. It’s also not a traditional love story, although there are elements of a love story woven within.

Now that I’ve gotten out of the way, let me just say that I really enjoyed Ruby. Set in a deeply religious town in the south, Ruby is about a woman with a difficult past and the man who comes to her aid. Together, the help each other heal while dealing with intrusion by outsiders who have a difficult time leaving the past in the past. The writing is lyrical and it’s clear that the author put careful consideration into each and every word she wrote. From the descriptions of people and places to the unfolding of heart-wrenching events, Ruby is nothing short of an emotional experience. I fell in love with both Ruby and Ephram, despite their flaws. Even more than that, I was able to understand where a few of the antagonists were coming from, even when I disagreed with them. For Bond to be able to elicit sympathy from the reader for the bad guy Ruby is an indication of what a talented writer she is.

I will admit, there were portions of this book that were difficult to read and threw me off a little bit, but once I readjusted to what the book is versus what I thought it was, it was wonderful. If you enjoy books that explore the dark side of people or uses past experiences to shape a current character, then Ruby is definitely for you.

Related Posts

  • Same Genre
  • 4 Star Books
  • Hogarth
girl unbroken
Surviving an Abusive Childhood Leaves One Woman a ‘Girl Unbroken’
‘Freedom’ – My First Frazen (Book Review)
The President's Shadow
The President’s Shadow by Brad Meltzer
what was mine
What Was Mine by Helen Klein Ross
shadow year
Book Review: “Shadow Year” Showcases Secrets and Sorrow
Gloria Steinem
Gloria Steinem’s Kindle Singles Interview
The Unknowns by Gabriel Roth
Computers Are Cool In ‘The Unknowns’
The Long Walk
My First King: The Long Walk
The First Phone Call From Heaven by Mitch Albom
TLC Book Tours: The First Phone Call From Heaven
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
Could You Be Happier? Maybe You Need a Happiness Project
The Shore by Sara Taylor
The Shore by Sara Taylor (Book Review)
Herman Koch Tackles Taboo Topics in ‘Summer House’
Dear Mr. M by Herman Koch
‘Dear Mr. M’ Blends Koch’s Best Features with Wider Appeal
‘The Dinner’ is Delicious
the vegetarian by han kang
The Vegetarian by Han Kang

Filed Under: #30Authors, Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged With: Diverse Books

Email Newsletter

Sign up to get new reviews in your inbox the day they go live.

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Upcoming Reviews

Allison's books

Searching for Sylvie Lee
Searching for Sylvie Lee
by Jean Kwok
A Woman Is No Man
A Woman Is No Man
by Etaf Rum
The Leavers
The Leavers
by Lisa Ko

goodreads.com

Trending Now

“Nightingale Palace” is Perfect

‘Eve in Hollywood’ is Enticing

Euphoria by Lily King is a Literary Gem

10 Reasons to Read 10% Happier by Dan Harris

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

The Role of Guilt Plays a Major Role in ‘The Life We Bury’

Review: The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck

Content may not be reposted in full or without permission. This site includes affiliate links.

Copyright © 2021 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in