'Ruby' by Cynthia Bond

My Plot Intro

‘Ruby’ unfolds across the 20th century, from 1921 to 1974, predominantly in East Texas in a black town called ironically ‘Liberty’ (but also in New York). Ephram Jennings has been in love with Ruby for as long as he can remember, but the suffocating town prevents him from protecting her. So he watches as she slips deeper into insanity, as she becomes almost impossible to save.

Overall Rating: 3.5 / 5

FTC disclaimer: I was not sent this product. I am not affiliated with the companies mentioned. All opinions are my own.

Bond’s prose is lyrical, and her story is both magical and horrific simultaneously, told in fragments from different perspectives in a non linear narrative. Some of the imagery will never leave my head.

If you want to find out more about Bond’s own life, click this link:

https://cynthiabond.com/about-the-author/

All the characters were well developed and flawed, and I do hope there is a sequel as has been rumoured online (apparently it is the first novel in a trilogy -the preceding two yet to be released).

Although the story was incredible, reading it sometimes felt like wading for some reason, meaning I enjoyed it a little less. I also would have liked the pace to pick up a little sooner in the story.

Would I recommend it? Yes -it is an important novel for its powerful display of various abuses and their repercussions. Many people have negatively reviewed the novel because of it's dark themes, but I would only say that it should perhaps come with a warning; there are scenes involving incest, rape, murder, animal sacrifice, prostitution and child abuse.

“Ruby Bell was a constant reminder of what could befall a woman whose shoe heels were too high.”

Review written on 26/10/21

Book Discovery: Part of my English Literature A-Level course.