Drowning Ruth

A Novel

By: Christina Schwarz

Narrated by: Blair Brown

Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Deftly written and emotionally powerful, Drowning Ruth is a stunning portrait of the ties that bind sisters together and the forces that tear them apart, of the dangers of keeping secrets and the explosive repercussions when they are exposed. A mesmerizing and achingly beautiful debut.

Winter, 1919. Amanda Starkey spends her days nursing soldiers wounded in the Great War. Finding herself suddenly overwhelmed, she flees Milwaukee and retreats to her family's farm on Nagawaukee Lake, seeking comfort with her younger sister, Mathilda, and three-year-old niece, Ruth. But very soon, Amanda comes to see that her old home is no refuge—she has carried her troubles with her. On one terrible night almost a year later, Amanda loses nearly everything that is dearest to her when her sister mysteriously disappears and is later found drowned beneath the ice that covers the lake. When Mathilda's husband comes home from the war, wounded and troubled himself, he finds that Amanda has taken charge of Ruth and the farm, assuming her responsibility with a frightening intensity. Wry and guarded, Amanda tells the story of her family in careful doses, as anxious to hide from herself as from us the secrets of her own past and of that night.

Ruth, haunted by her own memory of that fateful night, grows up under the watchful eye of her prickly and possessive aunt and gradually becomes aware of the odd events of her childhood. As she tells her own story with increasing clarity, she reveals the mounting toll that her aunt's secrets exact from her family and everyone around her, until the heartrending truth is uncovered.

Guiding us through the lives of the Starkey women, Christina Schwarz's first novel shows her compassion and a unique understanding of the American landscape and the people who live on it.

©2000 Christina Schwarz
(P)2000 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A remarkable debut: surprising, unsettling and sure." --The New York Times Book Review

"A strong sense of portent and unusually vivid characters distinguish this mesmerizing first novel about horrifying family secrets and nearly annihilating guilt. Drowning Ruth is a complex and rewarding debut." --Anita Shreve, author of Fortune's Rocks and The Pilot's Wife

Like her or hate her?

The main character does some greatly redeeming things but all along you're wondering, should I like her? She's so... oppressive in her "I know what's best for you" mentality but at the same time, she sacrifices her own happiness for the sake of others in a matter of fact, no pleas for sympathy manner. The end was a surprise for me too and I am known with family and friends as a person who can quickly predict the outcome of a plot. Honestly, I liked not knowing if I liked or disliked the main character... and the end is satisfying. Good story.

Just Okay

The book is very evident. 2 hours into it you know everything that will happen. The plot is slow and long. Its not a book I would ever read again and wouldn't have missed it if I had never read it.

Wonderful!!

I really enjoyed this book and couldnt stop listening.I loved the suspense leading to the conclusion.the author was masterful at unfolding the plot. I would highly recommend this book.

It wasn't so bad that I didn't get through it...

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The plot is a "supermarket mystery," but the author's style is trying too hard to be artistic and literary...pick one and stick with it.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

the end was good. the beginning was very tedious.

What three words best describe Blair Brown’s voice?

raspy, lacks tone, lacks inflection

Do you think Drowning Ruth needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

no

Any additional comments?

Christina Schwarz is not a bad writer. She has a knack for vivid description, but I feel as if she's been wronged by a few too many men, and likes to vilify them in a way that is predictable and stereotypical.

Wonderful!

I really enjoyed this book - so much so that I bought the paperback as a gift. I can honestly say the book has been thoroughly enjoyed by all who have since read it. An unexpected pleasure and certainly worth a listen!

Good read, very well read

I thoroughly enjoyed this well-crafted novel - can't believe it was the author's debut work. The narrator was perfect too. It is more of an emotional than an adventurous journey, and Blair Brown tells it very well and with obvious understanding of the intent behind the author's words. Chick lit? No, definitely not, even though the main characters are women.

silent mental health issues. The need to replace

she needed to replace her loss. and to take ownership of her lies facing truths

Not easy to follow

Narration was great, but I struggled keeping the threads of the story line straight. This selection was not my cup of tea.

Summary

I have mixed feelings about this book. It kept my attention and I'm not sure why because at the end i felt like it made no sense and sort of corny!!

Wow. Just wow.

This book was nothing like I expected and had wonderful plot twists. The author revealed the plot in such an incredible way, and the characters were lovable and relatable. Highly highly recommend.