Book Description
From critically acclaimed historical novelist Diane Haeger comes The Ruby Ring, an unforgettable story of love, loss, and immortal genius . . .
Rome, 1520. The Eternal City is in mourning. Raphael Sanzio, beloved painter and national hero, has died suddenly at the height of his fame. His body lies in state at the splendid marble Pantheon. At the nearby convent of Sant’Apollonia, a young woman comes to the Mother Superior, seeking refuge. She is Margherita Luti, a baker’s daughter from a humble neighborhood on the Tiber, now an outcast from Roman society, persecuted by powerful enemies within the Vatican. Margherita was Raphael’s beloved and appeared as the Madonna in many of his paintings. Theirs was a love for the ages. But now that Raphael is gone, the convent is her only hope of finding an honest and peaceful life.
The Mother Superior agrees to admit Margherita to their order. But first, she must give up the ruby ring she wears on her left hand, the ring she had worn in Raphael’s scandalous nude “engagement portrait.” The ring has a storied past, and it must be returned to the Church or Margherita will be cast out into the streets. Behind the quiet walls of the convent, Margherita makes her decision . . . and remembers her life with Raphael—and the love and torment—embodied in that one precious jewel.
In The Ruby Ring, Diane Haeger brings to life a love affair so passionate that it remains undimmed by time. Set in the sumptuous world of the Italian Renaissance, it’s the story of the clergymen, artists, rakes, and noblemen who made Raphael and Margherita’s world the most dynamic and decadent era in European history.
Download Description
Diane Haeger is the author of five previous historical novels, including My Dearest Cecelia and The Secret Wife of George IV. She lives in California.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
Very, very enjoyable!.......2007-07-09
The setting in the Prologue hooked me right away. You always want to know the dreams of a protagonist right away, and those of Margherita's provide the right impetus for her fascinating story.
--James Conroyd Martin, Author of PUSH NOT THE RIVER Push Not the River and AGAINST A CRIMSON SKY Against a Crimson Sky: A Novel
The Ruby Ring .......2007-02-28
The compelling novel The Ruby Ring written by Diane Haegar is one that you can not stop reading. Diane Haegar does an amazing job of telling the story of Raphael Sanzio and the love of his life, Margherita Luti. It is a story about love, loss, and everything in between.
When the famous artist Raphael Sanzio falls in love with a common baker's daughter, all of Rome goes into an uproar. To make it worse, he was already betrothed to the niece of Cardinal Bibbiena. At first Margherita Luti thought that everything that happened was simply too good to be true, and she later found out that it was. Cardinal Bibbiena was furious when Raphael called off the engagemen with his beloved niece Maria and simply would not allow him to marry Margherita. Together, Raphael and Margherita try to ignore all of the hatred and continue their life with one another. They run into many difficulties, but nothing could stop their undying love for eachother.
Margherita is a relatable character in this story in several ways. She starts from nothing and at first doubts Raphael's motives because of his reputation with woman. Since Raphael was a famous artist who was friends with important people, Margherita had to try to impress everyone so that they would approve atleast a little more. She often had complicated decisions to make and had to disregard the ridicule that she received from people. Throughout the novel it is made clear that Margherita is just a normal person and goes through a lot of problems that many people do.
I enjoyed reading this book a great deal. The whole story was so interesting and well written that I could not choose one favorite part. Although I did not have a favorite part, I did like when Margherita and Raphael first met. She was not interested in HIm the least bit but he was persisten in getting to know her and having her stick around. There is not anything that I would change about this book because there was romance and conflict that made this book very alluring.
I would definitely recomment this book to other people. I think that a variety of people would take pleasure in reading The Ruby Ring because there are so many aspects that could interest someone. Anyone who especially likes romance, drama, and some history would easily be hooked on reading this unforgettable tale.
The Ruby Ring.......2007-02-14
Our Book Club reviewed the Ruby Ring and we enjoyed the read. We liked the history and love story about Rafael & Margarita, actually we that it would make a good movie period piece. The sex & forplay seemed alittle to romance novelish to us. But mostly we liked it. This was an adult women's book club read.
Too bad!.......2006-10-26
I really wanted to enjoy this book- I love historical fiction, am interested in this period of Italian history as well as in art history, and I love reading about 'impossible love affairs,' a la Romeo & Juliet, etc. Unfortunately, despite sticking with it far longer than I truly wanted to, I had to put it down and couldn't even finish it.
It started off well and had a great premise- infamous maestro Rafaello meets his muse and his match in a poor baker's daughter despite being betrothed to the powerful Cardinal's niece- that never delivered. It was boring and drawn-out, predictable and lacked the ability to draw the reader in and allow connection with the characters.
Don't waste your time.......2006-09-13
I read a lot, and this is one of the worst books I've read recently and certainly the worst "historical novel" ever. It is neither historical nor deserving of the title novel. It is comparable to a romance novel, however, the reader never gets invested in the characters and the sexual tension is non-existent. Don't bother with this one!
Book Description
Set in the Middle Ages during the brief yet glittering rule of the Norman kings, The Ruby in Her Navel is a tale in which the conflicts of the past portend the present. The novel opens in Palermo, in which Latin and Greek, Arab and Jew live together in precarious harmony. Thurstan Beauchamp, the Christian son of a Norman knight, works for Yusuf, a Muslim Arab, in the palace’s central finance office, a job which includes the management of blackmail and bribes, and the gathering of secret information for the king.
But the peace and prosperity of the kingdom is being threatened, internally as well as externally. Known for his loyalty but divided between the ideals of chivalry and the harsh political realities of his tumultuous times, Thurstan is dispatched to uncover the conspiracies brewing against his king. During his journeys, he encounters the woman he loved as a youth; and the renewed promise of her love, as well as the mysterious presence of an itinerant dancing girl, sends him on a spiritual odyssey that forces him to question the nature of his ambition and the folly of uncritical reverence for authority.
With the exquisite prose and masterful narrative drive that have earned him widespread acclaim, Barry Unsworth transports the reader to a distant past filled with deception and mystery, and whose racial, tribal, and religious tensions are still with us today.
Customer Reviews:
Slow Go.......2007-09-28
Beautifully written, of course, like all Unsworth's books. But this one unfolds too slowly, with a stuttering narrative rhythm and a very non-charismatic narrator. The other characters are not interesting enough to take up the slack and as a result I didn't really invest in the story. I found myself skimming to get to the good parts.
Historical literature.......2007-06-10
Another wonderful novel by Unsworth. If you enjoy historical "literature" more so than historical "fiction" - he is the author to look for. "Ruby.." starts out a bit slowly, but the beauty of the writing and the intricacy of the descriptions and the characterizations make the buildup worth savoring slowly: I actually re-read on whim the first 150 pages before moving on with the book, something I have never done before. The metaphors for the corruption in an otherwise promising multi-cultural society Sicilian are wonderfully original. "Ruby.." really has it all - impeccable writing, sophisticated plotting, tension-filled denouement and lessons on morality.
Fine historical novel.......2007-03-26
This is a fine historical novel set in Sicily at a time when Moslems, who had ruled Sicily earlier, were still a significant, progressive part of the population. Nothing in the book is inconsistent with historical fact, as I read it in Sandra Benjamin's book on Sicily's history - in fact a few of the king's successors also surrounded themselves with Moslems at court. To my taste, Thurstan's love interests comprised too much of the novel, but they were certainly integral to the plot. Thurstan is a well drawn character, well meaning but not immune to the attitudes of the times. Still, while good historical fiction, I would not consider the novel fine literature, despite the capabilities of the author, a winner of the Booker Prize. "Rage of the Vulture", set in Constantinople in 1908, is a more serious, better effort by the same author, and equally entertaining.
Torturous politics, tortured hero.......2007-01-21
This literate, fascinating novel takes place in the turbulent Mediterranean world of the 12th century. It's a chaotic time, as Muslims and Christians skirmish for territorial advantage and the borders between the Muslim and Christian worlds constantly shift. In the kingdom of Sicily, Muslims and Christians live in uneasy alliance under the rule of King Roger, a tolerant monarch whose public goal is an open and peaceful society. But the ambitions of others always undermine such efforts, and the ambitions of Unsworth's hero are no exception. Thurstan Beauchamp is a Norman knight who is forced to serve under a high Muslim official in the King's government. He's the purveyor of the King's amusements, a role that sends him far and wide to find new entertainment for his King. Thurstan has never gotten over the loss of his chance to become a true knight in service to the King, and Thurstan's naive view of his King as a shining ruler leads him to become the unwitting pawn of the powers at court.
Nothing is as it seems, and Unsworth slowly reveals twists and turns of plot in a way that reminded me of Umberto Eco. It's inevitable that Thurstan is tempted into betraying his mentor, the victim of his own failed ambitions of knighthood. As it turns out, Thurstan has been the one betrayed, but luckily the sultry Nesrin presents him with an escape.
The title and cover of this book are a bit misleading, as Nesrin is a minor player in the drama until the very end. Marketers had the final say, no doubt. I'm a big fan of Unsworth, but in this story I thought he was a bit too enamoured of his clever plot, and Thurstan is hard to like. But I found the Christian/Muslim theme particularly relevan--neither side comes off all that well, and the description of the recent disastrous Crusade was gruesome. Unsworth is a serious literate writer--"Ruby" is not his best, but it's well worth it for Unsworth fans.
"Christendom is a mighty host that is destined to bring the world under its sway.".......2006-12-19
Twelfth century Sicily is a multicultural society, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Latins and Greeks living in apparent harmony under a Christian king. Cooperation in affairs of a state and economic enterprise benefit all, civilization functioning at the highest level. Unfortunately, the smooth surface of this shared prosperity is deceptive, behind-the-scenes machinations continuing unabated, particularly regarding relations between Christians and Muslims. In spite of the increased influence of Christians and the increasing favor of King Roger, a recent failed Crusade remains a blight on the Christian scorecard: "Peace depends upon the acquiescence of non-Christians to Christian rule."
Somewhere in the midst of these competing factions is Thurston Beaucamp, Christian son of a Norman knight whose fortune changes drastically when his father turns to the Church and relinquishes the boy's birthright. Now a purveyor of pleasures and shows, as well as a secret spy under the tutelage of Muslim Yusuf ibn Mansur, the prideful young man steadfastly believes in the mythology of knighthood and the goodness of kings, his youthful enthusiasm as yet untested by an overweening ego and ultimate perfidy. But warring factions are in play, Thurston the unwitting tool of those who would claim religious (and political) ascendance in the region, stealthily removing obstacles such as Thurston's mentor, Yusuf.
In his role as purveyor of pleasures, Thurston has discovered a wandering band of exotic dancers, most notably the beautiful, seductive Nesrin. While carnally attracted to Nesrin, Thurston's higher allegiance is to the Lady Alicia, a former childhood sweetheart newly widowed. Upon a chance meeting, the romance rekindled, Alicia pledges her troth, requesting his patience. Meanwhile, Thurston attends his duties with no little distraction, noticing odd behaviors and suspicious activities but failing to interpret the risk appropriately. To that end, he becomes a pawn, his heart blinding him to the painfully inevitable treachery of which he has become an integral part: "Blessing and preaching and ardor do not save us from stupidity and arrogance in the conduct of wars, nor do they save us from defeat."
An unforgivable betrayal seemingly balanced by the success of an opportunistic rescue, Thurston is cast into the depths of despair, learning the harsh lessons of politics joined to religion, an epic battle that has shaped the face of history. Questioning the values of a lifetime, Thurston finds unexpected redemption at the hands of the enigmatic Nesrin, who views the world from her own unique perspective: "If we do not break the bad shape, it will break us." Unsworth is at his arcane best when dealing with a complicated civilization, an evolving society tainted with political ambition and tribal rivalries, Thurston a man of the times, self-centered, vain, often of questionable character. Yet he is teachable once his ego has been punctured, the landscape littered with good intentions and lost opportunities. Luan Gaines/2006.
Average customer rating:
- couldn't even finish it.
- FLB
- Magical
- Just OK
- This book is such a "gem"!
|
Ruby: A Novel
Francesca Lia Block
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0060840579
Release Date: 2006-07-03 |
Book Description
From an abusive childhood in the Midwest to redemption in England, follow the life of Ruby, an intuitive and extraordinary heroine whose fantastic destiny includes writing, magic, and true love with the man of her dreams.
Customer Reviews:
couldn't even finish it........2007-06-20
i bought this book because ms block is one of my favorite authors, but i was really disappointed with it. the style is very different from block's usual stuff, and the plot starts out just a little cliche... there's a girl who's father hits her and she's leaving but the memories stay with her and tear her up inside. then she sees this guy in a movie and just "knows" that she's destined to fall in love with him...
blech. much as i love ms block's work, and i mean really love...
i have to say skip it. this book has somehow become a teen issue novel instead of a block novel.
FLB.......2007-01-30
I am an avid reader of anything Block so I picked up this book and got right in to it. Wait, what no flowery bubble gummy words? What happened? Is it the collaboraters fault or is it Lia's? Hmm I don't know but this story is definetly different than all her others. Maybe Block is changing the way she writes stories. Such a shame too cause she had a great thing going.
Magical .......2007-01-02
I read this book wondering how having a co-author would influence the writing and story. Once again FLB visits the fantastic and the real with the evocative writing that she is well-known for. This was a powerful book that I read today on the ferry. I couldn't put it down---but did to cringe in reaction to some of the passages of abuse that just shook me. Early in the book there are quick references, but later especially the last seciton of the book it becomec clear that the protagonist's father was an evil, abusive man.
I look forward to other collaborative books between these two authors.
This book won't dissapoint.
Just OK.......2006-11-07
I am a long time Block fan and found that this book just lacked the imagination and poetic language as her other books. I was so disappointed I didn't even finish it.
This book is such a "gem"!.......2006-11-03
Ruby is a wonderful little book that is quirky, mystical, but most of all, inspiring. The main character, Ruby, grows up in the Midwest in a family filled with secrets and lies. But her resilience and strength resounds throughout the book. She goes to England on a quest to find her soul mate--the man who will touch her inner being. I found this book to be beautifully written and touching. I think everyone that has inner demons should read it! I think everyone can relate to Ruby on some level and learn from her.'
Customer Reviews:
Foolish, obnoxious, and unbelievable.......2006-03-26
What a waste of time it was listening to this book.
The plot outline makes sense, but the novel's progress is ruined by unlikeable characters and a poor grasp of realistic dialog.
Who the hell makes or sells fancy hats anymore in today's world?
Why was Olivia so blase about David's jog that morning--if she was that head-over-heels about him she'd automatically hug and kiss him goodbye, perhaps say I Love You each time they parted.
How on earth could Olivia afford to just up and leave her one job and hang around the summerhouse all year, meanwhile theoretically paying 2 mortgages? The author doesn't mention the provisions of David's estate.
Why was there virtually no details of the trial or conviction of Amanda for manslaughter? Would such a girl actually take a fruitloaf to a grieving widow in that situation? How gauche.
Where were this woman's loving friends and family during Olivia's mourning? They seemed to either be telling her to buck up, flaunting their own marriages and pregnancies, or callously fixing her up with some nobody when she's lost her soulmate.
Are we really supposed to believe Olivia (educated, relatively privilaged) is that naive? Trusting a street kid to behave and refrain from theft, drugs and fornication, and to also give up her own baby to Olivia? She doesn't even catch on when Ruby steals her most valuable, personal possessions from her.
The whole adoption plotline bothered me. These open-adoption plans seem rather risky. In my time pregnant teens in the Northeast actually had 3 options: abortion, adoption, or keeping the child and going on public assistance. In Ruby, both Olivia and Ruby seem to want the best of both options: keeping the baby with Olivia but giving the birth mother visitation rights. This is too messy a stipulation--it requires extreme maturity on both parties. Neither Olivia nor Ruby seemed very mature, let alone responsible, to me.
I know the character grieved over her husband, "in her own way",
yet I was shocked and horrified when she killed a cat, a poor sweet neighbor's pet, yet didn't bother to shed one tear of regret that she'd been a mini-Amanda herself.
I don't think real teens talk like Ruby,and the supporting character's dialog sounded like they were from a made-for-cable TV movie.
Not much in this book rang true, and I simply could not sympathize with anyone in it, or their actions. Could have been handled so much better, too bad--the premise was great.
The title should be "Olivia".......2005-02-04
Ann Hood should be declared a saint by all married men (along with Dr. Laura since she published The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands last year). The main character in Ruby is not Ruby, is Olivia. She had been married for only a few months when her husband is killed while jogging. That very morning, when he tried to get intimate, Olivia shunned him away, and suggested that he go for a run. After his death, this is a regret that Olivia cannot shake away. Many a woman (including me) will heed her implied advice after reading this book.
So Olivia is devastated and goes to their summer house on the coast in Rhode Island to prepare it for sale. While there, she meets Ruby. Ruby is 15 going on 40, and very pregnant. Olivia starts fantasizing about keeping Ruby's baby, as it had been hers and David's dream to have a child. But Ruby is a bit of a con-artist, and the process is not going to be smooth sailing.
The beauty about the story is not so much about Olivia getting the baby as it is about Olivia getting a family. It was heartwarming to see the evolution of Olivia and Ruby's relationship, from distrust, to antagonism, to acceptance, to full support. I loved the ending.
I wasn't too happy about a few unsatisfying details in the story:
* David falling in love at first sight with Olivia, the milliner who sold him the hat he was supposed to give to his girlfriend on Valentine's Day. He gave her the hat and proceeded to break up with her. How shallow! I never warmed up to him.
* Olivia's unrealistic retreat to the beach house in RI. She has a business to run and an apartment in NYC, yet she has the means to close them up without subletting. Was she so independently wealthy?
* There is a three-year-old in the story that says things like: "We've never eaten in here. [...] Honest to God, we never eat in here. Not in a million years". OK, how many three-year-olds do you know that say "we've never eaten"? I know many an adult that says "we've never ate".
* Olivia and Ruby's fight in the parking lot at the A&W. No matter how stoned those kids were, no one came to Ruby's defense?
* Rex's visit to the beach house in the middle of the night. Hmmm...
* The cassette tape. I will not into details so as not to spoil this part.
In any event, this was a pretty good novel, that read like a breeze. I don't think it is stellar, but I enjoyed the pace. The style reminded me a bit of Laurie Colwin's fabulous novels, maybe because of the New England setting, maybe because the simple, fresh dialog, maybe because of the strong women friendships.
A good read........2001-01-24
Olivia and Ruby meet under very unusual circumstances. Olivia is staying at a beach house that she and her husband planned to live in together. He was tragically killed and she is trying to come to terms with her grief. She finds Ruby in her kitchen drinking a glass of water. Ruby is 15, pregnant, and has no place to go. Although suspicious of her, Olivia lets her stay in her house and gradually they form a bond.
Olivia decides that the best thing for everyone is for her to adopt Ruby's baby. But will Ruby keep her word? Even tho she's only 15, there are times when she seems to think that it will be possible for her to keep her baby.
Their relationship goes through many stages from the distrust in the beginning to true friendship at the end. It is a marvelous book.
Shallow Characters.......2000-11-08
Ann Hood's novel about a pregnant teenager and a mourning widow was full of shallow characters and a jumbled plot. The conversations were simple and provided little insight into what each character was feeling. I forced myself to finish this book and was not surprised when the end was exactly what I had expected.
It was ok, but..........2000-07-02
I bought this book with great anticipation, as it had been highly recommended by a friend. I have to say, I was more than a little disappointed. I couldn't bring myself to like Ruby or Olivia, and by the end of the book was hoping that NEITHER of them got to keep the baby. Olivia was shallow, self centered, and only seemed to want the baby to fill the void left by her husband's death. Ruby was rude, obnoxiously naive, and only seemed to want the baby to force her boyfriend to stay with her. If this is a true sampling of Ms. Hood's writing, you can bet I won't be reading anymore!
Book Description
The third and final book in the Ruby Prairie series about a small town in Texas and the quirky characters who live there as seen through the eyes of Charlotte, a widow in her mid-thirties who has come to the town to open her home and be a foster mother for girls. Charlotte is faced with decisions regarding her future in Ruby Prairie as the girls she has been caring for at Tanglewood begin to lead lives on their own, and the pastor she has long admired begins to return her love. And when an infant is abandoned at Lighted Way Church, Charlotte must once again face the truth that love breaks your heart, but love is the only way to live.
Average customer rating:
- I WAZ BLOWN AWAY BY THIS GREAT BOOK! 1 BILLION STARS!
- Slayers The Ruby Eye
- I'm still gagging.
- Finally Officially in English!
- For fans of the anime and non-fans alike
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Slayers Text, Vol. 1: The Ruby Eye
Hajime Kanzaka , and
Rui Araizumi
Manufacturer: TokyoPop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1595320946 |
Customer Reviews:
I WAZ BLOWN AWAY BY THIS GREAT BOOK! 1 BILLION STARS!.......2006-06-30
i love this book. it follows the first 3 volumes of The Slayers ((the show)) pretty well, with some Dialogue differences. i really like how you get to know what Lina is thinking at the moment in pretty much on every paragraph! her crude, funny, thoughts in the book are SOO FUNNY! you don't get to hear those in the show!! also, the pictures are fantasic!! they have them in all the right moments of the book, like when they are discribing what Lina is doing, so if you don't watch the show, and don't know what Lina and !! if you LOVE reading story books, or LOVE the show, this is a MUST READ for you!!
this book is a page flipper, even slow readers like me can flip through all 198 pages real easaly! There are 15 books in the series, but only the first 6 were tanslated into english. i hope they do more, becasue i'd love to read the rest!
Slayers The Ruby Eye.......2005-01-21
very good translation tho i liked the original version better. The manga pages were not wat i had expected But all in all it was a very good story and book.
I'm still gagging........2004-11-28
Was this adaptation done by a teenager??? I can't think of any other explanation for grammar so poor that it'd get an F if it was in a 9th grade term paper. It's a good thing the original author probably can't read English or they might turn green to know their work has been so poorly represented.
Finally Officially in English!.......2004-10-29
I was introduced to the "Slayers" franchise via the three anime TV series. When I learned that the anime came from a series of novels and short stories by Kanazaka Hajime-sensei, I hoped that someone would translate these into English as it will be a couple of years before I can really read them in Japanese. My wish has come true.
Since the original Japanese novel was much smaller in dimensions, it has more pages. However, to convert the novel to American size, the number of pages has shrunk and the fonts used are larger than one would normally see in a novel. This is not a problem, but those wondering why the English version has less total pages will now know why.
The story of the novel was covered in "Slayers" episodes 1-10. If you've seen the series, you know it deals with Lina, Gourry, and Zelgadis and their dealings with the Red Priest Rezo and the sealed segment of the Dark Lord Ruby Eye Shabranigdo. It is interesting to see how the anime added and modified things to better suit that format. If they didn't, they wouldn't have managed to get 10 episodes out of this novel.
As to TokyoPop's translations, there were a few disappointments. First, no Japanese honorifics survive. Granted they aren't used heavily except by the miko (priestess) and the priests that appear throughout the series. That would have been nice to have left in (thus making it closer to how the Japanese author intended), but oh well.
The second item is a bit more troubling. It appears that TokyoPop modified certain passages to make it more appealing to younger audiences. For example, there is a passage where Lina is held captive. One of her captors decides to make her pay for what she's done to him. In the original Japanese, I'm told he wants one of his comrades to rape her, but no one is interested for various reasons (this is done for humor effect). TokyoPop changed rape to kiss. When the fish creature is given a chance to rape Lina (in the original Japanese), he agrees.
This is where TokyoPop's modification of the translation runs into trouble. The fish creature is waiting for Lina to deposit eggs (which is how fish do their thing) before proceeding. So that joke falls flat because TokyoPop changed rape to kiss. Obviously, if the original had been about someone kissing Lina, the fish creature would have just done so rather than wait for her to deposit eggs to be fertilized. While rape may not be a topic to be used in a gag or joke, it is what the Japanese author wrote and as such, should be in the English translation as well.
That aside, I'm still very glad that TokyoPop is bringing the series of novels to us in English.
For fans of the anime and non-fans alike.......2004-10-17
I've been a fan of the Slayers anime for years and years and when I heard that Tokyopop was finally going to bring the novels that inspired the anime to the US, I couldn't wait to get out there and grab it. And thankfully it was everything I was hoping for. Tokyopop has done an excellent job of translating the novel while still preserving the unique brand of humor and action that makes Slayers so interesting in the first place. At less than 200 pages, the book isn't long, but it's relatively self-contained so you're not breathlessly swearing about an evil cliffhanger or anything. The novel retains the original illustrations that the Japanese version had and, while not necessary, they're nice to have.
Fans of the show will probably love the novel, it covers the first part of the first season of the anime very closely (or vice versa, as the case may be). But non-fans should find a lot to enjoy about it as well. It's well written and is a very fast read (I read it in just over an hour) and it's very entertaining, with lots of action and humor. The only bad part about the novel is that it's so very short and you want to read more right away.
Book Description
Penelope recognizes the home of her new employers-a castle from an eerie, recurring dream. Other bothers include ghosts and a rakish family relation who rubs her the wrong way. That is, until he determines to show her his true colors-and protect her at all costs.
Customer Reviews:
The Ruby Ghost.......2007-06-08
I love a good ghost storie and this is one. It is a book worth reading.
The Ruby Ghost.......2006-02-09
Taking the position as governess to the Silverthorne family should have solved Penelope Jone's problems; she needs income and her family needs to have one less burden. However, she just knows that the rakish cousin of her new employers is trouble with a capital T. Moreover, a painting in the home depicts an image she has seen only in her dreams, and the lady of the house is haunted by spirits who have appeared to Penelope in those same dreams. Does Penelope have a connection to the house? Is she the key to putting the ghosts to rest?
*** A longer novel to develop the events more would have served the plot better, but it is a credible effort. It almost meanders into being more a gothic than Regency, but does not go far enough to be truly that. ***
Amanda Killgore
Customer Reviews:
Heaven by V.C. Andrews.......2003-05-14
Heaven is part of a five book series by the author V.C. Andrews. This one is about the Casteel family. The main character is a girl named Heaven and the story is about her life. It tells how her West Virginia family is so poor and how hard thier lives are. Heaven is always looking to overcome this and prove to everyone that someday she will make it out of this town and have a better life. The story is so unbeliveable that people actually lived this way during the 1950-1960's. This book is for everyone who likes realistic fiction and can handle adult content.
Extremely pleased.......2000-03-15
I have read every single book V.C. Andrews has ever written. I started in 5th grade and I have never stopped. Dawn was the first book of hers that I have read. I have been hooked ever since. Her books show so much emotion that you can't help but fall in love with the characters. Dawn, Heaven, and Ruby, are all characters that as humans we can relate to. They all go through the hardships of life and love, but they have fun adverntures while doing so. Through these characters, it is possible to dream and live out your own personal fantasies. Visit places you've never been or share experiences that are beyond reach.
ITS SADISTIC.....but great!!!!!!!!.......1998-04-29
I first picked up this book when I was 13, and I couldn't put it down until I came to the last page. The series is compelling, bitter-sweet and I recommend it to anyone.
This book(Heaven)was compelling and brilliant!!!!!!!!!!.......1998-04-14
I read Heaven a while back and thouroughly enjoyed it.Recently I have read 7 or8 more of her books plus the'new' series which is just as exellent.What I love most about her writing is that it is so passionate,I have often found myself crying over one of her novels,I'm glad someone has carried on her thrilling series of family sagas.-a Zimbabwean fan.
Book: Dawn by V.C. Andrews.......1997-12-04
Out of all the V.C. Andrew novel-series, I loved this one the best. Dawn went threw some terrible things in her lifetime, but in the end she found happiness and sucess. The only reason her half-sister and grandmother hated her was because they hated themselves. I read Darkest Hour before reading about Dawn and I was shocked. I couldn't believe that was the same Lillian Cutler. I gathered from Darkest Hour that Lillian, although going through hell coming up, that she ended up a kind woman. But I quess by the time Dawn met her she had suffered so much that her heart couldn't take anymore pain and she became spiteful. What we go through in life can either have a good impact on us to do better, or have a bad impact on us to make our hearts angry. And I suppose Lillian chose the negative road. Nonetheless, I loved the entire series and I plan on reading it again soon.
Average customer rating:
- A lasting impression
- More Swill from the Master of White Trash Literature
- Ruby
|
Ruby Red: A Novel
William Price Fox
Manufacturer: Orloff Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0964294923 |
Download Description
William Price Fox's wonderfully satirical "Nashville" novel was a huge bestseller when first published in 1971. iPublish is proud to make this classic novel by the dean of Southern writers available to new generations of readers. The story of Ruby Jean Jamison's bold determination to make it in Nashville as a country music singer, Ruby Red will charm and delight all who "discover" it for the first time.
Customer Reviews:
A lasting impression.......2007-07-28
Having had Mr. Fox for an english course at the University of South Carolina, I can tell you that one thing he is not is too serious about anything. Yes, you could take his renditions of the South as something serious and demeaning. But you could also have met this man and realized that he is eclectic and terribly funny. He is an amazing person who made a lasting impression on many of his students. There is a rhythm to even the way he talks that is utterly entertaining. This book is entertainment. Hence, the 'fiction' classification. If you want a portrayal of the South in all its elegance and splendor, go find some non-fiction.
More Swill from the Master of White Trash Literature.......2004-10-24
I absolutely despise the efforts of such crayon-wielding "writers" such as Fox to portray southern culture and life in the lowest and trashiest characterizations possible. Such persons only prove what I've suspected for sometime now: the last great Southern author is Pat Conroy. Everyone else is a tired old hack. And this book proves there is no one more tired and offensive than Mr. Fox.
Ruby.......2000-10-06
This book is funny, realistic, and the characters are exceptional. Anyone can relate to the plot of a girl that would like to make it big, help a friend see the light, and make it out of a small, provincial town. She meets people along the way that help her to learn where she's going. The ending atypical. If the reader has already decided in what direction Ruby is going, they might be a little let down, but it is nevertheless a realistic ending for a realistic and humorous story.
Book Description
In Ruby, her first work of fiction in over a decade, Mary Summer Rain brings her magical and mystical powers to a story that is filled with all of the possibilities that Summer Rain has shown us exist in her previous work. Always seeking the truth that exists outside the material world, she leads us on a merry adventure of metaphysical awakening, led by an old woman whose identity is not known and whose purpose is unclear, but who obviously is something other than what she appears to be.
Customer Reviews:
Ruby.......2006-08-11
The wait was worth it!!! Mary pulls out all the goodies in this novel which will bring on the truth bumps.......that is , IF you really know Summer Rain and have read ALL off her books.
This book is worth buying and please ,, give ourself time to digest the story. If you have read ALL off Mary's books, you WILL get where she is at with this one. Love and Blessings to ALL, And to Mary Summer Rain for helping me to awaken to the truth and for being MY TEACHER just by putting her heart into print for the past 20 some years! Lightweaver
Brilliant!!! Mary Summer Rain ...Simply Brilliant!!!.......2006-06-19
Mary Summer Rain is one in a million!!! She has a way of writing that brings her point across so one will never forget it. I have read all of her books, and am a fan of her non-fiction works especially, but "Ruby" is a priceless gift to her readers!!! Mary brings "Ruby" to life in a way that will inspire the reader to question those 'chance' encounters forevermore!
Good If You're New to Mary's Writing.......2006-04-09
I've been reading MSR's books from almost the beginning, so when I learned she was switching from non-fiction writing to fiction, I was excited at the prospect, because I had read The Seventh Mesa and thought it was outstanding.
Suffice it to say, my expectations were high because I do have a long history, and I've often read many of the other sources that MSR discusses in her Q&A books and autobiographies.
I felt Ruby was written for the initiate not for someone seeking a peek into the inner mysteries. MSR has hinted a lot in her non-fictional writings about all that she knows. I was hoping she'd fill us in.
Ruby is written in a highly descriptive style, one that I admire and appreciate. I felt like I was there with the characters watching the scenes as if I were watching a movie. The simply message of the book is one that can never be told enough, never gets old. So even though I was wanting something more, slightly different, I've recommended this book to many people with the hopes that it will pique their curiosity to explore the non-fictional offerings MSR has written.
A little flowery, but the storyline was topnotch.......2005-08-28
I loved the storyline. I am a little too impatient to get through all of the descriptive passages, but Ruby (the character) was reminiscent of a feminine verson of Sai Baba in the flesh. I loved the concept and really got into the story. Kudos to you Mary for this lovely story.
A welcome Return.......2005-06-12
This book, while disarmingly simple in it's premise and style, contains a compassion and grace, that is genuine. It is a welcome return for those of us who have come to be used to the prolific offerings of Mary Summer Rain, only to have her suddenly take a sabbatical. It was an exciting prospect for her to return with a novel, only her second, and I was far from dissappointed. She simultaneously perceives life through the innocent eyes of a child, and the learned eyes of a sage, and the confluence of that sight transmits so nicely into this story of a deeply personal spiritual nature. It is well written, with great thought, and is imbued with integrity and charm from its beginning to its conclusion.
Books:
- The Safe-Keeper's Secret (Firebird)
- The Secretary of Dreams
- The Shadow of the Sun
- The Uncrowned Kings of England: The Black History of the Dudleys and the Tudor Throne
- The White Man's Burden: Why the West's Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good
- The Witch Hunter's Handbook: The doctrines and methodology of the Templars of Sigmar (Warhammer S.)
- The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead
- Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale
- Totally Charmed: Demons, Whitelighters and the Power of Three (Smart Pop series)
- Vulcan's Soul Trilogy Book Three Epiphany (Star Trek: Vulcan's Soul)
Books Index
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