Ruth: A Novel [L0155]

2025 HCDJ in Gift-Worthy condition. Named a Wall Street Journal Top 10 Book of 2025. Named a Washington Post Top 10 Fiction Book of 2025. Named a Best Book of the Year by Vulture, Marie Claire, and Vanity Fair. "It would never work out, but I'm in love with Ruth."-Ron Charles, The Washington Post. "A wonderful, loving, tenderly teasing and often moving portrait ... [a] standout."-Sam Sacks, Wall Street Journal. "There are inklings of greatness in Kate Riley's first novel... I suspect it will become an underground classic."-Dwight Garner, The New York Times. In this mesmerizing and profound novel, the arc of a woman's life in a devout, insular community challenges our deepest assumptions about what infuses life with meaning. Ruth is raised in a snow globe of Christian communism, a world without private property, television, or tolerance for idle questions. Every morning she braids her hair and wears the same costume, sings the same breakfast song in a family room identical to every other family room in the community; every one of these moments is meant to be a prayer, but to Ruth they remain puzzles. Her life is seen in glimpses through childhood, marriage, and motherhood, as she tries to manage her own perilous curiosity in a community built on holy mystery. Is she happy? Might this in fact be happiness? Ruth immerses us in an experience that challenges our most fervent beliefs.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "There are so many well-written, clever observations throughout this book and I found myself underlining and re-reading them. It is such a testament to Riley's writing! I went into this book expecting culty vibes, but I quickly realized my expectations were way off. This book shows the imperfections and beauty of an insular life of faith in such a genuine way. Can happiness be found even in a "confined" lifestyle? This may end up being one of my favorite books of the year."; "I loved this book -- beautifully written and poignant. The author approaches a complicated culture and a multi-faceted flawed-but-fascinating protagonist with such humor and insight, it's hard not to love the character as much as she clearly does. Reading it made me think of books like Jeanette Walls' The Glass Castle, or Tara Westover's book Educated. Another great addition to the book category of unconventional women figuring out a life that works for them. Ruth's story will stay with me for a long time."; "I generally love character driven books-- check. I'm familiar with the general area in which it is set, which is appealing. Ruth writes passive-aggressive notes, and sasses back to her husband-- A+. She is a voracious reader, although her selection is limited to whatever free paperbacks are being passed around the community-what's not to like?"