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Saturday, September 27, 2014

Ruth's Journey by Donald McCaig


Who can forget Scarlett O'Hara, Tara, and of course beloved Mammy.  Ruth's Journey is a tale of Mammy.

Mammy was born in the Caribbean Islands, was the only survivor of an attack on her household, and made her way to Savannah with the Forniers.  As their "child" she was treated well, but was sold to another family.

Mammy Ruth moves from one famous Southern family's ​home to another as we the reader follow her and find out what made Mammy the mammy she was.  There are many happy situations, but there are also many sad ones.​  The O'Haras are mentioned throughout the book ​and,​ of course​,​ that is where ​Mammy ends up.

RUTH'S JOURNEY was very well researched, but unfortunately difficult to follow and enjoy until the book was almost over.​

I loved GONE WITH THE WIND, but RUTH'S JOURNEY had something to be desired.  It didn't get interesting until way into the book, and most specifically not until Mammy got to Tara with the O'Haras.  Visualizing Tara and hearing chararacters' names from GONE WITH THE WIND made the wait worthwhile.
 

I enjoyed learning about Mammy, but RUTH'S JOURNEY wasn't a favorite read...it was a bit tedious even though the writing was outstanding.

You will love Mammy Ruth and feel sorry for her, and ​you will love learning about ​her strong will​ and her love and loyalty for the people she cared for and ​kept her going on through all her many losses.  Mammy Ruth was an interesting person, and a character​ everyone most likely loved and will never forget especially in her dealings with Scarlett.​ ​  3/5

​This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation in return for an honest review.​

8 comments:

  1. It was a difficult read, Kathy.

    Thanks for stopping.

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  2. I've been intrigued by this one since I like getting a look at a famous story through a different perspective. However, while this author sounds like may be worth trying the jumble and slow going isn't for me. Thanks for sharing!

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  3. I loved GWTW and read it several times when I was young. I bought a copy of it a few years ago, planning to reread it...and now the plan is to read Ruth's Journey, followed by a reread of GWTW.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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  4. Hmm, I loved Gone With the Wind, so I think I will stop right there and not read any book that is a "spin-off" of the original. But thanks for sharing your honest opinion about this new title.

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  5. Thanks for stopping, Rita.

    I was disappointed. I was expecting more from this book.

    It is a prequel to Gone With The Wind.

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  6. Thanks for stopping, Katherine.

    It was very well researched but not that interesting.

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  7. Thanks for stopping, Laurel.

    I hope you like Ruth's Journey more than I did.

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