Ruby Among Us by Tina Ann Forkner
Ruby Among Us by Tina Ann Forkner begins just as a child loses her mother and as if that’s not hard enough, she believes that her mothers death is all her fault.
Lucy recounts:
How strange it was to come home without Ruby. On the buzz of the fridge greeted us; immediately I had the urge to find Mommy Ruby even though I’d just felt her cooling skin on my lips back at the hospital. I ran around the house, calling her name, looking under the kitchen table where she used to take cover during games of hide-and-seek. Kitty hadn’t stopped me in my mission to find Ruby alive until I stood in the center of the living room crying, reaching out to touch the roses in the middle of the coffee table, as if they were Ruby herself,not loud and vibrant but soft and delicate.
Wordlessly Kitty reached for me, hugged me to her, and took me for a bath.
. . . . Kitty had a way of looking at things that most people found strange. Ruby had always said so. Now Kitty said that since she was my Ruby’s mommy, I could be her daughter too.
“A grandmother is a kind of daughter.” She learned down and kissed my nose, just as Ruby would have done, and turned out the light.
Ruby Among Us is the story of Lucy, her mother Ruby, and her grandmother Kitty. As Lucy gets older, she finds that she has large gaps in her memory. She no longer can remember her heritage and her mothers’ memory is slipping away. What was her mother really like, who is her father, why won’t Kitty tell her who her Grandfather is? Lucy knows that Kitty holds the key to her past, but Kitty is resistant to share her story.
The heart of this story is not only that of Lucy’s and Kitty’s relationship as granddaughter and grandmother, it’s a story of mothers, daughters, wives, and fathers. Ruby among us explores lost love, forgiveness, and the faith and courage it takes to face our past.
I was pleasantly surprised with just how much I enjoyed Ruby Among Us. I feel like I haven’t read a “feel good” book in such a long time that I read it in just a couple sittings. I was pulled along with Forkner’s beautiful writing and her sense of setting. I felt as though I was in the garden with Kitty or painting with Lucy. Her women are strong but each searching for answers to their questions.
It is my pleasure to host Tina Ann Forkner in an excellent author interview tomorrow. In the meantime, I have a copy of Ruby Among Us to give away. Simply leave a comment to enter. If you would like an additional entry, subscribe to this blog, post it on your own blog, twitter it, or mention it on any social network that you belong to. Open to all.
Visit Tina Ann Forkner’s website.
Hey you! Yes. You! I've noticed that you've stopped by to visit a few times! But I don't know who you are. Why don't you take a moment and introduce yourself. Don't be scared. I try not to bite. I know you're a lurker but I'd love to hear your thoughts about what's been bringing you here. And if you haven't done so already, don't forget to never miss a post by subscribing to my feed or receiving updates by email. Thanks for visiting!
Tags: E-H Author, female author, Fiction, published 2008, Q-T Title, review copy
 |
| or | 
|
Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.
Tina Ann is an artist with words. You can all but feel the breeze and smell the flowers in the pictures she paints. What a wonderful story. I am so looking forward to her next book!
on February 3rd, 2009 at 8:19 amYou know me…I’m always open to book give-aways, so count me in.
I need a feel-good story. It seems like most of my recent reads have been very heavy. From the start of yoiur review it seemed like this one would be quite sad.
I love how you find and review books that I usually would never come across. This sounds like a great book. I’m looking forward to the interview tomorrow.
on February 3rd, 2009 at 8:58 amI have been very interested in reading this book. Haven’t yet gotten out to get it. I would love to be entered in the drawing.
Looking forward to perusing your blog.
Thanks
on February 3rd, 2009 at 9:40 amLadies and gentlemen, I got a sneak peek at Rose House, and y’all are in for a real treat! Tina has kept the prosaic voice that mesmerized me in Ruby Among Us and spiced the story line with intrigue that’ll keep you guessing until the last page.
on February 3rd, 2009 at 11:31 amI have read Ruby Among Us and I loved it. I love how strong the women are in the novel. It is a feel good novel but it is so much more. The writing is wonderful.
on February 3rd, 2009 at 11:43 amI am looking forward to reading this book! Please enter me in your drawing. I have also been following your blog for awhile!
Thanks,
on February 3rd, 2009 at 12:44 pmI would love to read this book! Please enter me for the drawing
on February 3rd, 2009 at 1:21 pmI’ll be back to the blog too
I’ve subscribed!
Errrrg, for some reason I can’t get your posts up in my google reader. Weird. I don’t want to enter, I just wanted to say that I have this book on my shelf to read and I’m even more anxious to read it after seeing that you enjoyed it.
on February 3rd, 2009 at 2:46 pmI would love to get entered in this drawing. The book sounds awesome.
on February 3rd, 2009 at 3:02 pmSounds good – please enter me!
on February 3rd, 2009 at 4:37 pmWow! You had me at hello with that review! This sounds like a great read. Please enter me. and I have subscribed to your feed as well.
on February 3rd, 2009 at 5:09 pmThis book has been getting a lot of great reviews. Would love to win it but if not I will still be reading it!!!
on February 3rd, 2009 at 6:17 pmSo fun to see Everyone Is Beautiful on your bookshelf. Hope you like it!!
on February 3rd, 2009 at 8:33 pmSounds like another good read. Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks.
on February 3rd, 2009 at 9:47 pmI just realized that I don’t have a ending date on this giveaway. Let’s say a week – Feb. 10th then.
on February 3rd, 2009 at 11:29 pmWonderful interview and review. Tina is a member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and we’re all proud of, and happy for, her success– it’s well deserved.
on February 4th, 2009 at 5:47 amI would like to be entered please. I love winning books.
on February 4th, 2009 at 12:02 pmNow that I finally have a bookshelf, I definitely want to be entered.
on February 4th, 2009 at 2:25 pmthank you for the giveaway and a wonderful review
on February 5th, 2009 at 6:54 pmThis sounds like a great book! Count me in the running and thanks for the great giveaway!
on February 5th, 2009 at 7:19 pmI subscribe via Google Reader.
on February 5th, 2009 at 7:20 pmSounds like a wonderful book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
on February 6th, 2009 at 6:37 amTina did a fantastic job writing this book, her imagination and creativity are evidenced throughout the book. Her words and descriptions of characters, places, events had me captivated and I could barely stand to put the book down. Looking forward to Rose House, Tina. Keep up the fantastic job!!!
on February 6th, 2009 at 4:48 pmThanks for the giveaway!
on February 6th, 2009 at 6:42 pmKimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for the chance. SOunds like a good read.
on February 7th, 2009 at 2:33 pmI would love to read this.
Thanks
on February 7th, 2009 at 3:18 pmI have been wanting to read this book for sometime. Please enter my name in your drawing. Thanks!
on February 10th, 2009 at 10:08 pmI just subscribed.
on February 10th, 2009 at 10:10 pmNow that I read the interview, I want to read the book even more!
on February 12th, 2009 at 8:04 pmGreat interview! I would love to read this one, it’s on my wishlist!
on February 15th, 2009 at 9:43 amOh my goodness! Better late then never! The winner of a copy of Ruby Among Us is Amber S! Congrats! I’ll be sending you an email to get your contact details.
on February 19th, 2009 at 7:05 amCongratulations, Amber S. I hope you enjoy Ruby Among Us!
Thanks for hosting me, Natasha.
Tina
on February 19th, 2009 at 10:47 am[...] Ruby Among Us by Tina Ann Forkner [...]
on December 30th, 2009 at 9:31 pm