The reviews on the back of this book all raved about how wonderful it was and I totally agree with their assessments. But while words such as darkness, harrowing, violence, and pain were used in these reviews I had no idea just how dark it would be. One of the most horrific pieces of fiction I've ever experienced. Humans can be such monsters. Don't say I didn't warn you. ( )

Beautiful if, at times, over-wrought prose tells of downtrodden Ruby (cursed by her beauty to be a plaything for black and white men) meeting up with overlooked and under-estimated Ephram. A bit too much "sturm und drang" for this reader but admittedly gripping at times. ( )

This is the story of Ephram Jennings' love for Ruby Bell in a small town ironically called Liberty. Ephram, the son of Reverend Jennings, has loved Ruby since he was a child. Ruby has had a tragic childhood, she has been abused and forced into child prostitution so as soon as she can escape she flees to New York, hoping to find her mother. Years later, Ruby receives a telegram from her cousin which brings her back to Liberty. Ruby is labelled a crazy woman and a Jezebel as the menfolk waste no time taking advantage of her.

Ephram lives with his sister, Celia, who has cared for him since their mother was institutionalised. Ephram finally plucks up the courage to visit Ruby, much to the disgust of Celia. Ephram finds Ruby living in squalor and rolls up his sleeves and starts cleaning both Ruby and the house. It is at this point in the book that the most memorable scene for me is described. Ephram has washed, and is untangling, Ruby's hair when he experiences visions and emotions brought on by each strand of hair that has lived through one of Ruby's experiences. This really was an amazing piece of writing and was described so clearly that I couldn't help but feel quite emotional at the end of it. The thought that our hair holds on to our feelings during different events in our life was quite inspired.

Instigated by his sister, the people of the town try to lure Ephram away from Ruby with disturbing consequences. Ruby's struggle with her sanity and the ghosts of her past was at times sad but I also felt enraged at the people who made her feel so unworthy. I was delighted that Ruby's strength appeared in full force at the end.

This is a book not to be read lightly. It is incredibly disturbing in the descriptions of the abuse and sad that these mindless events tried to shape the woman that Ruby became, to the point where she almost lost her mind. Ruby may be a work of fiction, but there will have been many Ruby's not just in the deep south of America but throughout the world.

I received this e-book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Skip it. The writing is so pretentious that I wanted to shoot myself. ( )

Oh, my heart breaks at Ruby’s story. Her introduction at such a young age into prostitution and the lack of support she got from church-going adults probably was probably quite common not only in the back communities of rural communities, like this one in east Texas. But an unlikely hero with limited intellect sees the true Ruby and his decision to support her shows the power of love. This is a debut novel and an Oprah 2.0 book. The author writes in a style that pulls the reader in and gives Ruby and Ephram immense depth. ( )