Drowning ruth by christina schwarz, paperback barnes. Yes, there are plenty of awful secrets to share or hide. Drowning ruth by christina schwarz book club discussion. Yes, ruth almost drowned too, and yes, amanda was hiding an illegitimate pregnancy, but the story never turns to melodrama. I found the book really slowpaced and difficult to. Instead, its something of a ghost story minus the ghosts, a dark tale of how deeply held secrets and regrets can come back to haunt people, even if denial postpones the inevitable for.
Drowning ruth topics for discussion christina schwarz this study guide consists of approximately 51 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of drowning ruth. Schwarz certainly succeeds at keeping the reader engrossed. It was published by doubleday and has a total of 352 pages in the book. Some may claim this to be a feminist work or perhaps historical fiction though i do not. Drowning ruth by christina schwarz spoiler alert 4. Drowning ruth by christina schwarz paperback oprahs book club schwarz, christina drowning ruth 2001 this book was on my tbr pile for a while. To ask other readers questions about drowning ruth, please sign up. A novel oprahs book club and millions of other books are. Schwarzs first novel explores themes of family love, sibling rivalry, duty, loyalty, and a possible murder. Before christina schwarzs debut novel drowning ruth was even published, director wes craven had optioned it. Sep 27, 2000 about the book drowning ruth is a haunting debut novel about the ties that bind families together and the insidious secrets that can rend them apart. An oprah book club selection and bestseller in hardcover, drowning ruth, now in paperback, is a stunning portrait of the ties that bind sisters together and the forces that tear them schwarzs first novel explores themes of family love, sibling rivalry, duty, loyalty, and a possible murder. Born and raised in rural wisconsin, she lives in southern california. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors.
Here are some generic discussion questions that we can go over. Amanda starkey spends her days nursing soldiers wounded in the great war. Drowning ruth this book is one of oprahs book club suggestion. Drowning ruth opens in 1919, on the heels of the influenza epidemic that followed the first world war. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading drowning ruth. Drowning ruth is a mystery novel, but more than that its a book of recovering from. Deftly written and emotionally powerful, drowning ruth is a stunning portrait of the ties that bind sisters together and the forces that tear them apart, of the dangers of keeping secrets and the explosive repercussions when they are exposed. A novel oprahs book club kindle edition by schwarz, christina. Drowning ruth by christina schwarz spoiler alert amanda got pregnant by clement, the married man who seduced her. Christina schwarzs novels include the oprah book club selection drowning ruth, which was an international bestseller. The novel takes place in 1919 in a small town at lake nagawaukee in wisconsin, which is coincidentally where christina schwarz grew up.
Buy a cheap copy of drowning ruth book by christina schwarz. I found the writing style interesting and enjoyed hearing the story from so many points of views. When ruth informs her those are from when she made mistakes typing at the owens residence, there is no discussion about it. It was chosen as a selection for oprahs book club in september 2000. But the book isnt really a work of horror, at least not of the type that craven commonly creates. Yes, ruth almost drowned too, and yes, amanda was hiding an illegitimate pregnancy, but the story never turns to. Though she carefully keeps secrets to guard her safety, her marriage to mitch, a successful doctor, is brutal, and his abuse is escalating. Sep 27, 2000 drowning ruth by christina schwarz deftly written and emotionally powerful, drowning ruth is a stunning portrait of the ties that bind sisters together and the forces that tear them apart, of the dangers of keeping secrets and the explosive repercussions when they are exposed. Amanda and mathilda are two sisters who live in rural wisconsin. Everyone had different perspectives and opinions which always makes for an interesting night. Furthermore, the books literariness is not an edge, but rather like a constant drone bass that grounds the book throughout. Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of ballantine books.
A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. For 19thcentury novelistsfrom jane austen to george eliot, flaubert to henry jamessocial constraint gave a. Drowning ruth oprahs book club by christina schwarz. It is the authors skill that keeps the whole thing together, that keeps the words from flying off the pages and us readers from. In the winter of 1919, a young mother named mathilda neumann drowns beneath. Drowning ruth by christina schwarz fantastic fiction. Oct 08, 2008 drowning ruth by christina schwarz spoiler alert amanda got pregnant by clement, the married man who seduced her. Lo blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazi.
It is the authors skill that keeps the whole thing together, that keeps the words from flying off the pages and us readers from flying off after them, as lost as poor ruth who. The characters are very basic, making it possible for almost any reader to relate to their struggle. Discussion questions for small great things small great things explores a little girls journey to become a nurse, but at the height of her career, things take a turn for the worse. Discussion of drowning ruth by christina schwarz meetup.
Drowning ruth is compelling and becomes a fast read. The first sentence of this brilliantly understated psychological thriller leaps off the page and captures the readers imagination. Love, loss, guilt, liesthese are the narrative strands that run throughout this deftly woven tale of three women and a shocking turn of events that changes their lives forever. Enter your username and a recovery link will be emailed to the email address on file at your library. A novel oprahs book club by christina schwarz and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Where we belong by emily giffin book club discussion guide. This study guide consists of approximately 51 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of drowning ruth. Drowning ruth is a mystery novel, but more than that its a book of recovering from family trauma and grief. Drowning ruth christina schwarz, 2000 random house 352 pp. Amanda simply launches into her plan with which she needs ruths help. Christina schwarz is the author of drowning ruth, a bestseller in both hardcover and paperback, which was selected for oprahs book club, and wes craven optioned film rights for miramax. An oprah book club selection and bestseller in hardcover, drowning ruth, now in paperback, is a stunning portrait of the ties that bind sisters together and the forces that tear them apart.
Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. Our summary page for the woman in cabin 10 by ruth ware includes book club discussion questions, author website, summary, talking. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on drowning ruth by christina schwarz. Drowning ruth by christina schwarz, is the august book club selection.
Drowning ruth is a remarkable debut surprising, unsettling and sure. It was chosen as a selection for oprahs book club in september 2000 plot summary. This novel was not exactly a fan favorite in our book club, but the discussion was lively. The woman in cabin 10 book drowning ruth book club questions. Although there were telephones and motor cars and dance halls in the small towns of wisconsin in those years, the townspeople remained rigid and forbidding. Born and raised in rural wisconsin, usa, she lives in southern california. Reading guide for drowning ruth by christina schwarz. This reading group guide for the edge of the earth includes discussion questions and ideas for enhancing. About the book drowning ruth is a haunting debut novel about the ties that bind families together and the insidious secrets that can rend them apart. This is despite the fact that several pages earlier the reader is told. She lives in new hampshire with her husband benjamin and their young son. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The circumstances of that drowning are slowly revealed, and schwarz avoids most of the pitfalls of the unraveltheawfulsecret genre.
Publicity blurb for drowning ruth is impressive, and the novels first sentence reading ruth remembered drowning immediately caught my attention. Convinced that she is making her patients worse instead of better, nurse amanda starkey has decided to take leave of her past tending wounded soldiers and. She and mathilda decided that mathilda would claim the baby as her own and they would both help raise her. Were the book to continue, do you think the author would have chosen for ruth and arthur to unite. Though she carefully keeps secrets to guard her safety, her marriage to mitch, a successful. Somewhat like the lovely bones without the fantasy elements, this book is one of moving on while simultaneously seeking the truth. The title of this book is drowning ruth and it was written by christina schwarz. The immediately impressive thing about drowning ruth is not the authors talent, though that is apparent within the first few pages, but the ambitious narrative scheme shes devised to tell her tale. This is a carefully crafted novel about human condition and the things poeople had to do in order to avoid cultural outcasting during the twenties and thirties. Hauntingly narrated and grippingly paced, drowning ruth is a remarkably accomplished and mesmerizing debut. Amanda simply launches into her plan with which she needs ruth s help. Drowning ruth was a new york times bestseller from the year 2000, and was a selection for oprahs book club. In the end, does ruth follow her heart, or is she still under amandas control.
Convinced that she is making her patients worse instead of better, nurse amanda starkey has decided to take leave of her past tending wounded soldiers and return home. Drowning ruth by christina schwarz reading guidebook club. Set during and after world war i, it tells the story of amanda, who is raising her niece ruth after ruth s mother, amandas sister mathilda, mysteriously drown in a nearby lake when ruth was young. Reading guide for drowning ruth by christina schwarz bookbrowse. Reading guide for drowning ruth by christina schwarz discussion guide for book clubs. The woman in cabin 10 by ruth ware book club discussion. While mathilda is petite, wellliked, pretty, and adventurous, amanda is tall, clumsy, awkward, and serious. However the telling of the story does not live up to my expectations, as it is laboriously slow and it lacks any real suspense. Set during and after world war i, it tells the story of amanda, who is raising her niece ruth after ruths mother, amandas sister mathilda, mysteriously drown in a nearby lake when ruth was young. Drowning ruth by christina schwarz gradually reveals how ruth sapphira neumann, as she always believes, drowns at age three along with her mother mathilda but is revived. We will discuss what we liked and disliked about the book. Furthermore, the book s literariness is not an edge, but rather like a constant drone bass that grounds the book throughout.