The Book of Reuben [Paperback]

Tabitha King (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1995

Realizing that none of his dreams are likely to turn out according to plan, Reuben Styles nevertheless takes another chance at love when he meets the beautiful Pearl and continues his struggle to become the ideal person. Reprint. PW.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In addition to its own deftly crafted tale, King's latest provides a rich backdrop for two of her earlier protagonists-Reuben's second wife, the eponymous Pearl, and his son Sam (One on One). Set once again in the blue-collar milieu of Nodd's Ridge, Maine, the story covers 25 years in the life of Reuben Styles, a change-of-life baby consigned in his youth to living in a horse barn by his heartless farmer father. The book's focus-an unpleasant one-is Reuben's marriage to Laura Haggerty, the virginal, doll-like object of a high school crush. An unrelievedly unsympathetic character, Laura hefts food and scalding coffee at her husband, strikes the children and becomes born again-the better to fool around with the Reverend Smart, whom Reuben calls "that vain peacock of a con man." Interwoven with the Styles saga is that of the widow Christopher and her son David, summer people whose movement in and out of Reuben's life leaves unresolved plot threads that include an unsolved murder. (It is the widow's addiction to "boozing and cruising" that pulls Reuben into the use of alcohol; otherwise, the Christophers are extraneous and confusing players.) With graphic sexual encounters and daubs of humor, King etches a convincing portrait of a gentle male psyche while evoking the timbre of 1960s rural America.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In this prequel to Pearl (LJ 11/15/88) and One on One (LJ 2/15/93), Reuben Styles, a peripheral player in King's earlier novels, becomes an adult, takes over a local filling station, marries the girl he's loved since they were both teenagers, and fathers three children. Although mired in a marriage that even the improbably patient and long-suffering Reuben recognizes as a disaster, he's totally unprepared for Laura's vindictive behavior when she asks for a divorce. The novel's major weakness is that Laura is never presented as a particularly sympathetic character, so it's hard to understand why Reuben is attracted to her or why he keeps trying to accommodate her. Nonetheless, King is a good storyteller, and fans of her series about the working-class town of Nodd's Ridge will enjoy this one, too. For public libraries.
--Nancy Pearl, Washington Ctr. for the Book, Seattle
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Signet (October 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451179994
• ISBN-13: 978-0451179999
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #485,665 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thursday's child, third daughter of six, third child of eight.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, October 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of Reuben (Paperback)

As all of Tabitha King's Nodd Ridge stories, this one was captivating and beautifully written. Lovers of series books will enjoy these stories as each one continues where a previous one left off, or adds rich layers to an already full and well developed cast of characters. The reader ends the book wanting to know more, not only about the lives of the main characters, but also of all the periferal ones as well. A must read for series and Maine fiction readers.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exquisitely painful., December 11, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of Reuben (Paperback)

"The Book of Reuben" is a ticket back to the town of Nodd's Ridge, Maine, visited previously in King's books "The Caretaker", "The Trap" and "One on One". This trip focuses on Reuben Styles, a young man of tremendous integrity and almost infinite patience. We watch his seamless passage from high school student to a textbook pillar of the community. Cliche though it sounds, the transition is not only believable, but admirable. Ms. King's writing weaves a silent web of fascination which leaves the reader powerless in her sticky strands, unable to come to Reuben's aid, nor even to close the covers. Well-crafted and carefully executed, "The Book of Reuben" is a treasure, as is its author. More, please!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a touching, well written book, December 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of Reuben (Paperback)

i truely enjoyed this book as well as all the nodds ridge books. tabitha king has a talent for well developed characters that you can really care about.reuben styles is a complex well rounded character. i would recommend any and all of tabitha kings nodd ridge books, and im hoping for more. i want to know what happens to reuben next.