Customer Reviews

Diamond Ruby: A Novel

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Set against the backdrop of New York in the 1920s, Joseph Wallace's novel DIAMOND RUBY tells the story of Ruby Thomas, who at 17 loses most of her family in a matter of weeks and is left to raise her young nieces alone. With work difficult to find and starvation constantly knocking at the door, Ruby does anything she can think of to keep body and soul together. All her life, she has worked secretly to perfect her unusual skill: throwing a baseball faster and more accurately than anyone else. Finding ways to make that skill marketable leads her first to Coney Island, then on to professional baseball.

If Ruby is a 1920s David, then sexism, anti-semitism, organized crime, the Ku Klux Klan, and baseball itself are Goliath. Armed with a stone, she can put squirrel stew on the table. Armed with a baseball, she can conquer New York itself.

Wallace's story is rich and textured. Ruby and her nieces, in particular, are beautifully drawn, each commanding a unique voice as she contributes to the story. The novel is full of strong women: Ruby's suffragist mother; her wise and compassionate sister-in-law Evie; her friend and fellow athlete, Helen; and her co-worker and companion, Tania. Each contributes in important ways to Ruby's journey.

The author's love of New York and Brooklyn shines through as he writes the story of a city that can take a series of blows as tough as punches from Jack Dempsey, who plays a part in the story, and come back better and stronger. I don't pretend to know baseball all that well, but it's clear that Joseph Wallace does. When he writes about the game and brings its history to life, the passion he has already demonstrated in several non-fiction books about the history of baseball shines through.

DIAMOND RUBY is a page-turner. I sat down with it after lunch on a Sunday afternoon and read until I turned the last page, long past time for dinner. I've already bought a second copy to lend to friends and given it as a gift to two other people.

Read it; then tell someone else to. They'll thank you.

Twitter's a funny thing. I first read about this book on Twitter, in the conversations between other authors and readers. Soon I was following this author ([...]) and the praise for the book continued. I finally bought it, expecting to read a tale of a gal who played baseball against Babe Ruth. What I got was a book that sucked me into its world. At once thoughtful, informative and entertaining, Diamond Ruby lives in a very real cross section of 1920s America. Filled with great period details, Wallace spins a yarn that ranges from the tragic to the triumphant. Some chapters had me grimacing while others left me with a big stupid grin on my face. One chapter in particular was absolutely exhilarating in pace, detail and service to the character - I was so enmeshed in Ruby's story that I shared her experience on the pitcher's mound. It was, quite simply, the most fun I've had reading a book in a long, long time. Thanks, Twitter, for pointing me to this gem of a novel.

To say I'm surprised that I really liked this book, let alone loved it, is an understatement. I'm not a sports fan and I don't know diddly about baseball. But I do love a well-told story, and let me just say that Diamond Ruby is a wonderful story that's very well told indeed!

Ruby stole my heart--a bright and talented and sympathetic character, she beat the odds on a multitude of levels. Set against the backdrop of 1920s New York, this novel is rich in history, it is also human and heartfelt and uplifting. I'm particularly fond of stories where triumph rises from the ruins of adversity, and Diamond Ruby is just that. And more. Oh, so much more.

Bravo, Mr. Wallace!

Highly recommended for YA and adult readers alike.

It's an slightly entertaining, quick read, full of history- and unfortunately, that's where I get a bit tripped up. It's obvious Wallace is a non-fiction writer, there are historical tidbits on nearly every page. But after a point, there's simply TOO much of it, and it all starts to sound very cliched and contrived. The influenza outbreak of 1918, WWI, Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Coney Island, side shows, bootleggers, speakeasies, the burgeoning FBI, the KKK, and women's rights all play major parts in the novel, with facts seemingly tossed in for no reason except to say "this book is set in the post WWII era and about baseball!" such as the Morgan, New Jersey artillery plant explosion, Lou Gherig, flappers, eskimo pies, candy bars, fancy new "automobiles", and the Chicago Black Sox scandal, all spoken of by people who are really more charicatures than characters: Dandies, flappers, staunch Women's Rights Activists, grumpy sports writers, the gruff yet soft hearted baseball manager, larger than life boardwalk barkers... it was all too, too much. Yes, Mr. Wallace, we know you know your stuff. Stop bashing us over the head with it.

As others have mentioned, Ruby herself is wise beyond her years, but there is no real explanation for it other than she was orphaned as a young teen and had to help raise her nieces. How exactly did that prepare her for being a baseball star? Or trying to take down the mob? There was no exposition- just *bam!*, parents dead: now she's a shrewd, wizened woman. Things happen too conveniently to be believed-"hi, I met you once, I'd like you to move into my mansion with me and i'll put your nieces through school!" "Hi, I'm Babe Ruth- I play baseball too, let's be the best of friends!" Oh no, Ruby is in trouble- no worries! Old friend mentioned briefly in chapter two will magically appear and help out!

And finally, I think the thing that irritated me the most... after trying to build this strong, independant, unusual woman- especially unusual for the times in which she was living- what is she doing with her life? Fulfilling life long dreams? Rehabilitating her drunk brother (oh, I forgot to mention him up there with the other stereotypes)? Getting an education? Nope. All she wants to do is make sure the children are okay. Awesome. Thanks for all the ballyhoo about blazing a path for womankind, only to have her want to reach a typically repressed goal. It's so frustrating. I REALLY wanted to like it- I love Coney Island and NYC history, am a student of 20's social history, and adore historical fiction. It should have been right up my alley, but it was a complete bummer.

The historical aspects of this novel are interesting and provide some sense of Brooklyn and New York City in the twenties. But the story itself is predictable and uninspired. The character of Ruby Diamond, a plucky resourceful impoverished orphan who must fend for herself and her two nieces, is pretty one dimensional - Ruby can do no wrong. There are occasional turns in the plot that are just too convenient - at one point in the novel, Ruby moves in with her new friend Helen after Helen has met her once and admired her" lovely arms." This novel reads as if it were being written for the screen - and it would make a fine movie. Comparisons to "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" are extremely misleading.

Bought it, opened it, didn't stop reading until I'd finished it. A page-turner with characters I cared about, and ideas that matter deeply. Rollicking fun, too. A love song to baseball, old New York and brother(sister)hood.

A few months ago, I was visiting my friends at Aaron's Books; and Todd and Sam couldn't stop raving about a book coming out in May called DIAMOND RUBY by Joseph Wallace. I am forever grateful to them for handing me their ARC because I have to tell you this book was amazing! I could not put this book down, and I think I carried it with me everywhere for two days including the dinner table. I'm positive that it's going to be one of my top reads for the year.

DIAMOND RUBY was just so good -- I wish I could just leave it at that because I'm afraid I'm not going to do it justice! I don't know if I can even express my excitement about this book, but I think you are probably getting the idea. There are so many positive things to say about this novel that I'm having a little problem putting my thoughts into words. But, here goes....

Probably the first thing that I loved about this book was the character of Ruby herself. When the book begins, Ruby is just a young girl who has to face a whole lot of sadness and tragedy. While some people can't recover from this much heartache, that wasn't the case with Ruby. Ruby became an incredibly smart, strong, and spunky young woman who was willing to do whatever it took to take care of herself and her nieces. I couldn't help but love her and root for her! I can assure you that Ruby is one of the most memorable female characters that I've encountered in quite awhile, and I think she's one of my favorite too.

Another thing I loved about this book was the basic storyline -- a young girl in the 1920s who could throw a baseball harder than most men! While parts of Ruby's character were based on a real person and parts of her story were based on real events, there is no doubt that Ruby's life experiences, as created by Mr. Wallace, made for a very memorable story. Ruby overcame multiple tragedies and became a successful woman in a man's world. The book was filled with heartache and hope, as well as the traditional story of good verses evil. In so many ways, DIAMOND RUBY was a coming-of-age tale for Ruby (and you know how much I love good coming-of-age stories!)

Lastly, I have to say that I loved how Mr. Wallace told Ruby's story. I thought he did an amazing job of writing a story with a female main character (but I'm always impressed when a male author writes an honest and believable account of a woman.) I also admired him greatly for incorporating so many historical events and characters into Ruby's story. Sometimes when a fictional character exists alongside real people, it doesn't ring true to me. That certainly wasn't the case with Ruby. I loved the scenes with Ruby and Babe Ruth (and the scenes with Jack Dempsey were great too), and I thought Mr. Wallace made these larger-than-life characters seem like real folks.

As I read DIAMOND RUBY, I couldn't help but think that someone should make this novel into a movie. I hesitate to say that because I'm one of those people that never think the movie is as good as a book, but I truly think DIAMOND RUBY is such a wonderful story that it needs to reach the masses (and unfortunately of fortunately depending on how you look at it, a movie does appeal to a lot of non-readers!) I also think Mr. Wallace's descriptions of the characters and their actions as well as his historical references were so well done that they brought this book to life for me. I could actually "see" the entire story play out in my mind as I read this.

DIAMOND RUBY is Mr. Wallace's first novel, but he has written other books including a children's book and some non-fiction titles. I can't imagine a much better debut novel that DIAMOND RUBY! I think Mr. Wallace is just a wonderful storyteller, and it was apparent to me that he has a real love of the game of baseball. I just hope that he continues writing fiction, and I'd be even happier if I had the opportunity to read more about Ruby. I admit that I think there is still more to her story, and I am desperately hoping that Mr. Wallace feels the same way.

I definitely think DIAMOND RUBY is going to be a hit with book clubs over the next few years. Needless to say, I thought the story was terrific and I loved Mr. Wallace's writing style. However, DIAMOND RUBY would also be a great book to discuss with a bunch of friends. There is a reading guide available in the back of the book with some thought-provoking questions, but I also liked the "Tips for Enhancing Your Book Club" section. One of the things that I appreciated the most about DIAMOND RUBY is that there really is something for everyone in this story -- there is most definitely universal appeal. I think women as well as men will enjoy this book; and I think it's a book that will resonate with the young and old alike! I could talk about Ruby and her actions for hours, but there are lots of other characters worth talking about too. Some of the themes you might want to discuss further include the importance of sports, how the characters coped with tragedy, the definition of success, and the symbolism of Ruby's nickname. But of course, there are a lot more.

I feel as if I've just gushed about this book, but I really was blown away by it! I highly recommend grabbing a copy of DIAMOND RUBY and then sharing it with all of your friends!

The first few chapters of the book told such a tragic tale of life in New York City that I was concerned about enjoying the book. As the chapters progressed, I began to be pulled into the story of Diamond Ruby's life. The trials and tribulations of such a young woman kept me captivated to the end. It was hard to put down the book with the story of her work on Coney Island, the mobster connection, prohibition, women's rights, family loyalty and the great American game of baseball. Who doesn't love a good baseball story? Especially when the twist is a woman as the pitcher. I was intrigued by the solution that Ruby came up with in the end to solve her problem. It showed her intelligence and cunning ability to survive unbelievable odds. A captivating story of such a vibrant life.

Diamond Ruby resonated for me in a way that few books do. Joe Wallace weaves a tale so lush with imagery and emotion that I not only felt I visited New York in the youth of the 20th century, but that I personally met his characters.

Ruby Thomas really is a gem. She's the star of this novel and you'll want to hold her hand as she embarks on a startling and determined path from a childhood that crystallizes her focus on the value in life. I won't give away the details, but from the very beginning, I was rapt to Wallace's telling of the influenza epidemic that swept America and altered Ruby's life. My grandmother had told me stories of this grim time in America, a time that she lived through. Wallace recreates this period with so much dimension, detail, and heart that you would think he lived through it as well.

From there, the book gripped me with the adventure, drama, inspiration, and suspense of Ruby's story. Not just for baseball fans (though Wallace reminds us why even fairweather fans lurch to their feet when a good pitch flies), Diamond Ruby is an unforgettable story of personal tragedy and triumph, of American resilience, grit, and passion. It's a story that celebrates the human spirit.

I am a twelve year old with a passion for reading. I read "Diamond Ruby" and thought it was absolutely amazing. I couldn't put put it down for days at a time and some of my teachers became mad at me for reading in class. I thought the intro was great; it got right into the story and I was never confused about the characters or the plot, which can both be exceptionally confusing in the beginning. I thought all of her tangles with the various villains of the story were very interesting, as well as the way she escapes from each one. The book was very detailed in following the course of her life and (I know it sounds corny) made me feel like I was inside the story, watching events unfold around me. I definitely recommend this book for anyone 11 or up who loves to read.