Customer Reviews

And on the Eighth Day She Rested: A Novel

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The first thing I have to say is, "Buy this book!" It's an absolute necessity. In "And On The 8th Day She Rested," Mason tells the tale of Ruth Johnson, who after 14 years of physical, mental and verbal abuse, is FINALLY free of her husband. Or is she? Mason's novel begs the question, "What happens after the abuse ends?" as Ruth moves on with her life, trying to figure out who exactly she is, and how important she is as a person. This novel is so descriptive that you can feel every hit, taste the salt of Ruth's tears, and smile as she takes baby steps towards her new, abuse-free life. Pitfalls and drama continue to unfold throughout Ruth's "awakening", but it's the process of Ruth's growth that touches the heart of every person who will read this novel. Mason definitely knows how to keep a reader riveted to each page, and at 244 pages, one will find themselves racing to the last page, wishing to have more to read.

If you want a grit-filled, true-to-life, descriptive-bound, emotionally-driven story, that will make you not only appreciate Ruth's life, but the life YOU lead, read, "And On The 8th Day She Rested." You won't regret it. ---Shonell Bacon, The Nubian Chronicles.

I am sure I could probably think of some more superlatives, but I'll stop. This is a first book? It didn't read like one. Ms. Mason has developed a character in Ruth that I am sure many women will identify with. Even if they are not in a physically abusive relationship, they will be able to identify with Ruth's feelings of self-doubt, uncertainty and worthlessness. There are so many ways that people, men in particular, can mess with a woman's head. In Ruth, we go with her, step by painful step, as she learns to do something she had never done: learn to love herself. Ruth was, however, blessed to have some wonderful friends in her life. Bernie was a card! She was fierce in her determination to be the only person considered as Ruth's best friend. Clara was every woman's mother. Warm, nurturing, supportive. You can't help but to love her. Then there was May who seemed so together and to have it all, but was dealing with her own issues of insecurity. Finally, there was Sharon, who like Ruth, had been through the fires of hell at the hands of an abusive husband, and sheer force of will, made it to the other side. I loved the women in this book. They became like old friends and it was great to see them get mad at each other and then make up as REAL friends do. As for Eric, I wished I could have reached through the pages and killed his psychotic a** myself! Then there was Adrian, who seemed like God's gift and in may ways was. I was sooooo disappointed in him! But you'll have to read the book to see if he redeems himself. And then there was Maxwell. LOL!! Sometimes we all need a Maxwell to get a little "energized!" Ms. Mason, you have written a truly wonderful book. I can see why it is getting so much attention. I read the excerpt, immediately ordered it and once I started reading it, couldn't put it down. Your character development is wonderful! They practically dance off the pages. I urge anyone and everyone to run out and get this book! And don't lend it out, you might not get it back!

J.D. Mason has done it, she has written an emotional piece that will keep you turning the pages. Ruth Johnson has been a victim of domestic violence for over 14 years, and she has just accepted this as part of her life. One day she summons the courage to tell her abusive husband Eric , that she will not take it anymore. Eric gives Ruth the beating of her life and then comes back the next day to get all of his things. Ruth's good friend Bernie convinces her to file for divorce and to get a restraining order. After her divorce Ruth begins to discover herself and all that she is capable of. Along the way she falls in love and makes some wonderful friends. However, the very best friend she makes is herself. This is a very powerful book, and will help many people, it gives domestic violence and face and shows that you can overcome it.

JD Mason has done and excellent job with this novel. And On the 8th Day She Rested we meet Ruth Johnson who has been in a abusive relationship for 14 yrs until one day she gets the guts to tell her husband how she really feels and when she does, Ruth get's the beat down of her life...Ruth's good friend Bernie sees through all the makeup that Ruth use to try and cover up all the scars she one day ask Ruth "Do you really love him?"...Ruth realize after the physical scars diappear the emotional ones are still there.. Ruth questions wether or not she will be able to go on and live a normal life...Ruth says it not easy trying to love yourself when you have been taught to believe you are not worth loving. Eventually Ruth begins to look beneathe the lies the truth is little treasures are somtimes where you least expect to find them and that's in the company of good friends.

If you have not Read And On The 8th Day She Rested...What are you waiting for? this is and excellent read you will definitely enjoy it...
Blessing goes ot to JD Mason...I am looking forward ro reading more from this author.

This is a story of Ruth Johnson, a victim of 14 years of domestic violence at the hands of her "psycho" husband, Eric. It is told from her perspective and provides the reader with a unique glimpse into the mind of an abused woman. We get to see how she rationalizes staying in an abusive relationship and her coming of wisdom and strength to leave. It's a journey of self-discovery that addresses issues of self worth, self doubt, overcoming fear, etc. that everyone experiences in varying degrees and various times throughout life. We see a transformation in the central character, Ruth. She grows from a timid, fearful person into a self-respecting, self-loved, businesswoman who knows exactly what she wants and needs in her life.

This journey is not traveled in isolation. The author weaves in a supporting cast of colorful characters: In addition to her abusive ex-husband, Eric, she has a no nonsense best friend, Bernie, who saves Ruth's life in more ways than one; Clara, the surrogate mother; Adrian, the charming new man in her life, and May, the new friend, who's shared a similar past of her own.

This is a good debut novel. I enjoyed it...it opened my eyes to a world I hope to never visit. Although fictional, it also allowed me to examine the psyche and mindset of an abused woman-a learning experience I won't forget.

J.D. Mason's debut novel is for all the sistahs out there who think that abuse doesn't happen to us. This is the book for all of the women who feel that they can't say "Man please!".I was hooked from the first lines as Ruth describes the abuse and humiliation that she endured FOURTEEN years from a man who was unable to be a man. I was drawn in to the way Ruth talked to me as she described the years of abuse, how she was broken down to feel as if she was less than nothing. I felt every hit, my heart beat faster every time Eric was on the scene and I almost wept as Ruth realized that she needed to be free.

J.D. Mason doesn't gloss over the issue of abuse and she doesn't make this book "easy". She addresses the abuse and the healing that Ruth goes through . The supporting characters were also developed in a way that I could actually identify with some of them and see where they were coming from.

Great book however I was a little disappointed with the the Ruth/Adrian outcome. (I won't spoil it for those who have not read it.) Maybe because of what Ruth endured I felt that she needed a different resolution but otherwise this is an excellent, excellent worth the money read.

This is a buy your own copy and don't lend it to anyone untrustworthy kind of book.

On the 8th Day She Rested is a masterfully crafted novel that lures you from the eye of an emotional hurricane and rests you on the peaceful shores of learning to love from scratch. JD weaves her delicious characters descriptively and with a cunning precision that will leave no reader unscathed.

It is amazing how one person can have such strong whole on another persons spirit.

Unfortunately, in many domestic violence situations, there are people who tends to blame the victim, saying things like: They brought it on themeselve. Which I think is unfair. Before we start making accusations, I think it is very important that we look into the person past, hopefully we maybe able to come up with a solution to the problem.

In Ruth's case, I believe the ill treatment that she received from her grandmother after her mother's death is one of the reasons why she had such low self-esteem and so vulnerable which lead her into Eric's Arm. A man who I can best describe as a sub-human, a predator who preys on: naive, vulnerable people with low self-esteem.

Considering what Ruth had gone through with that man, I felt that last violent act was unecessary. Then again, that's just being realistic. In the real world these men are not satisfied until the person is dead or something.

I recommend this book to all women. Especially the ones who's never witness or experience violence. I think this book can be served as a guide. Kind of give you ideas on what to do in such circumstances.

This was in excellent debut. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

I can not find the words in my vocabulary to express how great I thought this book was. I can't believe that this is a first novel. It was well written and more importantly, believable. I believe that each one of the characters could very well exist and probably does. I know that there is alot of Ruth in me. There is a lot of Ruth in a lot of Black women. The low self- esteem, the putting up of walls, the way we shut ourselves off from everyone when we've been hurt, and being afraid to trust.

I have always been one of those women who said" I would kill a man if he hit me. There is no way that I would put up with that mess." But I saw so much of myself in Ruth, even though I have never been in an abusive relationship, I can see how much my life parallels Ruth. On the eighth day both she and I rested. Through her reemergence back into society I found the need for my own. Letting go of the past and identify your weaknesses and flaws is a lesson that each of us can learn.

What an inspiring, uplifting, motivating testamony of many women, young and old. Thanks Ms. Mason for not only sharing but also shedding some much needed light on Women's emotional health, healing and well being.

Domestic Violence. Funny how those two words pronounced together do not sound nearly as horrific and painful as what a victim of this kind of violence goes through. As Ruth Johnson, the main character in AND ON THE EIGHTH DAY SHE RESTED, would say, "there's nothing domestic about the violence in my world." Therefore this novel is more than just another story centered on this type of violence. Instead, it is a story of celebration and self-discovery. It is a story about how one woman overcomes years of fear, physical, and mental abuse to being a self-assured woman who knows exactly what she wants and needs in her life.

Ruth Johnson loved her mother, Karen, very much. But her mother's need to always have any man around in her life is what subjects Ruth at an early age to so many unhealthy relationships between men and women. Therefore, it is no surprise that she stays in her violent marriage to Eric for fourteen years. Now Ruth is quick to say that her mother's abusive relationships have nothing to do with her problems. She says "fear" plain and simple is at the root of her dilemma. She fears what Eric will do to her if she tries to leave him. She dreams about having a business of her own. But fear of failure keeps her from turning those dreams into reality. Most of all, her fears of never truly being loved for who she is keeps her feeling unworthy of any man's love. But when her chance finally comes to make a clean break from Eric and all the other demons in her life, Ruth's real journey to finding true love, self-respect and inner healing begins.

Author J. D. Mason takes readers on Ruth's unforgettable journey to self-actualization through a riveting and sometimes tense plot filled with some very engaging characters. When asked what challenges she faced when creating this story, she will tell you, "I wanted Ruth Johnson to be a heroine. She had to be a woman who'd overcome some monumental odds and come out on top." Well, Ruth Johnson is an unforgettable heroine. This is a story I believe every woman should read . . . great debut novel!