Mama Ruby [Hardcover]

Mary Monroe (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 31, 2011

New York Times bestselling author Mary Monroe presents an unforgettable tale featuring Mama Ruby, the indomitable heroine of her acclaimed novel The Upper Room. Now readers will get a peek into Ruby’s early years, as she transforms from a spoiled small-town girl into one of the South’s most notorious and volatile women…

Growing up in Shreveport, Louisiana, Ruby Jean Upshaw is the kind of girl who knows what she wants and knows how to get it. By the time she’s fifteen, Ruby has developed a taste for fast men and cheap liquor, and not even her preacher daddy can set her straight. Most everyone in the neighborhood knows you don’t cross Ruby. Only Othella Mae Cartier, daughter of the town tramp, understands what makes Ruby tick.

When Ruby discovers she’s in the family way, she’s scared for the first time in her life. After hiding her growing belly with baggy dresses, Ruby secretly gives birth to a baby girl at Othella’s house. With few choices, Othella talks Ruby into giving the child away-and with the help of a shocking revelation, convinces Ruby to run off with her to New Orleans.

But nothing can erase Ruby’s memories of the child she lost-or quell her simmering rage at Othella for persuading her to let her precious baby go. If there’s a fine line between best friend and worst nightmare, Ruby is surely treading it. Because someday, there will be a reckoning. And when it comes, Othella will learn the hard way that no one knows how to exact revenge quite like Ruby Jean Upshaw…

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Dafina; 1 edition (May 31, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758238614
• ISBN-13: 978-0758238610
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.3 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #150,062 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars The Prequel June 20, 2011

By L. Romich VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

If you have been following author, Mary Monroe's novels, I am sure you have read her captivating novel, The Upper Room. If not... I recommend that you do! It is by far one of her best novels to date. However, Mama Ruby is the story of the "young" Ruby Jean Upshaw before she was known as "Mama Ruby." Ruby is the seventh daughter, of the seventh daughter and the youngest daughter of a Preacher. Twelve-year-old Ruby, watched as her older sisters' used the oldest trick in the book to deceive their husbands to be. At the age of 12, Ruby knew more about sex than her mother.

Ruby's best friend, Othella, is the daughter of a part-time prostitute. Ruby had to sneak to hang out with Othella since her parents would never approve of such a friendship. Ruby began sneaking out late at night and screwing as many boys that would give her the time of day. Not long after, Ruby finds herself in a sticky situation. Not sure where to turn or how to handle it she does the most logical thing, in her mind...she ignores the situation.

At the age of 15, Ruby and Othella venture out to find their place within the world. With dreams of getting a good job and marrying a nice man. But, what they soon realize is that things do not always happen the way we plan. They find themselves doing and acting in ways they could have never imagined.

Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe was a story of frienship, family, hopes and dreams. A decent read but I felt like the characters reminded me of those in her previous novels. There were many similarites. The time frame of the story was from age 12-15 years-old through most of the book, making for a slow-moving story and sky rockets through the next 15-20years. Having read Ms. Monroe's earlier novels and enjoyed most of them, this one just falls short of her previous novels.

This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes.

Reviewed by Leona
APOOO BookClub

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe June 4, 2011

By Maryjane

Format:Kindle Edition

Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe is a page turner. It is reading entertainment at its best. I know many of us have waited years for Mama Ruby to return. You must read the Upper Room. I never wanted that story to end, but Mary Monroe has delivered to her fans once again a young Mama Ruby. I Love It.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Not really worth it. January 22, 2012

By Tasha

Format:Kindle Edition

"There was a sudden burst of cold air between Ruby and Othella that they both felt on their faces; neither could understand what it meant. Ruby assumed that it was just because she was nervous and uncomfortable. Other than the fact that it was so odd and unexpected, Othella didn't know what to think about the cold air on such a warm day. Neither one shared her thoughts about it, but they both experienced an ominous feeling because of it."

The prose in Mary Monroe's Mama Ruby unfortunately doesn't get better than that.

Mama Ruby was available from my library's Kindle collection, and I like historical fiction, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. The book is easy to read, but that's about all it's got going for it. I honestly am astounded that this book got published in its current state -- and that it has such high ratings, with an apparently ardent following.

There are so many problems throughout the book. Each chapter ends with clumsy foreshadowing, and the next repeats that scenario in the first few paragraphs -- as if the author is concerned that readers would forget the plot after a page. It's lascivious, with loving detail lavished on descriptions of bodily fluids and people beating one another. No character ever just says something; in every statement, they declare, they holler, they scream, they mutter threats while rolling their eyes at one another. And the plot is simply unbelievable: Ruby's a teen who hides her pregnancy and gives up the baby, then is a prostitute, then murders her bootlegging husband, and then she steals a baby.

But the part that made me laugh out loud was when Ruby offers to cook some greens in a Crock-Pot. The setting is WWII. Hint: They were first manufactured in 1970.

But then... It just ends. All the loose ends are just left hanging. Apparently Monroe got tired, or hit a deadline.

All in all, Mama Ruby reads like a half-finished rough draft. I finished reading it because I've set a goal to read a certain number of books this year, and I will admit that it's a quick read.