Customer Reviews

Ruby Tuesday

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3 star:		(1)
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Insightful, hilarious, creative... Ruby Tuesday is impossible to place into a single genre. Its also impossible to put down. Though its hero is a 13 year old girl, her context is decidely unique. A bookie father, a rock-and-roll mother, an iguana-toting grandmother, and an adventure in Las Vegas a normal adolescence does not make. With Janet Evanovich-esque humor, its hard to believe that Miss Kogler pulls off a drama amidst her comedy. I was particularly impressed by how real her characters were even in an atmosphere few of us can relate to. A great adventure, its like Finding Nemo - appeals to all ages, with smart humor and lots of heart.

Ruby Tuesday is one of those rare books that successfully voices the weirdnesses, funninesses, sadnesses, and revelations of moving from a kid world to an adult one, while managing to throw an iguana-filled Vegas adventure into the bargain. Like Roald Dahl, Jennifer Anne Kogler infuses an alternatively dark and touching humor into her novel that catches hold of both adults and kids- although Kogler's protagonist, being a bit older, speaks more to adolescent confusion than childhood rebellion.

Unlike the worlds of Harry Potter or Lemony Snickett, recent hits that also transcend the kid category, the world of Ruby Tuesday, although decidely wacky, is refreshingly and very recognizably the real world. Although Vegas glitz, grimy casino backrooms, and mafia hitmen aren't exactly part of the normal tween experience, the gritty reality of realizing that parents don't always do or say the right thing, and that sometimes it's the kid that needs to forgive, is. The best parts of the novel plunge you, right along with Ruby, into the dicey contradictions of adult relationships and the tension between doing the right thing for the wrong reasons or the wrong thing for the right ones.

And as anyone who has read the book will tell you, we're all excited to see what Ruby will do next....

"Ruby Tuesday" is a witty, compelling, and beautifully crafted first novel. As a black jack lover I was drawn to its theme; as an avid reader I was rewarded by its prose, spunky heroine and panoply of real-life characters. The ending seemed to beg for a sequel and , tho' admittedly long past the alleged target age group, I am hoping, as are the 5 people I've gifted the book to, that there is one in the making.
Wondering what will happen to Ruby is a bit like waiting for the dealer to turn over that card....

With poignancy, wit, humour, subtlety, and originality, newcomer Jennifer Anne Kogler adeptly weaves together a story to which anyone who has ever felt lonely can relate. Her characters are vibrant and colourful, her narrative style inviting and uncontrived. Her fiesty protagonist will break your heart. I not only look forward to Jennifer Kogler's next book, I am waiting with baited breath for Ruby Tuesday the movie.

It's natural to have an annoying name and not understand your parents, but Ruby Tuesday Sweet has it worse than anyone else. When your father is a bookie, your mother is more in love with rock 'n' roll than you, and you've always called your father's bookie "Uncle" Larry, your life is far from normal. But oddly enough, Ruby Tuesday considers it normal, until the day Uncle Larry is murdered and her life turns upside down.

This is the premise for Jennifer Anne Kogler's debut novel, RUBY TUESDAY. The Dodgers have just won the 1988 World Series and Ruby's father made a hefty bet on the outcome. When his bookie turns up dead and he becomes a suspect, Ruby's mother Darlene is called in to take Ruby away until things cool down.

Darlene takes her daughter to Las Vegas to try to keep a few steps ahead of the men following them. There, Ruby sees her grandmother, Nana Sue, in her element: the elderly woman has been "visiting" Las Vegas for twenty years and goes to the casinos to play Blackjack with her pet iguana, named Twenty-one.

Throughout her adventure, which takes her from home to Vegas to home again, Ruby learns about her family, and why things are the way they are. What was it that made her mom decide to leave her family and choose a life of rock 'n' roll? And why did her father become a handicapper?

Ruby is a completely believable character. Tweens, teens, and adults all can enjoy this story for its realistic aspects. Ruby narrates, and you'll feel as if you're running alongside her every step of the way. This well-written novel has enough adventure, emotion, and new places to make you want to travel the world and meet people as interesting as the ones in Ruby's family.
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I just read this book in three days straight! I know the target age is supposed to be younger teens, but I'm 21 years old and proud to say that this was one of the most engaging, enjoyable, and flat out fun to read books I've read in a long time. Every character is more inventive and hilarious than the last, and every scene description makes me want to move out of New York and drive west. If you do anything this summer...READ THIS BOOK. You'll thank me when you're done.

Kogler's book is a pure pleasure. The action sucks you in and won't let you put the book down until you read it all. The characters are expertly drawn and (sometimes painfully) true to life, and they'll have you laughing out loud enough to make you never want to read it on the subway. Ruby Tuesday is great to read aloud to your kids or enjoy yourself, whether you're ten or tenty-ten. This hot new author is about to blow up on the YA scene, don't miss your chance to know her before she gets too popular to blog any more (see www.jenniferannekogler.com).

Ruby Tuesday is a rare break through book from an author whose youth is only matched by her talent. I bought it early, and I couldn't put the book down. Ruby is fun, smart and hilarious, a good read and incredibly entertaining. The story moves quickly, and is populated with unique and interesting characters. As good a read for adults as for teens, Ruby is the kind of book that everyone in the family will want/need to share. I also checked out the book's website at www.jenniferannekogler.com, and it made the book even cooler. I strongly recommend Ruby Tuesday to anyone in middle school or above (its allusions and references are too complicated for lower school students but wonderful for everyone else.) Don't hesitate to get this book, you won't regret it.

Few novels can make me laugh out loud, and Ruby Tuesday did many, many times. The author's wit spices up an already captivating story of a young girl's coming of age. Ruby Tuesday Sweet is lovable from the start, and is developed as a rich character that children and adults alike can deliciously relate to.
I've encountered few novels that bridge the gap between youth and adult literature so well. From California suburbs to seedy Las Vegas, Ms. Kogler creates interesting and true to life backdrops for her characters to act in, striking a perfect balance between raw, truthful insight and the inspiring naivete and charm of Ruby's narrative voice.
I plan on reading this novel again, for the laughs, captivating story, and crisp intelligent writing. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to the author's next book!

Ruby Tuesday is a coming-of-age novel and an excellent first novel. The characters are well-drawn, especially Ruby, her absentee mother Darlene and her tough grandmother Nana Sue. Even the pet iguana has personality! The plot takes off when Ruby's handicapper Dad Hollis is accused of murdering his bookie. After that it's difficult to put the book down. The seamy Las Vegas underworld is described to a T. Some scenes are laugh-out-loud funny, especially the beach wedding with the bride in a white bikini. I highly recommend Ruby Tuesday for ages 13-83. I'm looking forward to Jennifer's next book.