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The Upper Room (A Mama Ruby Novel) Mass Market Paperback – April 1, 2011

by Mary Monroe (Author)

241 customer reviews

Book 1 of 3 in the Mama Ruby Series

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Warm, energetic, and charming. --The Houston Post

Mama Ruby's known for taking things that aren't rightfully hers, like her best friend's stillborn infant, who she brought back to life and christened Maureen. She's also rumored to have done away with her husband. Some fear her, others try their best to avoid her. But Mama Ruby doesn't pay them any mind. Not when she's got the one gift God gave her--her precious baby girl.

"Monroe's literary canvas is painted with verve and humor and passion." --Christian Science Monitor

But growing up with a mama like Ruby is enough to make any half-sane girl wish for something--anything--else. And when Maureen gets the chance to explore the "real" world, you can bet she's going to take it. . .and run like hell.

"There is an electricity and vitality to this novel that makes it unique. Mary monroe is a remarkable talent." --Chicago Sun-Times

The Upper Room (A Mama Ruby Novel)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Originally published in 1985, Mary Monroe's engaging debut novel, The Upper Room, features Ruby Montgomery, an obese, indomitable character who steals her best friend's baby daughter and flees to rural Florida, where she establishes herself as an almost mythical figure. The dialogue and setting are reminiscent of Zora Neale Hurston, but the story has a bizarre, violent edge … la Stephen King. Fantastic and exaggerated, the novel may seem dated in its descriptions of race and sex, but it is a candid portrayal of the cold-blooded yet fascinating Mama Ruby.

--This text refers to the Unknown Binding edition.

From Booklist

Mama Ruby is the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, with healing hands and an inconceivably vengeful spirit. After successfully bringing her best friend's stillborn baby to life, she claims the child as her own and runs away to a migrant settlement in the Everglades. Mama Ruby's ever-increasing girth and unhealthy dependence on her daughter, Maureen, cause her to make choices and decisions that are both troubling and foolish. Mama Ruby makes sure that Maureen is treated special by giving her the upper room of the house. It becomes Maureen's special place and is off-limits to most people, especially men. As Maureen grows into a beautiful woman, she begins to have desires of a life outside of Mama Ruby's watchful eye and of a city far away. It takes an unthinkable series of events for Maureen and Mama Ruby to accept the other's ways and needs. A chilling story that is bound to astound Monroe's fans. Lillian Lewis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Unknown Binding edition.

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Product details

Series: A Mama Ruby Novel (Book 1)
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Dafina; Reprint edition (April 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0758267347
ISBN-13: 978-0758267344
Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 1 x 6.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (241 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #387,576 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #518 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction > Mothers & Children
- #2502 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Horror > Occult
- #2743 in Books > Literature & Fiction > African American > Women's Fiction

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Customer reviews

241

4.4 out of 5 stars

5 star		68%
4 star		18%
3 star		4%
2 star		5%
1 star		5%

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Fantastic!

ByRYCJVINE VOICEon September 15, 2012

Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase

Storytelling in its finest hour, and in all of its glory. There's very little to say, except I loved, loved this story, and book. Normally I don't enjoy themes embedded in the more grisly undercarriages of life, but Mama Ruby makes this one an exception. And yes, the pages smelled great; reminiscent of what those old books used to smell like. Of course it was the mass-market paperback edition I read.

Inclusive of a great cast of characters moved by great bodies of rich autistic dialogue, it didn't take long to take a genuine liking to this steep story entrenched in gripping persuasive writing. Virgil, Hattie, Slim, Fast Black, Mo'reen, and of course Mama Ruby, I couldn't get enough of. I cried laughing throughout. Between `the Lord,' `the Holy Ghost,' and `the devil,' I couldn't make heads or tails out which spirit moved the characters, (or me), more. But God bless that child Mo'reen, it had to be her role that kept the story moving, and me rocking on my sides every time she spoke. I thought if someone `axed' her another question; or she said another thing, I would for sure lose a spleen, in which case this was the other thing. There really is a devilishly deep mystery working around this `cagy' upper room.

This has to be one of the best, if not the best novel I ever read. Over the top fabulously well-written! A highly recommended Must Read.

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Unclear what the author was going for...

ByThe_Hmm_Girlon June 2, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I've read almost all of the "God Don't Like Ugly" books and enjoyed them, so I decided to give "the Upper Room" a chance.

The premise was interesting and the first page starts you off right in the thick of things which was great...at first. Then the book just takes on a lot of fantastical elements (for instance Mama Ruby has killed and buried at least 50 people and never been caught, Mama Ruby rips a man's arm out the socket, Mama Ruby puts her hands on a stillborn baby and it comes back to life after being dead for 1 - 2 hours, Mama Ruby gets shot point blank and still continues to charge then a few days later has "gas" and digs a bullet out her flesh, etc. I also don't understand how someone that's over 350lbs of fat, not muscle, with flat feet and high blood pressure and described as wheezing when she walks, is able to get around so well and fight men).

I like magical realism (like Octavia Butler's "Kindred") but this book just didn't work for me.

It just seemed like a lot of random events, too many characters to keep straight and at some points I found myself wondering, "What is the point of this story? Yes, it's entertaining, but why did the author write this book?" The book reminds me a little of watching the Jerry Springer show...lots of cursing, fighting, bloodshed and ignorance, just for the sake of violence/entertainment.

I've seen many authors make crazy characters likable but I found Mama Ruby more annoying then anything. To me Maureen was just as bad...she didn't seem to have much depth.

Also I really had a hard time with some of the dialect the characters used. I understand they are from the South, but it was hard to understand. There were several instances I found myself having to read a word aloud several times to understand it. I also didn't like how the characters were constantly using racial slurs, especially the n-word.

Again, I understand it's the South and in the old days. But even when the Black folks were talking amongst themselves it was "That <n-word> this" and "that <n-word>" that". At one point a police office is asking Mama Ruby if he's seen a <n-word>. Mama Ruby also constantly says Othella is "smart like white folks", refers to Jews and Asians in negative ways and often accuses men or molesting or raping her.

Only because GDLU was so good will I not give up on Ms. Monroe

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UNFORGETTABLE!!

ByJ. Blueon January 3, 2012

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Unforgettable...that is the best descriptive I can find for "The Upper Room... all other nouns and adjectives escape me when trying to formulate a review of this novel. I am really glad that I read Mama Ruby first, because it made sense (in a way) why she was so out of touch with reality and her "take" on why she felt she was a Christian as well as a Demon.

Moral: Taking a child away from a mother at birth can cause mental instability, and have "fatal" repercussions.

I laughed, cried, and gasped throughout this novel

I just came up with a verb..."RUN and get this novel; you will not forget it!!"

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Who knew the Devil wore a housecoat?

ByL. McCollumon January 27, 2008

Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase

Mama Ruby is CRAZY off the chain!! She is a huge lady with more religion than most people can claim. She claims to have the blood of Jesus on her but this chick is the Devil incarnate. Her friend Othella has a stillborn baby that comes back to life at Mama Ruby's house. She takes off with the baby she named Maureen and her son Virgil (she shot Virgil's daddy dead) and flees to Goons. She soon turns the town upside down & the townspeople can't live (or die) without her. Anyone who crosses Mama Ruby is someone who wants to meet their maker cause Mama Ruby don't play. She has a trail of bodies to prove it. She has a special room--the Upper Room---where Maureen stays. Only she, Mama Ruby, and Virgil are allowed up there. Any other man would surely bring the Devil to Maureen. But little do they know they don't have to worry about the Devil coming. Virgil & Maureen live with the Devil herself. And that's enough to make anyone crazy.

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Storytelling at its best!

ByAgingGracefullyForeveron November 1, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Could not put the book down! You will never get enough of Mama Ruby and her clan, no matter how crazy they are!! Mary Monroe is a magnificent story teller. Finished the book before I knew it, immediately started the second book.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Ruby ruby ruby

By2real4u2on June 20, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Just to see how devil could one woman could do and page after page she was the devil you never know whom your dealing with

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The Upper Room

ByAdelene Greeneon December 30, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This was a wild and unbelievable story about a super human being (Mama Ruby) who was possessed by both good and evil, but mostly evil. Some of the story was pretty far fetched in terms of how the main character behaved and got away with murder (literally) with no consequences. It was entertaining fiiction that kept my attention but the characters were pretty wild and unbelievable, not to mention their stories were very exaggerated. I found it hard to keep up with all the various characters and had to re-read several of the pages to make sure that I understood what was happening. The ending left me hanging too and without closure. It was a tall tale full of black folklore, superstition and foolish fictitious characters. Mama Ruby was a trip!

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

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Amazing book about family dynamics!

Loved this book. Everyone has a history and things from their past that haunt them. Many Ruby certainly has her share of dysfunction & we see how one bad decision can effect us...Read more

Published 1 month ago by Stephanie Clegg

Five Stars

Good read. I would recommend reading the series.

Published 2 months ago by MS

EXCELLENT READ!!

I read this book years ago I tell you this book is off the chain!! It will have u laughing out loud. Mary Monroe is one of my favorite authors.Read more

Published 4 months ago by danielle brunson

... say is that the story if Ruby is the best!

All I have to say is that the story if Ruby is the best!

Published 5 months ago by Wendy

Small but good!

Smaller than I expected. I thought it was going to be a regular size book that I normally receive. But the book is in great condition and is readable!

Published 6 months ago by Aliyah

Entertaining almost scary wild and funny.

Entertaining almost scary wild and crazy. Held my interest couldn't wait to see how story would end. Was expecting Mama Ruby to sit up again.

Published 7 months ago by Cynthia Blanks

Excellent Read

Thus book demands your attention from the start and you want to continue to keep your attention until the end.

Published 7 months ago by Fannie R.

Four Stars

I am interested in money. I do not want to see referenced to any previous books

Published 7 months ago by Gwendolyn D Patterson

One Star

Awful

Published 9 months ago by Deena

PAGE TURNER FROM START TO FINISH

AWESOME READ!

Published 9 months ago by Amazon Customer

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