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There are currently 21 member reviews
for Ruthie Fear
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Peggy H. (North East, PA)
Tough Read
I found this a difficult book to get into. I started it and put it down and put it off, maybe because I have never been to Montana. The land and environment is as much a character of this book as Ruth herself.
Once I did get into the book (about a quarter way through), I zipped through it quickly. It is ambitious and touches on so many topics--the environment, the clash of the haves and have nots, the treatment of the indigenous through the eyes of a coming of age girl.
It ends up being a mix of Twin Peaks/Stranger Things with a weird and surprising ending. I am still shaking my head, mostly because I like things that surprise me.
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Marilyn G. (Phoenixville, PA)
A Lingering Tale
A poignant story that follows the life of Ruthie Fear as she grew up in Bitterroot Valley, a pristine place that fell victim to civilization and "progress". Haunted by a headless, feathered monster from childhood, Ruthie's life is shaped and challenged by many contemporary themes that affect us today. Both beautiful and ugly, happy and sad, Ruthie Fear will linger long after you read the last word.
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Jennie W. (Denver, CO)
Ruthie Fear
The story of Ruthie and her place in the world is beautifully and poetically told. The world she inhabits is gritty and real and she vacillates between hating it and needing to be a part of it. I had to put the book down at times just to step away from the emotion I would start to feel, only to be drawn right back into the story a few hours later. I am blown away by the writing and storytelling and would recommend the book to anyone.
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Norma R. (Secaucus, NJ)
Ruthie Fear
Ruthie Fear is both the title of the novel as well as the name of the main character. Set in beautiful Bitterroot Valley Montana Ruthie grows up poor with her survivalist father. The natural beauty of the area is resulting in new development. This feeds on a culture of guns, violence and anger against the "rich". I enjoyed this novel because of the way the author shows Ruthie first as a young child and on into adulthood. Discussions about changes in a remote town and how the residents react would be interesting for a book club.
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Frances N. (San Francisco, CA)
Lyrical Read of Nature and Change
This is a hard book to review, because it is so many things. The lyrical writing takes you into the beauty of nature that is the wilds of Montana but is being encroached upon by people, progress and pollution. It has a surreal feel at all times and especially so at the climactic ending. Underneath it all, holding it all together and holding the reader is the love of a father and daughter, all rough and prickly; but in the end authentic.
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Vivian H. (Winchester, VA)
Fascinating Coming of Age Tale
Ruthie Fear is a survivor, which makes her a heroine of sorts in the beautifully written, albeit depressing novel of a young girl growing to womanhood in the poverty stricken, desperate environment of the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana. The writing style is luscious. I wanted to envelope Ruthie in my arms & rescue her. But, at times I struggled with the depths of depression the story caused me to feel. And I just couldn't embrace the 'headless creature' specter.
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Gwen C. (Clearfield, PA)
Ruthie Fear
This is not the book to read during a pandemic, recession, rioting time. I felt it was a quasi Jungle Book/HillBilly Elegy take on motherless Montana native Ruthie Fear, daughter of hardscrabble Rutherford.
From her early years she has a mighty battle against nature, others, and yes, herself. The dedication warns of the part wolves will play throughout as our grey-yellow eyed heroine confronts (among other things) prejudice against Salish Indians, local job loss and economic woes, climate change, encroaching development, billionaire's playgrounds, a bio-chem lab (generating conspiracy theories among the locals), gender discrimination, brain damage from professional sports, timelessness, and much more.
The writing is well-crafted but the sheer totality of its message made it a hard book for me to read. The conclusion seemed the only possible way to end all the many problems.
