Journal Entry 1 by kimsbooks03 from Scranton, Pennsylvania USA on Saturday, October 16, 2004

Book Description

Deftly written and emotionally powerful, Drowning Ruth is a stunning portrait of the ties that bind sisters together and the forces that tear them apart, of the dangers of keeping secrets and the explosive repercussions when they are exposed. A mesmerizing and achingly beautiful debut.
Winter, 1919. Amanda Starkey spends her days nursing soldiers wounded in the Great War. Finding herself suddenly overwhelmed, she flees Milwaukee and retreats to her family's farm on Nagawaukee Lake, seeking comfort with her younger sister, Mathilda, and three-year-old niece, Ruth. But very soon, Amanda comes to see that her old home is no refuge--she has carried her troubles with her. On one terrible night almost a year later, Amanda loses nearly everything that is dearest to her when her sister mysteriously disappears and is later found drowned beneath the ice that covers the lake. When Mathilda's husband comes home from the war, wounded and troubled himself, he finds that Amanda has taken charge of Ruth and the farm, assuming her responsibility with a frightening intensity. Wry and guarded, Amanda tells the story of her family in careful doses, as anxious to hide from herself as from us the secrets of her own past and of that night.

Ruth, haunted by her own memory of that fateful night, grows up under the watchful eye of her prickly and possessive aunt and gradually becomes aware of the odd events of her childhood. As she tells her own story with increasing clarity, she reveals the mounting toll that her aunt's secrets exact from her family and everyone around her, until the heartrending truth is uncovered.

Guiding us through the lives of the Starkey women, Christina Schwarz's first novel shows her compassion and a unique understanding of the American landscape and the people who live on it.


*** This book does not have the Oprah Book Club Stamp on it.  

Journal Entry 2 by kimsbooks03 at RABCK to fellow Bookcrossing member in RABCK, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Friday, June 02, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (6/1/2006 UTC) at RABCK to fellow Bookcrossing member in RABCK, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to dee831 as winner of my RABCK celebrating my 100th book registered. I am so sorry that I didn't get this out to you sooner. I hope you enjoy it.

DC # 0305 2710 0002 1463 7333 

Journal Entry 3 by dee831 from Chardon, Ohio USA on Monday, June 05, 2006

Received today! Thank you so much, Kim. Looks like a great read. Don't worry about the wait, I just hope you got to read it first?

p.s. It does have the Oprah's Book Club stamp, just like the picture shown above.
 

Journal Entry 4 by dee831 from Chardon, Ohio USA on Monday, April 13, 2009

Started: 3/18/09
Finished: 4/13/09

I was very afraid at first, to read this, since I saw that the story begins in 1919. But I really enjoyed the writing style, and how the author builds the climax up until the very last page. Will definately recommend to others.

Available at PaperBackSwap.com 

Journal Entry 5 by dee831 at Highland Hts, Ohio USA on Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (5/20/2011 UTC) at Highland Hts, Ohio USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book is being released to the PHC Book Sale at work. Yesssssss, I know Bookcrossing books are supposed to be given away. But, the money goes to a good cause (American Heart Assoc.) and I figured this was a good way to rid my shelves of some the AVL books.

Congratulations! This is a very special book! It's been liberated. That is, it's absolutely FREE - a gift from me to you. Please take it home & enjoy! Keep it if you wish, or read and re-release for someone else to enjoy.

The individuals who are part of BookCrossing.com just like to spread the joy of reading by leaving books "in the wild" or trading them directly with other members. Our greatest joy is knowing that someone has found and is enjoying the books.

If you wish to join, please register first before leaving a journal and list me as the referring member, dee831. Thanks for visiting!

Come back and tell me what you thought of the book, where you found it, or just to say hi!