May 11, 2014 as he finishes the final, and most challenging, knot, ephram has an epiphany that is central to the theme of the book. Cynthia bond has written a book everyone should read, about the power of love to overcome even the. I have never read a book like this before, oprah says about ruby, cynthia bonds haunting debut novel. The epic, unforgettable story of a man determined to protect the woman he loves from. Cynthia bond, ruby ruby bell, the beautiful and bizarre protagonist in cynthia bonds new work ruby hogarth, has been to hell and back. We have an exclusive excerpt from ruby by cynthia bond. Thank you to cynthia bond for participating let me start off by saying that this book isnt what you think it is. The epic, unforgettable story of a man determined to protect the woman he l. Watch the video to find out why the latest selection for oprahs book club 2. This beautiful and devastating debut heralds the arrival of a major new voice in fiction. Anthony marra, author of a constellation of vital phenomena from the first sentence, cynthia bond s unforgettable debut novel, ruby, took hold of me and it hasnt let go. Author cynthia bond talks to you and me about her book, ruby. When the glamorous ruby bell returns to her hometown after living in new york city, her sanity unravels as she faces the secrets of her past. At 53, cynthia bond is not an average firsttime author, but ruby is not an average debut.
Ruby by cynthia bond hogarth hardcover, 97808049090, 326 pp. Ruby by cynthia bond is the book clubs fourth selection. Anthony marra, author of a constellation of vital phenomena from the first sentence, cynthia bonds unforgettable debut novel, ruby, took hold of me and it hasnt let go. Reading guide for ruby by cynthia bond discussion guide for book clubs. Her debut novel ruby spent six consecutive weeks on the new york times bestseller list, and was chosen as a selection for oprahs book club 2. Reading cynthia bond s ruby, you cant help but feel that one day this book will be considered a staple of our literature, a classic. Her novel ruby was chosen to be an oprah book club 2. Picked for oprah winfreys book club, this luminous debut novel about the evils visited on a young woman is grounded in reality but woven with. One time he saw her stand in the middle the street and start urinating. A black boy named ephram loved to watch a black girl named ruby. Ruby by cynthia bond book club discussion questions. Oct 14, 2014 ruby by cynthia bond published by hogarth on april 29, 2014 genreslists. Ruby was also a barnes and noble discover great new writers selection, and an indie next pick.
When we first meet ruby bell, shes a symbol of local disgrace. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Cynthia bond will talk about and sign copies of her debut novel, ruby, at blue willow books in houston on wednesday, may 7, at 7 p. Cynthia bonds debut novel leaves the reader dirty, her. Cynthia bonds novel, ruby, is the new oprah book club 2. Learn more about how you can participate in oprahs book club 2.
Essay by cynthia bond there are elements of rubylocations, characters, storiesthat have come from real life. Reading cynthia bonds ruby, you cant help but feel that one day this book will be considered a staple of our literature, a classic. Tante grabs ruby close, so close that ruby smells ms. In 1950, ruby makes her escape to new york, where colored girls and white pretended to be equal, to look for her mother. Oprah talks to ruby author cynthia bond the newest oprahs book club 2. Download free discussion questions for a lively conversation.
There were times when the evils unfolding on the pages of bonds horrifyingalbeit impeccably. Lush, deep, momentous, much like the people and landscape it describes, ruby enchants not just with its powerful tale of lifelong quests and unrelenting love, but. The epic, unforgettable story of a man determined to protect the woman he loves from the town desperate to destroy her. Intrigued by all of the news surrounding oprahs book club 2. The book is set in an allblack hamlet called liberty township, in east texas, and is part of a planned trilogy by firsttime author cynthia bond. The epic, unforgettable story of a man determined to protect the woman. Official readers guide for ruby by cynthia bond read it forward. April 29, 2014 voodoo, faith and racism converge in an east texas townparticularly within the troubled titular heroinein this bracing debut novel. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Struggling writers debut novel gets coveted oprah winfrey. The story recounts the relationship between ruby bell, a woman considered to be crazy, and ephram jennings, a man considered weak and worthless by a town with dark secrets. When a telegram from her cousin forces her to return home, thirtyyearold ruby bell finds herself reliving the devastating violence of her girlhood. Lush, deep, momentous, much like the people and landscape it describes, ruby enchants not just with its powerful tale of lifelong quests and unrelenting love, but also with its exquisite language. Buy ruby by bond, cynthia, bond, cynthia from amazons fiction books store.
Cynthia bond writes with a dazzling poetry thats part william faulkner, part toni morrison, yet entirely her own. Cynthia bond born 1961 is an american author and former actress. Buy this book bonds debut novel is difficult to read for its graphic and uncomfortable portrayal of racism, sexual violence, and. In piercingly lovely prose, cynthia bonds ruby, oprahs latest book club 2. Feb 23, 2015 the book is set in an allblack hamlet called liberty township, in east texas, and is part of a planned trilogy by firsttime author cynthia bond. So this is the life of a woman, he thought, and kneeling beside the bed, head on the mattress he fell asleep. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Ruby by cynthia bond hogarth new oprahs book club 2. April 29, 2014 sensitive readers should be warned that much of the subject matter of cynthia bonds debut novel, ruby, is unflinchingly raw, grim and darkly disturbingin particular, the ritual sexual abuse of children in a voodooinfested rural texas town. Ruby is an africanamerican historicalfantasy by cynthia bond. The epic, unforgettable story of a man determined to protect the woman he loves from the town desperate to destroy herthis beautiful and devastating debut heralds the arrival of a major new voice in fiction.
Apr 29, 2014 cynthia bond is a new york times bestselling author. Cynthia bond author of ruby meet your next favorite book. Ruby by cynthia bond, selected for oprahs book club 2. I dont know what the rotting meat is, although ruby is rather close to ms. Official readers guide for ruby by cynthia bond read it. Ruby bell is an african american girl raised by white folks in liberty, a rural community deep in the piney woods of east texas. Feb 10, 2015 cynthia bonds novel, ruby, is the new oprah book club 2. I have never read a book like this before, says oprah about ruby, cynthia bonds haunting debut novel. Ruby is a harrowing, hallucinatory novel, a love story and a ghost story about one womans attempt to escape the legacy of violence in a small southern town. Ruby by cynthia bond booksamillion online book store.
Cynthia bond is a new york times bestselling author. Fifteen years in the making, and originally 900 pages long, bond divided it into a trilogy on her first. Why cynthia bond never gave up on writing ruby supersoul sunday. Jul 01, 2014 author cynthia bond talks to you and me about her book, ruby.
Ruby by cynthia bond published by hogarth on april 29, 2014 genreslists. Ruby is encircled by shadows, but incandescent with light. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Nov 03, 2015 why cynthia bond never gave up on writing ruby supersoul sunday. Its 1974, and a decade earlier she returned to her hometown of liberty seemingly gone crazy. Apr 29, 2014 sensitive readers should be warned that much of the subject matter of cynthia bonds debut novel, ruby, is unflinchingly raw, grim and darkly disturbingin particular, the ritual sexual abuse of children in a voodooinfested rural texas town. When people started laughing at her she looked down at the puddle she created and dropped all her food. Bond traffics in extremely difficult subjects with a grace and bigheartedness that makes for an accomplished, enthralling read. The official readers guide for ruby by cynthia bond, a selection of oprahs book club 2. The innocent anticipation of the shooting stalks, the quivering stillness of the watching trees.
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