Are you sympathetic towards Ruth?

Discuss the October 2017 Book of the Month, Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon.

View Strong Heart on Bookshelves

View Strong Heart on Amazon
User avatar
Amagine
Posts: 5441
Joined: 04 Mar 2017, 19:27
Favorite Author: James Patterson
Bookshelf Size: 721
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-amagine.html
Latest Review: "Salome and Gogo visit Soweto" by Cora Groenewald
Reading Device: B00IKPYKWG
fav_author_id: 3251

Are you sympathetic towards Ruth?

Post by Amagine »

In the book, we learn bits and pieces about Ruth and the life her daughter and granddaughter had with her. We even learn some things about her relationship with Finch. Later, a tragic secret is revealed concerning her husband and we see how Ruth is struggling to face the truth.

Do you feel sympathetic towards Ruth? Do you think she's getting what she deserves? Could she have been a better mother? Grandmother?
"Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude." -A.A Milne

"I am grateful for all the books that sparked my imagination." -Unknown
Latest Review: "Salome and Gogo visit Soweto" by Cora Groenewald
himynamestom
Posts: 12
Joined: 23 Sep 2017, 12:30
Bookshelf Size: 24
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-himynamestom.html
Latest Review: "McDowell" by William H. Coles

Post by himynamestom »

I didn't feel much sympathy for her at the time, but looking back I wonder if she was simply unaware (perhaps willfully) of the suffering around her, because she was too was suffering at Finch's hand. Although I still think that she could and should have done more for her daughter, and I expect we will see what she does with her husband in the sequels.
Latest Review: "McDowell" by William H. Coles
User avatar
jwalker73
Posts: 265
Joined: 29 Jun 2017, 06:42
Currently Reading: The Good Mother
Bookshelf Size: 291
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-jwalker73.html
Latest Review: The Truth About Parallel Lines by Jill D. Block
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU

Post by jwalker73 »

Regardless of the history with the daughter and the repeat of the same with the granddaughter, I did not like her due to the fact that she dumped Sarah on Tom's doorstep as she did not want her and saw her as an inconvenience. After Tom and Sarah's first trip away she suddenly became the all caring grandmother and prevented Sarah from staying with Tom as she felt he was irresponsible. Realistically, dumping Sarah on someone she has never met, who lives in the middle of nowhere and without any forewarning, was just as irresponsible.
User avatar
Amagine
Posts: 5441
Joined: 04 Mar 2017, 19:27
Favorite Author: James Patterson
Bookshelf Size: 721
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-amagine.html
Latest Review: "Salome and Gogo visit Soweto" by Cora Groenewald
Reading Device: B00IKPYKWG
fav_author_id: 3251

Post by Amagine »

I'm not sympathetic to her at all. I felt she should have done more for her daughter and granddaughter. She failed to protect them both from her mentally sick husband.

-- 05 Oct 2017, 18:10 --

I don't know why I keep calling him Finch when his last name is Lynch! :doh:
"Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude." -A.A Milne

"I am grateful for all the books that sparked my imagination." -Unknown
Latest Review: "Salome and Gogo visit Soweto" by Cora Groenewald
Karen0823
Posts: 56
Joined: 01 Sep 2017, 11:50
Bookshelf Size: 18
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-karen0823.html
Latest Review: "From Drift to SHIFT" by Jody B. Miller

Post by Karen0823 »

I did not feel sympathetic toward Ruth. You need to know what is going on inside your own house. Open your eyes. I think some people turn a blind eye just to remain in a marriage for the stability, or whatever the case may be.
Latest Review: "From Drift to SHIFT" by Jody B. Miller
User avatar
Amagine
Posts: 5441
Joined: 04 Mar 2017, 19:27
Favorite Author: James Patterson
Bookshelf Size: 721
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-amagine.html
Latest Review: "Salome and Gogo visit Soweto" by Cora Groenewald
Reading Device: B00IKPYKWG
fav_author_id: 3251

Post by Amagine »

Karen0823 wrote:I did not feel sympathetic toward Ruth. You need to know what is going on inside your own house. Open your eyes. I think some people turn a blind eye just to remain in a marriage for the stability, or whatever the case may be.
I didn't feel any kind of sympathy for her either.
"Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude." -A.A Milne

"I am grateful for all the books that sparked my imagination." -Unknown
Latest Review: "Salome and Gogo visit Soweto" by Cora Groenewald
User avatar
BoyLazy
Posts: 808
Joined: 26 Apr 2017, 23:01
Currently Reading: Temptation Trials Part II
Bookshelf Size: 122
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-boylazy.html
Latest Review: Heartaches 2 by H.M. Irwing

Post by BoyLazy »

Amagine wrote:I'm not sympathetic to her at all. I felt she should have done more for her daughter and granddaughter. She failed to protect them both from her mentally sick husband.

-- 05 Oct 2017, 18:10 --

I don't know why I keep calling him Finch when his last name is Lynch! :doh:
She was second villain of this story.
Boy Lazy
Reviewer | Blogger | Influencer
 
User avatar
Amagine
Posts: 5441
Joined: 04 Mar 2017, 19:27
Favorite Author: James Patterson
Bookshelf Size: 721
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-amagine.html
Latest Review: "Salome and Gogo visit Soweto" by Cora Groenewald
Reading Device: B00IKPYKWG
fav_author_id: 3251

Post by Amagine »

I agree that Ruth was an antagonist. She wasn't likable at all!
"Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude." -A.A Milne

"I am grateful for all the books that sparked my imagination." -Unknown
Latest Review: "Salome and Gogo visit Soweto" by Cora Groenewald
User avatar
Sally_Heart
Posts: 326
Joined: 02 Oct 2017, 22:47
Currently Reading: The Surgeon's Wife
Bookshelf Size: 73
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-sally-heart.html
Latest Review: We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz

Post by Sally_Heart »

Could Ruth have been a better mother or grandmother? Definitely, but I would not go as far and be sympathetic towards her. I see Ruth as selfish and uncaring since she can not sacrifice her happiness to face the problem that her husband Fletcher was into child abuse.
User avatar
BoyLazy
Posts: 808
Joined: 26 Apr 2017, 23:01
Currently Reading: Temptation Trials Part II
Bookshelf Size: 122
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-boylazy.html
Latest Review: Heartaches 2 by H.M. Irwing

Post by BoyLazy »

Salsabila wrote:Could Ruth have been a better mother or grandmother? Definitely, but I would not go as far and be sympathetic towards her. I see Ruth as selfish and uncaring since she can not sacrifice her happiness to face the problem that her husband Fletcher was into child abuse.
That was very bad of her.
Boy Lazy
Reviewer | Blogger | Influencer
 
User avatar
Amagine
Posts: 5441
Joined: 04 Mar 2017, 19:27
Favorite Author: James Patterson
Bookshelf Size: 721
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-amagine.html
Latest Review: "Salome and Gogo visit Soweto" by Cora Groenewald
Reading Device: B00IKPYKWG
fav_author_id: 3251

Post by Amagine »

In a way she is an abuser too
"Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude." -A.A Milne

"I am grateful for all the books that sparked my imagination." -Unknown
Latest Review: "Salome and Gogo visit Soweto" by Cora Groenewald
User avatar
MrsCatInTheHat
Posts: 3817
Joined: 31 May 2016, 11:53
Favorite Book: Cry the Beloved Country
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 376
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-mrscatinthehat.html
Latest Review: Marc Marci by Larry G. Goldsmith
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
Publishing Contest Votes: 0

Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

I feel some sympathy towards her, but without knowing how she handles things in the sequel, I won't know for sure. It is possible for her to redeem herself.
Life without a good book is something MrsCatInTheHat cannot imagine.
User avatar
Amagine
Posts: 5441
Joined: 04 Mar 2017, 19:27
Favorite Author: James Patterson
Bookshelf Size: 721
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-amagine.html
Latest Review: "Salome and Gogo visit Soweto" by Cora Groenewald
Reading Device: B00IKPYKWG
fav_author_id: 3251

Post by Amagine »

CatInTheHat wrote:I feel some sympathy towards her, but without knowing how she handles things in the sequel, I won't know for sure. It is possible for her to redeem herself.
It's good that someone feels sympathetic to her. I truly do hope she redeems herself though.
"Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude." -A.A Milne

"I am grateful for all the books that sparked my imagination." -Unknown
Latest Review: "Salome and Gogo visit Soweto" by Cora Groenewald
User avatar
meteku4
Posts: 244
Joined: 22 Jun 2017, 16:16
Bookshelf Size: 65
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-meteku4.html
Latest Review: "Followed my Star" by AR Annahita

Post by meteku4 »

Well it is unfortunate that much has not been said about William and Ruth's relationship before divorce, so it is difficult to tell whether she deserves some sympathy or not.
Latest Review: "Followed my Star" by AR Annahita
User avatar
Amagine
Posts: 5441
Joined: 04 Mar 2017, 19:27
Favorite Author: James Patterson
Bookshelf Size: 721
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-amagine.html
Latest Review: "Salome and Gogo visit Soweto" by Cora Groenewald
Reading Device: B00IKPYKWG
fav_author_id: 3251

Post by Amagine »

meteku4 wrote:Well it is unfortunate that much has not been said about William and Ruth's relationship before divorce, so it is difficult to tell whether she deserves some sympathy or not.
It would be more interesting to learn more about Tom and Ruth's relationship.
"Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude." -A.A Milne

"I am grateful for all the books that sparked my imagination." -Unknown
Latest Review: "Salome and Gogo visit Soweto" by Cora Groenewald
Post Reply

Return to “Discuss "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon”