This stunning novel kept me enthralled over one sitting. RUTH by Kate Riley is a slim but moving book that at first seems like another religious cult story, but instead is a look at a life of a woman confined by the luck of her draw. Born into an insular Christian community in the 1970s, we follow her throughout her life as she tries to learn about the world as a child, sees the world differently as she contemplates marriage, and takes on the outside world as she becomes a mother.

There is no heavy plot here, instead it is more of a series of vignettes within Ruth’s strange world that is often, and surprisingly, funny. The writing here is what sings – it’s Riley’s voice is beautiful and layered. She does layout exactly who Ruth is, or what this commune’s end goal is. Instead, she lets us experience her Ruth’s world to great affect. I especially loved the ending. Such a good book!

A fascinating and fragmented yet whole peek into the world of the ultra-religious. I couldn't put it down.

The POV really didn't work for me, though I thought I'd love this one. I don't know how to explain the disconnect, though I should be able to. I wanted more of the main character, rather than this sweeping series of vignettes about her weird world. I wanted to see her move through it and to be deeper, closer.

3 stars

So, it’s not exactly a cult book, my cult book loving friends, but it’s not NOT a cult book either. The novel follows Ruth from childhood through middle age in her Anabaptist sect where all is shared and decisions are made by elders (however there is no abuse here.) Ruth’s life is fairly regimented and while Ruth is, for her group, a tiny bit of a free spirit, she doesn’t really question the world she lives within nor does she appear to chafe against its teachings. But is she happy? That’s the fundamental question here, and you’ll have to decide for yourself.

There were definitely things I liked about this book; often books about a religious community are quick to label it “bad,” when, here, certainly, there’s no real evidence there’s anything bad about the Brotherhood at all…there’s no coercion or abuse here and plenty of people leave the congregation. These are simply people who choose to worship and live differently than most; the people depicted here are more like the Amish than anything. Can happiness be found there? Of course.

That said, I found the book choppy and a bit stilted at times. I was never entirely clear what happened to some of the characters who just seemed to vanish. So, while there were high points, there were things that could have been improved upon, for me.

Ruth’s search for meaning is a compelling reflection on how we navigate beliefs imposed upon us, and it will leave you reflecting long after finishing it.