Ruthie Fear

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers who gave me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

If "Ruthie Fear" by Maxim Loskutoff is not on your "to-be-read" book list, it needs to be. Loskutoff creates very visceral, complex characters set in a wilderness that is so evocative and expressive that it becomes easy to submerge oneself in the pages.

The novel follows Ruthie Fear from the age of six to her early thirties as she attempts to find herself amidst the violence which surrounds her and the wildlife that is constantly changing. Through Ruthie's eyes, we see life in Bitterroot Valley, Montana, full of people who feel beaten down by life and are struggling to make something of themselves, a community changing to the modernity of the world, and the strange appearances of creatures that have haunted Ruthie since she was a little girl.

I absolutely loved this story. It was very rich in detail that made Bitterroot Valley feel like it could be anyone's home due to the level of depth put into its history. Not to mention the character's reaction and perceptions of the ever-changing natural world of their community felt very tangible and wholesome. It reminded me a lot of stories like "Hold the Dark" by William Giraldi and "Housekeeping" by Marilynne Robinson because the stories are so complex and deeply rooted in the community and wildlife that it is almost impossible to not fall in love with the writing.

"Ruthie Fear" is highly recommended. This novel is anything but dull and slow-paced, and I can guarantee that readers will be immersed in Ruthie's tale as it unfolds.

Ruthie Fear is a beautifully written book and I highly recommend it if you’re in the mood for a unique and gritty story about the present day American West told with raw emotion.  
We learn about Ruthie’s life from her hard scrabble, motherless childhood being raised by a coarse, but caring father.  The descriptions of the land and the characters are wonderful.

I'm so  glad to have met Ruthie Fear and accompanied her from childhood through a "coming-of-age" narrative marked by a strong tie to the world of nature and bruising experiences with the people she encounters. Ruthie has a mind of her own, a persistent drive to be herself in spite of the expectations of her society. And that society is so far from my own that it is both painful and thrilling. The writing is beautiful. Characters are diverse, wildly so. There are moments when I was reluctant to turn the page but at the same time anxious to find out what comes next. Trigger alert for those who are disturbed by, shall we say, unkind treatment of animals - this may not be the read for you.

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.