- Paperback: 209 pages
- Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; Reprint edition (July 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0060840587
- ISBN-13: 978-0060840587
- Product Dimensions: 20.3 x 13.5 x 1.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 178,711 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Ruby
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
I read this a little under a year ago, yet the faintly ridiculous premise is still fresh in my mind. As a huge fan of Francesca Lia Block, I award it 2 stars as in some parts, her lyrical prose and rich descriptive style did win me over. However, it's an awkward book and the less talented second author sticks out uncomfortably. The character of Ruby is criminally one dimensional and under developed considering that the novel is named after her; despite being set in England, the real sense of the country is never truly felt, and some descriptions are cliched (yet not as bad as in some other books by American writers, so I will let this one slide) and finally, the love interest is quite obviously based on Orlando Bloom.
Had the parallels between the character and teen heart throb been a little more subtle, I could have just about tolerated this book, as it turns out, it just reminded me of a 15 year old teeny bopper's mawkish, clumsy fantasies.
Therefore, if you are a 15 year old fan of the Lord of the Rings cutie, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. If you are a Francesca Lia Block devotee, don't bother with this, and if you are new to Francesca Lia Block, please do not judge the immensely gifted woman on this mistake, stick to the Dangerous Angels series.
Had the parallels between the character and teen heart throb been a little more subtle, I could have just about tolerated this book, as it turns out, it just reminded me of a 15 year old teeny bopper's mawkish, clumsy fantasies.
Therefore, if you are a 15 year old fan of the Lord of the Rings cutie, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. If you are a Francesca Lia Block devotee, don't bother with this, and if you are new to Francesca Lia Block, please do not judge the immensely gifted woman on this mistake, stick to the Dangerous Angels series.
Format:Paperback
This is a dark, fairytale fantasy romance that tells the story of a young girl called Ruby, who has a sixth sense gift that enables her to know her own destiny. Ruby and her sister, Opal, have both suffered an abusive past at the hands of their father, whilst their mother seemingly overlooked what was happening to them. Ruby wants to try and forget it and start afresh. She leaves her hometown and travels to LA where she gets a job as a Nanny. Whilst there she discovers an actor called Orion, who she is sure she is destined to fall in love with. Ruby decides to travel to England where he lives and track him down. She obtains employment in an herbs and potions shop, which turns out to be owned by Orion's mother. Here she learns to sharpen up her magical abilities and then she hears that Orion is desperately ill. His mother asks Ruby if she will help to nurse him. Ruby uses her knowledge of magical potions to nurse him back to health. But Ruby's demons come back to haunt her, and her happy ever after ending is threatened.
At times this is a gritty read, but her story has been written with such sensitivity by the author that the reader will be enchanted by it.
At times this is a gritty read, but her story has been written with such sensitivity by the author that the reader will be enchanted by it.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
16 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
definately a jewel
3 Aug 2006
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love Francesca Lia Block. To date I own almost everything shes written.
She has such a colorful language, and imagination. She truely brings you into the book as it youre really just a fly on the wall, but seeing it all happen for yourself instead of reading a story.
This book, unlike so many of her others dosent take place in Los Angeles, but she apparently still has the power to make any city magic.
She has such a colorful language, and imagination. She truely brings you into the book as it youre really just a fly on the wall, but seeing it all happen for yourself instead of reading a story.
This book, unlike so many of her others dosent take place in Los Angeles, but she apparently still has the power to make any city magic.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Another beautifully-written and magical book from Block
4 July 2006
Format:Hardcover
What a magical, mystical read! Like all of Block's other books, this modern fairy tale combines harsh reality with transcendent beauty to create an uplifting and inspiring read.
The descriptions and places in the book helped transport me fully into Ruby's world, and the magical people and happenings kept me thinking about the book weeks after I closed it.
If you have liked Block's other work, you will love this. This book has the magic and untraditional romance of her Weetzie Bat books, and was wonderful to fall into at the end of the day.
The descriptions and places in the book helped transport me fully into Ruby's world, and the magical people and happenings kept me thinking about the book weeks after I closed it.
If you have liked Block's other work, you will love this. This book has the magic and untraditional romance of her Weetzie Bat books, and was wonderful to fall into at the end of the day.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Loved ambiguity -- even about what is real and what is imagined
8 Sep 2006
Format:Hardcover
I love this book. The ambiguity -- even about what is real and what is imagined -- is very engrossing and satisfying (not like a game that's designed by someone who knows more than you about the story like with some books). Empowering is so overused, but this book is truely empowering. It's like the main character, Ruby, is nurturing you, the reader. Some paragraphs are so simple and profound I had to read them again. And, I continued thinking about the narrators' wisdom the next day. I make it sound so serious, but actually this book is very entertaining and even sexy in places.
Maybe I'm not the target audience for this book (I'm 40), but the journey it took me on allowed me to be in my own teen/ young adult mind/ emotions -- in a good way, since I also have my 40-year old self to look on. So fun!!
Maybe I'm not the target audience for this book (I'm 40), but the journey it took me on allowed me to be in my own teen/ young adult mind/ emotions -- in a good way, since I also have my 40-year old self to look on. So fun!!
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