About The Book of Ruth
"I learned, slowly, that if you don't look at the world with perfect vision,
you're bound to get yourself cooked." Having come within an inch of her life,
Ruth Dahl is determined to take a good look at it--and to figure out whether, in
fact, she's to blame for the mess. Pegged the loser in a small-town family that
doesn't have much going for it in the first place, Ruth grows up in the shadow of
her brilliant brother, trying to survive in a world of poverty and hardship.
Matt's brain is his ticket out of Honey Creek. Ruth, without options, cleaves
instead to her tough, half-crazy mother, May, and eventually to Ruby, the sweet
but slightly deranged young man she loves, marries, and supports. Ruth spots
stains at Trim 'N Tidy dry cleaners, bowls at the Town Lanes, and tries in vain
to keep the peace at home between May, whose lashing criticisms blow through the
cramped house with gale force, and Ruby, who spends his days getting stoned and
watching reruns of Bewitched on television. When the precarious household erupts
in violence, Ruth is the only one who can piece their story together--and she
gets to the truth in a manner at once ferocious, hilarious, and heartbreaking.
In this powerful, incandescent novel, Jane Hamilton has worked a small miracle:
she has given voice to a young woman who is indistinguishable except for her
passion in her commitment to life. The Book of Ruth is a stunning
testament to the human capacity for mercy, compassion, and love.
For discussion: The Book of Ruth
- Ruth's story is particularly poignant because of the way she conveys so much that is beyond her understanding. What are the differences between what Ruth tells us and what
we infer about her life and the people in it? How does Hamilton achieve this?
- How do you respond to Ruth's na•veté? Is her lack of understanding about the people in her life frustrating? Or does her innocence make her a more sympathetic character?
- May is in many ways a monstrous character in Ruth's life. What about her is human and invokes our sympathy? Are there any similarities between May and Ruth?
- How does Ruth get caught between May and Ruby? Does Justy's birth improve the situation for her at all?
- Daisy seems comfortable in the world of the novel, even while she remains distinct and apart from everyone in that world. How is her friendship important to Ruth? Is she as well-drawn as the other characters in the book?
- The Book of Ruth's climax is hinted at throughout the novel. What effect does this type of foreshadowing have on your reading? Does it add to or diminish the impact of the events when they finally occur?
- Is Ruth's attitude toward Ruby justified at the end of the book?
- Compare the characters of Aunt Sid in The Book of Ruth and Aunt Kate in A Map of the World. Do they serve the same function for Ruth and Alice?
About The Short History of a Prince
The moving story of the torments of sexuality and the redemptive power of family
and friendship, The Short History of a Prince is the story of Walter
McCloud, a boy with dreams unlike most. Introduced as a child to the genius of
Balanchine and the lyricism of Tchaikovsky, Walter has always aspired to be a
dancer. As he grows older, it becomes clear that despite his desire, he lacks the
talent, and he faces the painful knowledge that his more gifted friends have
already surpassed him. Soon, however, that pain is overshadowed when his older
brother, Daniel, finds a strange lump on his neck and Walter realizes that a
family's happiness can change overnight. The year that follows transforms the
McClouds, as they try to hold together in the face of the fearful consequences of
Daniel's illness, and Walter makes discoveries about himself and his friendships
that will change him forever. Decades later, Walter returns home and must come to
terms with the memories of that year, grappling once and for all with the
challenge of carving out a place for himself in an all-too-familiar world.
For discussion: The Short History of a Prince
- A sense of place is significant in each of Hamilton's books. At the heart of The Short History of a Prince is the family's summer home at Lake Margaret. What role does this big old house play in Hamilton's tale? Why is it so important?
- In A Map of the World, Hamilton takes the reader on a slow, downward spiral toward disaster; in The Short History of a Prince, she makes it clear early on that Walter's brother will die, thereby revealing the book's ultimate tragedy and then moving beyond it. Does this defuse the story's suspense? Once you know of the death, what is it that makes you want to read on?
- Walter's response to his brother's impending death is cruel and self-centered. Is his behavior understandable--even forgivable--at this point? Why or why not?
- One of the pleasures of this novel is the evolution of Walter's and Susan's friendship. How does Hamilton manage to show each character at his or her worst in this relationship and yet convince the reader that they can be devoted friends?
- Sue Rawson is an important figure in Walter's life, and her association with the world of classical arts holds particular meaning for him. What do you think Hamilton is trying to say with her portrayal of this woman who seems to live on an altogether different plane than the rest of her family?
- Is The Short History of a Prince written entirely from Walter's point of view, or were there times when you felt the presence of an omniscient narrator? If so, how did this change of perspective affect your reading of the story? What about Walter's humorous tone? Did his lighthearted attitude diminish the impact of this tale of tragic death, failed romance, and loss of a dream, or serve to make it even more poignant? How does Hamilton manage to take us through such a journey and end with hope?
- How would you describe the world as portrayed in Jane Hamilton's novels? Is it particularly just or unjust? Does it strike you as realistic?
Suggestions for further reading
Margaret Atwood, Alias Grace; Chris Bohjalian, Midwives; Rosellen Brown, Before
and After; Willa Cather, O Pioneers!; Louise Erdrich, Love Medicine; Pam Houston,
Cowboys Are My Weakness; Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams; Norman MacLean, A
River Runs Through It; Sue Miller, The Good Mother; Susan Minot, Evening; Wallace
Stegner, Crossing to Safety.
