Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West

Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West – 352 pages

Book Blurb:

When Ruby King’s mother is found murdered in their home in Chicago’s South Side, the police dismiss it as another act of violence in a black neighborhood. But for Ruby, it’s a devastating loss that leaves her on her own with her violent father. While she receives many condolences, her best friend, Layla, is the only one who understands how this puts Ruby in jeopardy. Their closeness is tested when Layla’s father, the pastor of their church, demands that Layla stay away. But what is the price for turning a blind eye? In a relentless quest to save Ruby, Layla uncovers the murky loyalties and dangerous secrets that have bound their families together for generations. Only by facing this legacy of trauma head-on will Ruby be able to break free.

My Review: 4.5 stars

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Saving Ruby King wowed me from the very first paragraph. If you like to highlight meaningful or well-written quotes while you read, you better get ready, this book is chock full of them. The writing is exquisite and every word is purposely intended. It’s crazy that this is a debut novel.

This story is told by a multitude of characters that at first seem overwhelming. I started this book on audio and ended it with print, so I was unaware of the character list provided in the book. Even so, I was able to get it straight on audio as the different characters were each allotted a different narrator. By writing the book this way, I could see how secrets and dishonesty can tear relationships apart. When you haven’t lived in someone else’s shoes, you’ll never know their truths unless he or she shares it. The church, called the Calvary, also had its own omniscient POV that knew the history of the all the cities churchgoers. Although Chicago didn’t have its own POV, I believe the South Side all represented itself as a character.

This book packs a punch in terms of generational trauma and abuse. Its repetitive nature is crippling – something the author shows in many ways. Religion, and how the community relies on it or denies it was ever present. Each character has a different connection with the church and which church you attended meant so much.

As difficult as some of the scenes or situations were to read about, this book rounds itself out with a feeling of hope for the future. Perfect ending for this well done work of debut fiction.

Quotes I liked:

Rebellion even in its smallest forms can eventually birth great change. With change comes hope.”

“The city Chicago was color-blind; people, however, were and are another matter.”

“We’re all just a collection of scars, you know. The mistakes our parents make, the mistakes we make. We’re as much marked by the things we don’t do as the things we accomplish.”

“Gossip is an unfortunate language of the Church.”

“Really, you’re going to ‘you people’ me? It must be nice to look down your nose on a race of people you can shoot down in the street with no consequence.”

“…but more things than love bind people together, secrets and lies make just as hearty a bond as love.”