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 Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe is the prequel to the novel The Upper Room, which I have not read. It is said to have been written to give readers a view into the life of Ruby Upshaw prior to The Upper Room.
The story opens in 1934, in Shreveport, Louisiana. Mama Ruby chronicles the lives of childhood friends, Ruby and Othella. Ruby is the youngest daughter of a prominent preacher and Othella is the daughter of the town whore. The two forge a friendship that will last almost two decades; and share a secret they promise to carry to their graves. The book is almost 400 pages and most of those pages detail the sexual escapades of these two from about age twelve, on. At fifteen the two friends embark on an adventure that is laced with mishaps and misfortunes along the way. With their plans of a better life placed on hold, they journey from New Orleans, Louisiana, to south Florida where they eventually settle.
The author spent a lot of time, too much I think, going into great detail about the number of partners andactual acts performed by these young teens. It is raunchy, crude, and downright nasty; and when you factor in the age of the characters, it becomes yet another sad commentary for black girls, in general. At times I could relate to the characters, while other times I felt the story was so far-fetched that it was comical. I found myself wishing for a positive example of a loving relationship for these two girls to mirror, but it never happened. One thing I did love about the book was at the end when it is revealed that what the women wanted most in life could have been obtained at the very place they wanted so desparately to escape.
Monroe’s book is a simple read and moved quickly, although at times it felt weighted by useless information. I was disappointed that 3/4th’s of the book dealt with every aspect of Ruby and Othella’s promiscuity, but what should have been the meat and potatoes of the story was written like a summary in the final pages. Had Monroe focused more on the story between these two that took place in their adult lives, the book would have been more enjoyable for me and probably would have prompted me to check-out The Upper Room. I give Mama Ruby 3 Stars. It has its moments but definitely is not for the prudish.
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Much Love,
Tracy
Tracy L. Darity is the author of He Loves Me He Loves Me Not! and Love...Like Snow In Florida on a Hot Summer Day. Her third novel The Red Bear Society is scheduled for release in Fall 2011. For more information visit: www.TracyLDarity.com.
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