Ruby | Cynthia Bond | Cliff Note Books
“Ruby” is a haunting and emotionally intense novel that explores the themes of trauma, love, and redemption. Set in the small, racially divided town of Liberty, Texas, the novel follows the lives of two childhood friends, Ruby Bell and Ephram Jennings.
As a young girl, Ruby is subjected to unspeakable trauma at the hands of her father and other men in the community. She is seen as a pariah by the townspeople, who view her as dangerous and crazy. Ephram, on the other hand, is the son of a devoutly religious woman and has spent most of his life in quiet contemplation and prayer.
As adults, Ephram and Ruby reconnect and begin a tentative romantic relationship. However, their love is complicated by the traumas they have experienced and the deep-seated prejudices of the townspeople. The novel explores the complex ways in which trauma and love intersect, and the difficulty of healing in the face of profound pain and suffering.
Throughout the novel, Ruby and Ephram are haunted by the ghosts of their pasts, both literal and metaphorical. As they attempt to navigate their own personal traumas and the traumas of their community, they must confront the darkness that threatens to consume them and find a way to bring light back into their lives.
“Ruby” is a beautifully written and haunting novel that explores the complexities of human relationships and the power of love and redemption in the face of overwhelming pain and suffering.
QUOTES
“God is inside you, Ephram. And God is inside Ruby, too. And the earth, the air, the sky, the waters. You have to remember that. That’s what makes everything holy. The sacredness of all things.”
“We do what we have to do until we can do better. Then we do better.”
“The heart and the spirit don’t know the difference between miles and time.”
“Hurt people, hurt people. That’s how pain patterns get passed on, generation after generation after generation. Break the chain today. Meet anger with sympathy, contempt with compassion, cruelty with kindness. Greet grimaces with smiles. Forgive and forget about finding fault. Love is the weapon of the future.”
“Your power lies in knowing who you are and what you stand for.”
“There are some things in this world you simply can’t change, no matter how hard you try.”
AUTHOR
Cynthia Bond is an American author and educator. She was born in 1960 in East Texas and spent her early years living with her grandparents in a small, rural community. Bond went on to study education and creative writing at Northwestern University and later earned a Master of Fine Arts in writing from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop.
Bond worked as a social worker in Los Angeles for several years before turning to writing full-time. Her debut novel, “Ruby,” was published in 2014 to critical acclaim and was a finalist for the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction. The novel has been translated into several languages and has been described as a “stunning, evocative debut” by the New York Times.
In addition to her work as a writer, Bond has taught writing at several institutions, including UCLA and the University of Houston. She is also the founder of the Blackbird Writing Collective, a group that offers writing workshops and other resources to aspiring writers.
Bond’s work is known for its haunting, lyrical prose and its exploration of themes such as trauma, race, and the search for identity. Her writing has been compared to that of Toni Morrison and Zora Neale Hurston.
CRITICISMS
While “Ruby” by Cynthia Bond has received widespread critical acclaim, it has also faced some criticism. Here are a few examples:
Some readers have found the novel to be overly dark and emotionally intense, and have been turned off by its graphic depictions of violence and trauma.
Others have criticized the novel for perpetuating negative stereotypes about mental illness, as the main character Ruby is often described as “crazy” and seen as a danger to those around her.
Some have argued that the novel’s portrayal of race relations is overly simplistic, and that it fails to fully explore the complexities of racism and discrimination in America.
A few reviewers have also noted that the novel’s narrative structure can be confusing at times, as it shifts back and forth between different time periods and perspectives.
Overall, while “Ruby” has been widely praised for its beautiful prose and emotional depth, it is not without its detractors. Like any work of literature, it has been subject to a range of interpretations and criticisms.
SUMMARIES
Chapter 1: The novel begins with a description of the small town of Liberty, Texas, and introduces the character of Ruby Bell, a young woman who is seen as an outcast by the townspeople.
Chapter 2: The chapter jumps back in time to Ruby’s childhood, where she is shown to be the victim of horrific abuse at the hands of her father.
Chapter 3: The narrative shifts to Ephram Jennings, a young boy who grows up in a deeply religious household. The chapter explores Ephram’s relationship with his mother and his struggles to understand the world around him.
Chapter 4: The chapter returns to Ruby’s childhood, where she meets Ephram for the first time and they form a tentative friendship.
Chapter 5: The narrative jumps forward in time to the present day, where Ruby has become a beautiful young woman who is viewed with suspicion and fear by the townspeople.
Chapter 6: Ephram struggles with his feelings for Ruby and the way she is treated by the townspeople.
Chapter 7: Ruby is subjected to a violent attack by the town’s sheriff, which leaves her emotionally and physically scarred.
Chapter 8: Ephram attempts to reach out to Ruby and offer her comfort, but is rebuffed by her and told to stay away.
Chapter 9: The section opens with a description of the bond between Ephram and his sister, Celia. The narrative then returns to Ruby’s childhood, where she is shown to be increasingly isolated and abused.
Chapter 10: The chapter jumps forward in time to the present day, where Ruby has become a recluse who rarely leaves her home. Ephram continues to struggle with his feelings for her, even as the townspeople ostracize and demonize her.
Chapter 11: The narrative shifts to a different perspective, as a group of women in Liberty gather to discuss Ruby and the events that have led to her isolation.
Chapter 12: The chapter focuses on a local businessman named Lonnie Henson, who becomes obsessed with Ruby and begins to stalk her.
Chapter 13: Ruby has a confrontation with Lonnie that ends in violence, and Ephram attempts to come to her rescue.
Chapter 14: The narrative explores the aftermath of the violent confrontation, as Ruby and Ephram grapple with their feelings for each other and the trauma they have experienced.
Chapter 15: Ephram turns to religion for comfort and guidance, while Ruby continues to struggle with her demons.
Chapter 16: The section opens with a description of the growing violence and unrest in Liberty, as the town becomes increasingly divided along racial and economic lines.
Chapter 17: The narrative jumps back in time to Ephram’s childhood, where he is shown to be increasingly disillusioned with the strict religious beliefs of his family.
Chapter 18: The chapter explores the experiences of other characters in Liberty, including a young black girl who is forced to confront the realities of segregation and a white woman who is struggling with addiction.
Chapter 19: The narrative shifts back to the present day, where Ephram is struggling to come to terms with his own trauma and the growing danger around him.
Chapter 20: The chapter focuses on Ruby and her attempts to confront the demons of her past and find a sense of peace.
Chapter 21: Ephram and Ruby have a final confrontation with Lonnie, which ends in violence.
Chapter 22: The novel reaches its conclusion, as the characters grapple with the fallout from the violence and attempt to find a way forward in a world that is often cruel and unforgiving.