Ruth Hall: A Domestic Tale of the Present TIme (Penguin Classics)

The writing is dated, but what are you going to do? They all wrote like that back then. I didn't especially love the book at first because the characters seemed stock characters, the heroine seemed unrealistic. But then I googled the author and it turns out the book was so biographical that when the true authorship came out (Fanny Fern is a pen name) there was a big uproar because all those stock characters were easily recognizable as Fanny's true in-laws, father, and brother. People were upset that she wasn't dutiful and loyal to those awful relatives so while it seems in the book that the author glories in making the heroine a doormat, the act of writing the book and exposing all those people was a huge rebellion. And if you pay close attention, there are things in the book that you don't ordinarily see mentioned in books of this time - like the description of brothel the heroine was forced to live across the way from in her effort to find lodging she could afford.

Being a genealogist, seeing the name Ruth Hall was enough to interest me to download the book to my kindle. A common surname, I was intrigued. Ruth is a common name in early America. But no, this is not the purpose of this book. This story is about culture and disparity of status that existed as standard behavior towards a widowed mother by her father, brother, parents of her late beloved husband, as she struggles with business contacts, landlords of the time to find her way.

I read this novel for a graduate level class on 19th century women's literature. It was definitely not my favorite. While it does give insight into women's situation during the time period, especially concerning work and making a living, it is also somewhat unrealistic. The main character is an obnoxiously good little housewife who falls on hard times when her first born and her husband die. Nobody will help her, and her in-laws are the devil incarnate. However, this renders the characters rather flat (yes, I know that is typical of a lot of 19th century literature, but I feel that this novel is particularly guilty). The main character, despite her striving and starving and her in-laws kidnapping one of her daughters, never really gets mad or makes any mistakes. She couldn't possibly be human. The novel beats you over the head with how hard she has it and how holy she is and eventually kind of loses your sympathy because it's so over the top. However, I would say that Fanny Fern definitely had talent as a writer. She just needed a good editor (but you can't really blame her since women's writing wasn't taken that seriously at the time). Overall I wouldn't really recommend this novel. I ended up trading in my copy to the used book store.

I loved Ruth Hall! It follows a woman trying to support her family by trying to become a writer for the newspaper. It is a sentimental novel, and it is successful within that genre because you want Ruth Hall to succeed for her daughters. She battles rude in-laws, financial problems, an apathetic father, and being a woman trying to make it in the newspaper world which was dominated by men at the time. Do you think the novel is a feminist novel, or does Fern believe women can only succeed in the newspaper world if they stick to their feminine attributes? Read and find out!

Easy and pleasant read, I really enjoyed it and it made me both teary eyed and laugh! A bit of knowledge about the author enhanced the experience. The book addresses some important issues when it comes to the women's position in the 19th century; work or male provider, marriage; happy or oppressive, can a woman make it on her own? and so on. It's timeless when it comes to envy, jealousy, struggle, success etc etc. Enjoy! :)

I was totally engaged. The older the book the more use of the dictionary I get 😄My emotions were all over the place 😭😄😣 You will fall in love with Ruth and her sweet family. It's so nice to enjoy a clean book!

Seller was very quick shipping. Despite it looking like a normal book, the inside is teeny-tiny print--why?

If I didn't have to read it for school I probably wouldn't have picked it up. I'm glad I got to read something out my comfort zone. It was really a great book.

Beautifully written and great characterisation . Gives the reader a realistic historical insight into American and western society at the turn of the century. Starts off invoking a sense of a hopeless situation made worse by a callous and cruel family. Demonstrating how women were disregarded and disrespected. Through sheer talent and will power we see Ruth reverse her fortunes. The author spares no sympathy on those cruel, bitter and jealous characters who made it so difficult for her to succeed .