Mama Ruby

Growing up in Shreveport, Louisiana, Ruby Jean Upshaw knows what she wants and how to get it. By fifteen, Ruby craves fast men and cheap liquor, and even her preacher daddy can’t steer her in the right direction. Othella Mae Cartier, daughter of the town tramp, understands Ruby’s true nature only.

When Ruby discovers she's pregnant, fear overwhelms her for the first time in her life. As Ruby hides her growing belly, she gives birth secretly at Othella’s house. After Ruby gives away the child, Othella convinces her to run away with her to New Orleans—with the help of a shocking revelation.

Regret over giving up on her baby and following Othella’s advice. Ruby’s only motivation is revenge against her friend Othella, who betrayed her.

I read this book because a co-worker recommended it to me. I will enjoy this book, she said. Reading this book was a mistake for me.

The book contains so many problems. The author fears readers forgetting the plot after chapter foreshadowing. The violence is graphic, with detailed descriptions of bodily fluids and people engaging in physical altercations. Whenever characters speak, they declare, holler, scream, or mutter while rolling their eyes.

It’s an unbelievable story: Ruby is a teen who hides her pregnancy and gives up the baby, then becomes a prostitute, then murders her bootlegging husband, and then steals another baby to make up for the one she lost.

However, the situation changed... The story just ends. Many issues remain unresolved and require attention. Perhaps Monroe got tired, or she hit a deadline.As a whole, Mama Ruby reads like a half-finished rough draft. The book took me only a few hours to read, and I admit it’s a quick read.