Ruth is much like many books of it's time. It often seems overwritten and contrived, and it is full of cliches and melodrama. It fails to question many sterotypes. However, it is not without redeeming value. It does have some interesting if not groundbreaking social commentary. Unless you know really love literature from this period don't bother to read Ruth. The bottom line is that there is a reason it is not a considered a great classic of literature.

Elizabeth Gaskell is often referred to as the forgotten classic author and "Ruth" is a prime introduction into this obviously complex and passionate woman. "Ruth" is a truly brilliant novel dealing with the issue of a fallen woman due to an illicit affair and subsequent birth of a bastard child. This, due to the societal assumptions of morality and righteousness, lead the main character into a series of deceptions and tribulations in an attempt at redemption. Gaskell's eloquent prose engrosses the reader into the lives of the multiple characters and as it is in three volumes, much time is spent developing each individual. This allows for a true feeling and understanding of the motives and meanings behind every action. The character of Ruth is obviously the most important and Gaskell allows her to develop into an almost Christ-like figure in her beliefs, faith and actions. "Ruth" is a novel that tackles incredibly sensitive and deep subject matter and reaffirms ones belief in a higher power. This is a novel that should be introduced back into the mainstream to achieve the stature that it deserves as a classic of literature.

I just finished reading Ruth last night. I could never seem to find it anywhere before, but I did and I'm glad, having now read all of Mrs Gaskells novels. Before I started reading I had a look over the chapter titles and after reading the first few chapters I had an idea of what would happen. There is a chapter called 'Nursing Mr Bellingham' and I began to suspect the story would be simialr to that of 'Sylvia's Lovers'. Mr Bellingham would have some proper excuse (being sick maybe?), then Ruth would meet up with him again after years of seperation. He would die, and then she. Of course I was wrong. We've had single motherhood in the 19th century before, with Adam Bede and Tess of the D'Urbervilles, but in neither of these cases did we see the children surviving. Although Ruth is hidden behind a widow's identity we know how people would disown her if her secret was revealed. And when it is we see the hypocrisy of those condemning her. And Mr Donne disappears without any of our sympathy.

Delightful: absolutely delightful! In this short, easy to read book, Father Petit delicately, and with great sensitivity, opens the mysteries of the Mass for all to see.

Throughout the text, Father Petit's own faith and commitment are obvious: serving as an example to each of his readers.

In the process of explaining each element of the Mass, in detail, Father Petit helps Catholics to rise above superstition. ...and he simultaneously helps Protestants to rise above prejudice. With his emphases on (1) the reality of salvation by God's grace made present to us in the Eucharist, and (2) the coming together of all God's people into the mystical Body of Christ, Father Petit demonstrates for Catholics and Protestants, alike, just how much we share in common.

Do yourself a favor and spend an hour or two curled up with this good, little book.

I liked this book very much, although I really think they could have gotten more detailed. I would recommend this book to anyone doing a research project on women inventors. If you read it, you will definately have a better day, and get an 'a' on your project!

This book provides patterns and (very) basic instructions for constructing authentic fashions of the 1920's, made using original everyday garments. The patterns are on regular book pages printed on a grid. To use them one can either draw them out on bigger grid paper, or do what I did and take them to a copy center and blow them up on the oversize copier. This book is not for the novice sewer, but for someone with experience who wants a truly authentic 1920's look, you can't do better.

I got this book to learn about Amy Carmichael, but discovered it's mostly about the author and her close personal friends the Grahams, with snippets of Carmichael thrown in for illustration. I gave up after three chapters and went elsewhere to read about Amy Carmichael.

Amma was an amazing woman - this book deals with the timeless struggles of single missionary women in a way that is both inspiring and genuine. She speaks with honesty, but focuses constantly on God. A great book that shows all sides of the missionary life - the day to day struggles, and also the spectacular triumphs that come from years of seeking the Lord.

This book, although only 215 pages, gives a glimpse into the lives of "Christian greats" like Charles Spurgeon, Amy Carmichael, C.S. Lewis, F.B. Meyer, Hudson Taylor, Geraldine Taylor, Isobel Kuhn and Ruth Bell Graham, who became spiritual giants **in the midst of their pain**. It seems to be true that misery loves company... reading about other's woes seem to make you reevaluate your own pain and realize that things just aren't so bad after all. Actually, the author does a fine job of confronting the idea in modern Christianity that true Christians are never depressed, grieving or stressed.

While the author of this work seems as if she means to be sincere, sincerity is not enough when your purported goal is to "adapt Elizabethan recipes for modern kitchens". More attention to accuracy in the redactions (conversion to modern recipes) and authenticity of the results would have been a better goal. The individual recipes quote "originals" with no notation as to where the original source came from (which book?), leaving no idea as to whether they have been quoted accurately. The adapted recipes not only jump to some pretty wild conclusions as to what the finished dish was intended to be, but in some cases contain wildly different ingredients than were quoted in the original recipe, with no explanation. There are also giant leaps from a baked dish (in the original) to a boiled one (in the adaptation), or vice versa. This might pass muster as a "popular" book for those who have no serious interest in authenticity in historical recreation of recipes, if it were not for the author's repeated claims as to scholarship and accuracy. Not recommended for the serious food history buff or re-enactor. I might give this to someone with a mild interest in the subject, but only with a warning about lack of historical accuracy. She even manages to perpetuate the tired, old myth of spices being used "to cover up the taste of bad meat". Nothing could be further from the truth.