A Virtuous Ruby is a book that has a striking cover and an equally striking story. When I started to read this book, I couldn't put it down. It covers so many things - love, betrayal, shame, pride, strength, acceptance, and forgiveness. The characters feel organic, beautifully fleshed out and formed from their life's circumstances such as race and skin color, environment, and social standing. As I read
A Virtuous Ruby, I found myself holding my breath on some scenes and pondering how I would have personally reacted or behaved in others.
The story takes place in 1915 Georgia, in a town named Winslow. The town is named after the white owner of the mill where many of the African-American residents work. The mill doesn't pay well and generally has poor working conditions. Because this is 1915 Georgia, the good people of Winslow aren't about to rock the boat. With the exception of Ruby that is.
