Ruthie Bolton

It felt as if I was right in the room listening to Ruthie tell her story. Heartbreaking, horrid, painful memories... my deepest reflection being Ruthie's aversion to watching Roots as Gal, itself, took me back to the Color Purple... and I mean right back to the Color Purple!

Reading Gal might make some turn pages so hard that pages rip from the book. The first few sections and I wasn't sure I could finish, but then midway through Gal shifted... or maybe I picked up on a deeper pull I was getting from the book. Sure enough, nearing the end of Clovis's life the feeling was confirmed. Ruthie needed to tell this story. She had a tremendous amount of pain to release, in which she couldn't have selected a better medium. The reconciliation here being me seeing Ruthie's family's pain through the same eyes Mama Bolton was able to see hers. Key point *PAINfully* easy to recycle if not picked up on.

There truthfully is so much in here... incredibly organized, tastefully detailed, and not all pain and tears either. I'm still too tickled about Luther... especially by the way Ruthie (mere) mentions him near the end. And the conversations between her and Mrs. Millican, and the connection made between she and Mary... whoa! What a powerfully inspiring note to end on.

Ruthie's voice really carries, taking this piece to the top... making for an unforgettable memoir I couldn't put down.… (meer)

This book was very empowering. WOW! Ruthie Bolton (a psuedonym) had to overcome some really big hurdles. This book is written in dialect so its easy to get the just of Ruthie's life in the South. However this dialect can sometimes be confusing. Yet, if the sentences and grammer were more refined, then the reader wouldn't get the proper impact that develops as the story unfolds. This added flavor and personalization in a way that autobiographies rarely do. She definitely caught all the details of her hard-life. None of it is glorified, but told instead in a very matter-of-fact tone devoid of analysis or judgement. Aware that it's a true story gave it another perspective on her life. While reading it I could not help and wonder how can a man( the grandfather) be so mean and cruel. He had no redeeming qualities even in the end. The sisters or aunts disappointed me so much in the end when they turned on her.

Gal teaches us a lesson: learn from the past, move toward the positive. The author's last line, comparing herself to the sunflower, was so beautiful, "It follows the sun."… (meer)