Some books, I am rereading at this time because I want to know how my thoughts on them have changed. This was one of those times. Others, I read and rated back when I thought the Goodreads algorithm meant something. I'm rereading books and it looks like I hate reading. I do not. On second read, five years from the original date, this book made me cringe. Nothing in it is funny. No one is likeable, and they are all cartoon characters anyway. Plot, subplots, and character choices are absurd, even for such an attempt at comedy. The emails as plot transitions are sooo cheesy and unrealistic. Jenny Trout's book "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" uses this device much more effectively. Plot contrivance would reign if this book actually had one, instead of Ruby whining about how much she hates Essie Sue, who rules the community. Essie Sue is so cartoonish and controlling that I'd be surprised if she -weren't- based off someone in the author's life that the author tried to disguise. And not -one- person stood up to her? Gimme some conflict, and someone to root for! Fax machines and emails were firmly in use in 1998, when this book came out. There are ways to make your work not look so dated and this one faaaaaillleddd hard. There's plenty of Buffy-speak in this. The title character of the TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" spoke in slang so stylized (unintentional triple alliteration, hah!) that an official guide to it came out. This book uses similar, and it DOES. NOT. WORK.
Rather than simply note, "I looked around the room to see if I wanted to say hi to anyone," (this is paraphrased, not a direct quote), Ruth thinks, "...if I should be hello-ing anyone." To "hello" someone? COME ON. Rather than "I eat something and wipe my mouth," Ruth "I napkin." Ruth -napkins- as a verb. OH MY G-D, YOU ARE SO CRINGE-INDUCING. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a sixteen-year-old girl from trendy Los Angeles who just moved to the small town of Sunnydale, California. You are a widow in her late forties with a somewhat odd fixation on your son's childhood, when he's fully grown, living in Eternal, Texas, who cannot stop jawing about New York. This book was insufferable. I'm glad I once got joy out of it ( )

A great book, enjoyed it so much that I read the whole series! Lots of quirky characters and situations. ( )

Ruby Rothman is the Rabbi’s widow. I wish she were a real live person and lived in my neighborhood! She is 46, a red-head with green eyes, wears a size 14 and describes herself as having a “bizarre sense of humor”. This is the first book in the series. Ruby is part owner of the Hot Bagel deli, in Eternal, Texas, where a customer drops dead after eating a cyanide laced bagel. I love Ruby. ( )

This little mystery is set in the fictitious town of Eternal, TX where we find the main character Ruby Rothman, a Rabbi's widow, trying to buy some bagels and instead finds herself a witness to murder. The victim was in line at the Hot Bagel and pushed ahead and she ended up dead. Since the owner is blamed and he was also the last person that her husband was with before he was killed in a hit and run accident, Ruby begins to wonder if the two deaths could be related.

It was entertaining to watch how the main character interacted with other members of the congregation now that they were replacing her husband. Her contacts with her husband family is also a main point and lead to interesting insights.

All in all a pleasant little cozy. ( )

I rather enjoyed this little book! While the plot itself was hardly revolutionary, I was amused to discover that the setting (Eternal, Texas) is supposed to be a small town (a suburb community, according to the book) of Austin. Since I live in Austin, it was fun to pick out the possible inspirations for places that are mentioned in the book.

I'll definitely be looking for more by this author, who is an Austinite herself! ( )