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In the book, we learn bits and pieces about Ruth and the life her daughter and granddaughter had with her. We even learn some things about her relationship with Finch. Later, a tragic secret is revealed concerning her husband and we see how Ruth is struggling to face the truth.

Do you feel sympathetic towards Ruth? Do you think she's getting what she deserves? Could she have been a better mother? Grandmother?

I didn't feel much sympathy for her at the time, but looking back I wonder if she was simply unaware (perhaps willfully) of the suffering around her, because she was too was suffering at Finch's hand. Although I still think that she could and should have done more for her daughter, and I expect we will see what she does with her husband in the sequels.

Regardless of the history with the daughter and the repeat of the same with the granddaughter, I did not like her due to the fact that she dumped Sarah on Tom's doorstep as she did not want her and saw her as an inconvenience. After Tom and Sarah's first trip away she suddenly became the all caring grandmother and prevented Sarah from staying with Tom as she felt he was irresponsible. Realistically, dumping Sarah on someone she has never met, who lives in the middle of nowhere and without any forewarning, was just as irresponsible.

I'm not sympathetic to her at all. I felt she should have done more for her daughter and granddaughter. She failed to protect them both from her mentally sick husband.

-- 05 Oct 2017, 18:10 --

I don't know why I keep calling him Finch when his last name is Lynch!

I did not feel sympathetic toward Ruth. You need to know what is going on inside your own house. Open your eyes. I think some people turn a blind eye just to remain in a marriage for the stability, or whatever the case may be.

Karen0823 wrote:I did not feel sympathetic toward Ruth. You need to know what is going on inside your own house. Open your eyes. I think some people turn a blind eye just to remain in a marriage for the stability, or whatever the case may be.

I didn't feel any kind of sympathy for her either.

Amagine wrote:I'm not sympathetic to her at all. I felt she should have done more for her daughter and granddaughter. She failed to protect them both from her mentally sick husband.

-- 05 Oct 2017, 18:10 --

I don't know why I keep calling him Finch when his last name is Lynch!

She was second villain of this story.

I agree that Ruth was an antagonist. She wasn't likable at all!

Could Ruth have been a better mother or grandmother? Definitely, but I would not go as far and be sympathetic towards her. I see Ruth as selfish and uncaring since she can not sacrifice her happiness to face the problem that her husband Fletcher was into child abuse.

Salsabila wrote:Could Ruth have been a better mother or grandmother? Definitely, but I would not go as far and be sympathetic towards her. I see Ruth as selfish and uncaring since she can not sacrifice her happiness to face the problem that her husband Fletcher was into child abuse.

That was very bad of her.

In a way she is an abuser too

I feel some sympathy towards her, but without knowing how she handles things in the sequel, I won't know for sure. It is possible for her to redeem herself.

CatInTheHat wrote:I feel some sympathy towards her, but without knowing how she handles things in the sequel, I won't know for sure. It is possible for her to redeem herself.

It's good that someone feels sympathetic to her. I truly do hope she redeems herself though.

Well it is unfortunate that much has not been said about William and Ruth's relationship before divorce, so it is difficult to tell whether she deserves some sympathy or not.

meteku4 wrote:Well it is unfortunate that much has not been said about William and Ruth's relationship before divorce, so it is difficult to tell whether she deserves some sympathy or not.

It would be more interesting to learn more about Tom and Ruth's relationship.