Review of Rufus and Arnold

photosynthesis19 · Post by **photosynthesis19** » 27 Feb 2022, 12:44

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Rufus and Arnold" by Ronnie Deaton.]

3 out of 4 stars

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Rufus and Arnold, authored by Ronnie Deaton, takes the reader on an exciting and touching journey that follows the lives of Rufus and Arnold Deaton in the early twentieth century. The two brothers were born and raised in Breathitt County, Kentucky. Life in Kentucky in the early twentieth century was not easy, and most activities revolved around survival and looking after the family. Nevertheless, the book shows that life in the mountains of Kentucky can also be full of adventure and excitement.

Rufus and Arnold is divided into 36 chapters that describe different episodes in the lives of the two brothers. The content ranges from funny and suspenseful to serious and heavy. Some of my favorite chapters include the one in which the little boys think they are hunted by ghosts in the woods, the one in which Rufus fights off a bear with a slingshot and a marble, and the one in which the two brothers almost get lost during a rabbit hunt on top of a snowy mountain. But when the two brothers reach adulthood, each of them chooses a different path in life. For one of the two brothers, this choice has devastating effects and results in tragedy.

The author does an excellent job of portraying life in Kentucky in the early twentieth century in a realistic manner. He highlights the hardship that the people went through, such as seeing their siblings die of tetanus simply because they accidentally stepped on a rusty nail and witnessing newborn babies die due to complications during labor. At the same time, the author highlights that the people enjoyed their lives despite the many challenges. They took pride in their work, whether it was in the form of railroad construction or in the form of mail delivery. They also cared deeply for their family members and took pride in supporting their parents and siblings by helping with chores in and around the house. Despite the hardship and moments of violence depicted in Rufus and Arnold, the author made me fall in love with the local people of Breathitt County, Kentucky.

I like the fact that the book is written by a family member of the two protagonists, which makes the reading experience feel more personal. The author discloses that the account of the lives of Arnold and his younger brother Rufus is fictionalized in detail but based on facts and true experiences. I think this approach is very innovative and suitable. Furthermore, the author includes several real-life pictures in the book that depict buildings, people, and wildlife mentioned throughout the story. At times, the writing feels somewhat clumsy and inexperienced, especially at the beginning. However, the writing flow improves as the story progresses, which is why I do not think of this as a major issue.

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. Although I really enjoyed the book, it contains numerous grammar mistakes, which is why I could not give it a 4-star rating. The book would benefit from another round of editing, paying special attention to punctuation and placement of quotation marks. I recommend this book to people who enjoy reading historical fiction and those who want to learn about Appalachian family life in the early twentieth century.

The book does not contain any sexually explicit scenes or profanity other than a few mentions of “damn.” However, the book contains some violent scenes, and people who are easily triggered by guns should think twice before reading this book. Culturally and historically, guns played a big part in people’s lives as they were used for hunting, self-defense, and taking revenge. Therefore, many chapters contain the use of guns, which interested readers should be aware of.

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Rufus and Arnold
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Reading_Jack · Post by **Reading_Jack** » 01 Mar 2022, 15:03

The book has an intriguing plot. thanks for an honest review.

Blessing Odii · Post by **Blessing Odii** » 01 Mar 2022, 17:56

I would love to read about the adventures in this book. The review is nice.

Mbenma Esther 080 · Post by **Mbenma Esther 080** » 03 Mar 2022, 06:52

This is an interesting noon-time read. Thanks for the review

Mildred Echesa · Post by **Mildred Echesa** » 03 Mar 2022, 12:50

The book cover is my point of interest. It shows intensity and a lot of darkness around it and the clouds surrounding the trees gives me chills

Pauls_ · Post by **Pauls_** » 04 Mar 2022, 18:50

It would be interesting to know what happens in Kentucky. I don't really like books that contains violence but I can have a go at the book.

photosynthesis19 · Post by **photosynthesis19** » 12 Mar 2022, 21:45

Reading_Jack wrote: ↑01 Mar 2022, 15:03 The book has an intriguing plot. thanks for an honest review.

Thank you for stopping by and commenting on my review!

photosynthesis19 · Post by **photosynthesis19** » 12 Mar 2022, 21:45

BLESS_ wrote: ↑01 Mar 2022, 17:56 I would love to read about the adventures in this book. The review is nice.

Thank you for dropping by and leaving this review!

photosynthesis19 · Post by **photosynthesis19** » 12 Mar 2022, 21:48

Mbenma Esther 080 wrote: ↑03 Mar 2022, 06:52 This is an interesting noon-time read. Thanks for the review

Yes, this book gave me a lot of food for thought and surprised me with its variety of light and heavy content. Thank you for commenting!

photosynthesis19 · Post by **photosynthesis19** » 12 Mar 2022, 21:50

Sarah1738 wrote: ↑03 Mar 2022, 12:50 The book cover is my point of interest. It shows intensity and a lot of darkness around it and the clouds surrounding the trees gives me chills

Great observation. The book cover is a good reflection of the book's contents and how life in the Kentucky mountains can be exciting, mysterious, and frightening at times. Thank you for commenting!

photosynthesis19 · Post by **photosynthesis19** » 12 Mar 2022, 21:52

Paul_ wrote: ↑04 Mar 2022, 18:50 It would be interesting to know what happens in Kentucky. I don't really like books that contains violence but I can have a go at the book.

The violence depicted in the book is not always gory, but what made it feel so intense is the fact that it happened in reality. Thank you for your comment!