Ruby of the Sea by Peggy Lampman
Pub. February 2020
From the book's blurb:
After aimlessly traveling the country for fifteen years, Linnea Chandler returns to her hometown of Key West, Florida keeping the genesis of a life-altering phobia to herself--not a good idea, as she comes to find out. The 19th Century lighthouse that she, her parents and two sisters call home also has a troubled past, carrying the frightening myth that eerily mirrors the mystery of her younger sister today. Should Linnea run while she can?
My Review:
It's very hard to write a review of Ruby of the Sea without giving away plot twists. The impact of the story has remained with me as I ponder the lies, secrets, and decisions of each character.
We have quirky characters that make us question how far quirkiness goes before it becomes mental illness. We have characters who are sisters, twins in fact, who love each other as much as they love themselves but who are forever arguing and fighting. We have a male character who may or may not be a love interest, who may or may not be a good guy. We have a main character who thinks that she has let the best years of her life pass her by without progressing toward any goal. And finally , we have a squawking parrot who is as irritating as any bird character I've ever read. Holding all of this together is another character, the setting of Key West with its free-range chickens, festivals, and the daily show of sunset.
This is a story of family love and family tragedy. It is a story of secrets and the destruction that the keeping of secrets might cause. A sad and depressing book? No. There are many light moments, moments of joy, moments of love and many beautiful descriptions that keep this book from being depressing. Yes, there is one tragic event in the story, one we all hope we never experience but which we read about daily; it is heart-wrenching but necessary for the story and well written.
Throughout the book we knew that the main character would have to make a decision in the end. I hoped she would have enough fortitude to choose the decision I would choose for her. In the end she did. I love the fact that her decision shows her love for herself as well as her love for her sister and her fellow man. Her decision to work for others in the future is the greatest kind of love. I'm glad she took that track. I thought that was a beautiful thing.
Spoiler Alert:
And about that decision, let's just say Idaho won!
This book was sent to me shortly before publication, but I cannot find my notes concerning who sent it, so I can't give credit to the sender.
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