| Product: |
A Judgement in Stone - Ruth Rendell |
| Date: |
20/01/01 (321 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: An enthralling read, which starts at the end . . .
Disadvantages: Needs More Tissues
Ruth Rendll is a wizard.
A wizard at carrying out research and as a result, a wizard at creating ‘real’, believable characters. Although, in this instance it’s difficult to figure out just how she did that research.
If people in the position of the ‘heroine’, Eunice Parchman, are genuinely as defensive about their impediment as Rendell makes the reader believe, then how was she able to wheedle the facts from those same people? More than likely, Ruth Rendell has the finest of ‘connection’ within the psychology departments of our finest universities, other than that, she must be able to read minds.
Whatever her sources, Ruth Rendell has really ‘come up with the goods’ in this book. Only the highest level of research could have made this book so realistic, no matter whether it is talking about religion, family life or the other main topic of the book, illiteracy. There I’ve said it now, Eunice Parchman is illiterate. She cannot read.
She takes a job as a live-in domestic help to a wealthy family. How that and the fact that she cannot read are brought together in this book is little short of magical. Ruth Rendal weaves a tale of misunderstanding and psychological mayhem which is difficult to put down.
Even though my preferred read is most likely to come from the ‘true crime’ section of the book shop, I found this particular book to be as fascinating as the best ‘true crime’ has to offer. That speaks volumes about Ruth Rendal’s talents and I hope has you checking out the On-Line book shops for the best bargain.
Once again, as with other books I have written about in the pages of dooyoo,
(well, one other)
this book is easy on the eye (easy to read)
but hard on the hankies.
(see other opinions re. sweaty palms)
GG
Summary:
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