I just finished up listening to the book The Sound of Gravel: A Memoir by Ruth Wariner. I grabbed this book because I’ve gotten that I really like memoirs that have a bit of coming of age story to them. This looked like it might be just that…and it was.
This book had me happy, sad, enraged, discouraged, but most of all wanting to be cheerleader screaming “try again”…”try again”!!! This story is about a girl who had to grow up too fast… About parents who made poor choices….about parents who didn’t know how to prioritize. I hate saying that I “enjoyed” any book that is true and the people who suffered in the book are not imaginary characters. These were real people and real children that lived a hard life….they weren’t characters from someone’s imagination. Real life people lived this way and so sad. So “enjoyed” is not the right word.
The best way I can tell you about the book is to say this: I got so wrapped up in the book that while I wasn’t listen, I was replaying what I had listened to in my head. I worried for the kids in the book…I wished I could have helped them. I cheered when then got to somewhere away and safe. I was sad when the situation turned bad again. The book had me caught up.
Here’s what Amazon had to say:“The thirty-ninth of her father’s forty-two children, Ruth Wariner grew up in polygamist family on a farm in rural Mexico. In The Sound of Gravel, she offers an unforgettable portrait of the violence that threatened her community, her family’s fierce sense of loyalty, and her own unshakeable belief in the possibility of a better life. An intimate, gripping tale of triumph and courage, The Sound of Gravel is a heart-stopping true story.”
Amazon readers give the book 4.7 stars. I totally agree. If you like this type of book, this one is one not to miss.
I will look for this book as it sounds interesting. My current read is “Nevertheless: A Memoir” by Alec Baldwin. Interesting and very well written.