And on the Eighth Day She Rested
J. D. Mason
Griffin/St. Martin
Published: March 2003
ISBN: 0312309899
Reviewed by Marlive, aka MsGRITS
Reviewed on Amazon.com
Domestic Violence. Funny how those two words pronounced together do not sound nearly as horrific and painful as what a victim of this kind of violence goes through. As Ruth Johnson, the main character would say, "there's nothing domestic about the violence in my world." This novel is more than just another abuse story. Instead, it is a story of celebration and self-discovery. It is a story about one woman overcoming years of fear, physical, and mental abuse to being self-assured and knowing exactly what she needs and wants out of life.
Ruth Johnson loved her mother very much. But her mother's need to always have ANY man around in her life is what subjects her, at an early age, to so many unhealthy relationships between men and women. Therefore, it is no surprise that she stays in her violent marriage to Eric for fourteen years. Ruth is quick to say that her mother's abusive relationships have nothing to do with her current situations, because "fear" plain and simple is at the root of all her problems. She's afraid of what Eric will do to her if she tries to leave him. She wants a business of her own, but her fear of failure keeps her from turning those dreams into reality. Most of all, her fears of never being loved for who she is, keeps her feeling unworthy of any man's love. But when her chance finally comes to make a clean break from Eric and all the other demons in her life, her real journey to finding true love, self-respect and inner healing begins.
Author J. D. Mason takes readers on Ruth's unforgettable journey to self-actualization through a riveting and sometimes tense plot filled with some very appealing and memorable characters. When asked what challenges she faced when creating this story, she will tell you, "I wanted Ruth Johnson to be a heroine. She had to be a woman who'd overcome some monumental odds and come out on top." Well, Ruth Johnson is an unforgettable heroine. This is a story I believe every woman should read . . . great debut novel!
