Ruth's Journey Audiobook By Donald McCaig cover art

Ruth's Journey

The Authorized Novel of Mammy from Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind

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Ruth's Journey

By: Donald McCaig
Narrated by: Cherise Boothe
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From the national bestselling author of Rhett Butler’s People, the “exquisitely imagined, deeply researched” (Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of March) authorized prequel to Gone with the Wind following the epic story of one of literature’s greatest characters—Mammy—magnificently recounting her life from her infancy in Haiti and days as a slave in the South, to raising Scarlett at Tara and the outbreak of the Civil War.

The only authorized prequel to Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind—the unforgettable story of Mammy. On a Caribbean island consumed by the flames of revolution, an infant girl falls under the care of two French émigrés, Henri and Solange Fournier, who take the beautiful child they call Ruth to the bustling American city of Savannah.

What follows is the sweeping tale of Ruth’s life as shaped first by her strong-willed mistress, and then by Solange’s daughter Ellen and Gerald O’Hara, the rough Irishman Ellen chooses to marry; the Butler family of Charleston and their unexpected connection to Mammy Ruth; and finally Scarlett O’Hara—the irrepressible Southern belle Mammy raises from birth. As we witness the lives of three generations of women, gifted storyteller Donald McCaig reveals a nuanced portrait of Mammy, at once a proud woman and a captive, a strict disciplinarian who has never experienced freedom herself. Through it all, Mammy endures, a rock in the river of time.

Set against the backdrop of the South from the 1820s until the dawn of the Civil War, here is a remarkable story of fortitude, heartbreak, and indomitable will—and a tale that will forever illuminate your reading of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind. Historical Fiction Southern Literary Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction World Literature Heartfelt United States Women's Fiction Classics Caribbean Tearjerking
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Compelling Backstory • Enriching Perspective • Vivid Dialect Portrayal • Enriched Character Backstory • Historical Context

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I all most didn't get this as I had read a review that said it was "Horrible" which it is far from. If you are a fan of the book "Gone With The Wind" You love the characters in the story. Mammy being one of my favorite. It answers many questions about Mammy from the time she was 4 years old. Its the story of the south and of Slavery. That is, a "Horrible" part of American history. It chills our blood to even hear the 'N" word used. Get past that and you will enjoy reading Mammy's story.

Who was the most memorable character of Ruth's Journey and why?

Mammy

Ruth's Journey: Mammy

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What other book might you compare Ruth's Journey to and why?

This book is a good companion piece to the author's Rhett Butler's People. I felt it played off that story better than it did its source material of Gone With the Wind. It brought in some characters from Rhett Butler's People and fleshed out their back stories. If you didn't read that book or didn't like it, I could see that this would be confusing or disappointing.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The performance was good when doing Mammy's dialect. However, the author didn't attempt to do any other accents. I especially noticed this during the Irish O'Haras' dialogue. It seemed lacking that she didn't attempt to do an Irish accent for these characters.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, it was very slow in the beginning, during the set up to Solange's story. I had a hard time figuring out what was happening some of the time when they were in Haiti. I wanted to quit in the early parts but soldiered on because I wanted to learn more about Mammy. Once it got to Mammy and Ellen's story I felt that the pace picked up and it improved greatly.

Any additional comments?

I didn't enjoy this as much as I enjoyed Rhett Butler's People but I still think it is a worthwhile book and am glad Margaret Mitchell's Estate continues to authorize new material.

Slow beginning leads to interesting ending

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I enjoyed this story but was sadly disappointed with the ending! I feel like I have been left hanging with no closure to Ruth’s journey.

Ruth’s Journey

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What a treasure this book is, and when you read it, you must immediately follow it with McCaig’s other book, “Rhett Butler’s People.” Together, these are the most beautiful tribute to the characters who already feel like family. Ruth’s Journey takes the reader on such an unexpected, and yet perfectly believable, twisting path until we finally find ourselves on the familiar road to Tara. You’ll love it. You’ll want more.

Don’t miss this!!

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I like that it was written in a style similar to Margaret Mitchell but the author really got away from the main storyline at times and it was hard to follow. I liked Rhett's book better.

Hard to follow

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