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Mama Ruby Audiobook
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(4.00) - 526 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
In this stirring prequel, New York Times best-selling author Mary Monroe returns to the "cold-blooded yet fascinating" (Publishers Weekly) character from her acclaimed novel The Upper Room. Ruby is a wild youth, with a thirst for boys and booze by the age of 15. When she discovers she's pregnant, the only person she can confide in is her best friend Othella. But Othella talks Ruby into giving up the child, leaving Ruby emotionally shattered and adamant that Othella is to blame for her loss.
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"I love love love this book. Ruby Jean Upshaw is a MESS!! stone cold mess lol. Bravo Mary Monroe this book was so good im reading it again, mama ruby is so real and crucial all at the same time. She a pastors daughter but he anit right and she anit either but I love her. Reading mama ruby makes me sad because I know how the upper room ended. Awww MAMA RUBY!! :)"
— Stephanie (5 out of 5 stars)
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“Mama Ruby fans, this is the Upper Room prequel you’ve been waiting for! Monroe not only answers questions about how Ruby came to be one of the most vicious and fascinating characters of our time, but opens up more questions about the love/hate relationship with her best frenemy Othella Cartier. Great dialogue, setting, and more.”
— RT Book Reviews (4 stars) -
“Although this works as a stand-alone title, fans of Monroe’s The Upper Room will be thrilled to see this prequel, which explains what made Mama Ruby the one-of-a-kind woman she is.”
— Booklist
Mama Ruby Listener Reviews
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" I DID ENJOY THE BOOK AND IT WAS A FAST READ, BUT I'M STILL NOT SURE IF I WILL READ ANY MORE OF THE AUTHOR'S BOOKS. WILL HAVE TI THINK ABOUT THAT SOME MORE. "
— Lorraine, 2/14/2014 -
" This book is damn near crazy...lol. Mama Ruby is Hell on wheels and she kept me on for the ride the entire time....I am gonna read the Upper Room, Which is the sequeal to this book. You have to read this "
— Veronica, 2/10/2014 -
" It was a bit strange to be reading a prequel to a book that I had read quite a bit ago. I almost feel like I should re-read the original book although the sequel is now out. It was a good read, but hard to take in because I already knew what eventually happens. "
— Tiana, 2/8/2014 -
" OH My...this explains it...I read "Upper Room" first enjoyed it but too many unanswered questions...once I read this one most questions were answered and I could say...now I understand... "
— Wanda, 2/6/2014 -
" Again a wish for half stars. (I can wish in one hand . . . ) This would be a three and a half. This is my favorite of Mary Monroe's books thus far. Good narrator. A period piece set in the pre civil rights era Louisiana on the eve of World War Two. It chronicles the lives of two unlikely black best friends. One girl a pastor's daughter, the other a whores daughter. They move from hard times to harder times as they grow up. I find Mary Monroe's books consistently enjoyable and engaging. "
— Judi, 2/4/2014 -
" This book was a great page turner. I could not put it down! Although this book was very explicit at times, I found,that I could not wait to see what crazy thing happened next. Since this is the prequel to The Upper Room, I can not wait to read the sequel which was written first. I am glad that I will be reading the books in order "
— Danamm64, 1/8/2014 -
" I loved it! Im just starting the Upper Room now and Im sure it will be just as good. "
— Caisha, 1/4/2014 -
" I definitely wanted to finish reading this book, so the plus is the writing kept me curious. I cannot say I enjoyed it. "
— Sheila, 12/24/2013 -
" Now we know why she is how she is ! "
— Kathi, 11/1/2013 -
" Great book .. Now I need to go back and re-read The Upper Room because I don't remember everything that happened in that book. "
— StS, 10/26/2013 -
" This was the usual from Ms. Monroe. Brothels, philandering men, sex, low self-esteem overweight main character that makes horrible decisions. Not her best work but definitely not her worst. "
— Shayne, 10/25/2013 -
" Absolutely loved this book. Ruby and Othella are really two characters that keep you flipping those pages. Creatively and excellently written. Mary Monroe is truly a gifted writer. "
— Shawnte, 8/24/2013 -
" This was a good book. It isnt a book for anyone under the age of 16 that is what I think. It really depends on the person and how you feel as a parnet. I liked the book maybe not my favor but it was a good read. "
— Krazyangel, 1/26/2013 -
" In depth characters make this Southern tale a real charmer. The characters are so real you feel like they are friends and family. This is a quick, light read that is truly enjoyable. "
— Marianne, 12/26/2012 -
" Very interesting characters....Ruby ( oops "
— Sabrina, 9/17/2012 -
" I really was surprised by this book. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I felt like I was there with the characters. "
— Tracey, 8/23/2012 -
" Enough! "
— Alana, 7/25/2012 -
" loved it!! Good prequel to Upper Room! I know understand Ruby better. "
— Janell, 7/24/2012 -
" I really enjoyed the shenagins that Ruby and Othella got into.However did not like how Ruby got named "Mama Ruby." I expected the obvious reason but the author gave an alternative description which was alike type disappointing. Was an okay read currently reading the "UpperRoom." "
— Andrea, 7/11/2012 -
" Mary Monroe creates fully developed characters that the reader can really relate to. I can't wait to continue this saga. "
— Vi, 1/22/2012 -
" Loved this book it was playfully written. "
— Angela, 11/14/2011 -
" This was an unusual book about two black girls growing up in Louisiana during the depression. They leave home at a young age in search of husbands and experience hardship and racism but are still fearless in search of their dreams. "
— Janet, 9/4/2011 -
" The full review will be in the June issue of RT Book Reviews. I will post up a snippet when it goes live on RTBookReviews.com. "
— Miranda, 8/10/2011 -
" This is a good book. I read The Upper Room first and couldn't wait to read Mama Ruby. It gives great insight into Mama Ruby's behavior in The Upper Room. The last chapter of Mama Ruby left me completely at a loss for words. "
— Alisa, 7/18/2011 -
" i am loving this book cant put it down "
— Stephaine, 6/15/2011 -
" I loved it! Im just starting the Upper Room now and Im sure it will be just as good. "
— ~sparklingflame~, 6/7/2011 -
" Mama Ruby was a favorite character of mine from The Upper Room, so it was good reading about her again! "
— Shevi, 6/1/2011 -
" I really don't like her "God....." series. I mean, I did, but she lost me around book 3 or so. But this series? Good stuff. Great plot, great imagery, and straight up hilarious at times. All my favorite things. Give it a read! "
— Katisha, 5/26/2011 -
" The full review will be in the June issue of RT Book Reviews. I will post up a snippet when it goes live on RTBookReviews.com. "
— Miranda, 3/3/2011
About Mary Monroe
Mary Monroe is a New York Times bestselling African American fiction author. Her first novel, The Upper Room, was published in 1985. She is best known for her novel God Don’t Like Ugly, and the series revolves around the characters it first introduced.
About Kevin R. Free
Kevin R. Free is an audiobook narrator and the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and several AudioFile best narrations of the year selections. Known for his work with young-adult novels, he has read titles by Rick Riordan, Walter Dean Myers, and Joe Haldeman. In 2011 he was named a Best Voice in Young Adult and Fantasy from AudioFile magazine for his narration of Myers’ The Cruisers: Checkmate.