This book tried much too hard to be not just a "good-read", but a scholarly work of classical fiction. Instead, the characters just came off as irritating and overly preoccupied with meaningless philosophies. What is even more annoying is that Joseph and Ruth's incomes are subsidized by Ruth's wealthy parents: she is an art student, he teaches Russian immigrants part-time. Joseph's narrative is filled with observations on society, his girlfriend, etc. in a way that tries to make him seem like a deep-thinker, but it is too forced. I also found the ending to be too neat and tidy and incongruous with the characters' relationship which was founded primarily on the basis of Ruth providing Joseph as an opportunity to play a savior. Ruth, herself, was catty and self-absorbed and I could not understand the whole link of her alleged pregnancy (before her trip to Paris) to the plot. It just seemed like a random detail. I also felt that the author did not deal at all with the ramifications of Joseph's infidelity to the relationship, and why he would act in such a way if he was "so in love" with Ruth. The positives of the novel include the accuracy of its information on eating disorders, the descriptions of Ruth's parents, and some of the scenes involving Joseph's fellow teachers. Other than that, I found this book to be rather flawed and very exasperating due to its airs and attempts to be classical literature, via myths and philosophy, which completely backfired for me. Perhaps if Rosen embraces a more realistic approach to writing, his novels will improve.


Facinating, but contrived   February 8, 2002
 3 out of 8 found this review helpful

This book has special significance for me as I was Joseph. I endured a relationship with a bulimarexic woman for nearly a year, and although she had told me that she had been bulimic as a young woman and had 'cured' herself with the Bible, I could never really be sure. That is the whole point I think. Critics who say the character Ruth lacked depth and was unknowable, don't understand the bulimarexic personality, or should I say lack thereof. Dececption is central to their lives and this book shows that reasonably well. The book ends in a quandary as to whether Ruth will ever be cured - she won't - that's the message. The personality disorders that are attendant with the disease are permanent - a "white knuckled" existence, just like alcoholism. I thouroughly enjoyed the book because it closely mirrored my own experience, but agree that it is largely contrived. I would prefer to read a narrative novel such as this one that reflected a real life experience. Yes, you guessed it, that's my next project.


who IS Ruth?   January 11, 2002
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Although not bad, the book has a rather unfinished feel, in my opinion. I cannot get a clear sense of the characters, the author tried to create a complex personality in Ruth (as well as in the narrator), but the descripions end up scattered and lacking depth and bizarre. The narrator gives the impression of being really meek and insipid, he lacks any sort of career ambitions and spends time hanging around at home and being fascinated with the minutiae of his girlfriend's eating disorder. I do not think the author dealt enough, or particularly well, with the question of the boyfriend's fascination for Ruth's struggle with food. And Ruth ends up being portrayed as absolutely insufferable, it would be hard to find a more unsympathetic character. Also, what's up with the crippled psychologist guy, Rosen could have done so much more with that. The book is intriguing at times, but you have to pay for that with many slooooow pages as well as the ambiguous, unfinished characters.