Review: The Sound of Gravel

The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An emotional journey of Ruth Wariner's childhood. She grew up in a polygamist community where her mother was wife #2 of 4. Ruth being one of the older children was tasked with caring for her siblings as well as being caretaker while her mother would take trips with her stepfather for work. As a child, Ruth was sexually abused by her stepfather. Even though her mother knew of the abuse she did not leave her husband. An interesting look at polygamist views as well as this particular group believed that some day the United States would be gone forever and made their home in a small village in Mexico with no running water or electricity for much of Ruth's life. The family moved around a lot, but always seemed to end up back in Mexico in a house with no heat, a dusty floor and no locks.

This book definitely read better than The Glass Castle which I thought was darker. Ruth's writing still highlights what points in her life were fun as well as the support and love between her and her siblings. The book is inspiring to see how she has risen from where she once was.

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