Review: Charming
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 17, 2013
This delightful book was inspired by by the author's childhood experiences in Brooklyn. "Ruthie Pincus of Brooklyn" is structured into five books, each of which contains six or twelve almost self-contained chapters--and some poetry.Pittman claims that the fictional Ruthie and her family are not analogues of her own relations. They are nonetheless vivid and full of compelling life; one supposes they must be composite entities, of the kind that appear in dreams when deep and inchoate memories are stirred. In particular, Pittman's Jewish background is deeply entwined with most of the stories.I've never been to America, but after living vicariously with Ruthie's family and basking in her thoughts, I think I understand her quaint, Brooklynite corner of the world quite well.