Reading Response #7: The Next Best Thing

  I started a new book by Jennifer Weiner called The Next Best Thing. Here, we are introduced to a woman, Ruth, who has been through a massive amount in her 30 years. When she was younger, she was in a car accident with her parents. Her parents both passed away and she (being a baby) was left with massive head injuries and was in the hospital most of her young life. Her grandmother cared for her and taught her to be strong through all of what she was going through. Ruth saw many kids her age come in and out of her joined hospital room. This made her question why she wasn’t healing like all the other kids her age and why she had to go through all this and why the other kids weren’t happy about all that they were blessed with. Her grandmother gave her a diary so she could write down what she was feeling. At night before it was time to go to bed, she and her grandmother would watch a little bit of TV. Their favorite show was The Golden Girls. It not only inspired Ruth to strive for a better life, but it gave her hope that maybe one day she would.

                Ruth is all grown up now and she is now following her dreams of becoming a writer. All those diaries that she filled while she was in the hospital were being put to good use. Even though she has scars on her face from the accident that usually doesn’t hold her back. She and her grandma move to Hollywood to try their luck at becoming someone. Ruth works for a hot shot writer named Rob and she starts out as his assistant. Slowly, she starts writing and he reviews her works and says that she has a chance to make it big. Ruth begins to fall in love with Rob because he accepts her for who she is and this is the first time that a guy ever has gotten over her physical defects. Ruth starts to write out a story based on her grandmother and her own adventures and parts of their lives; she calls it The Next Best Thing.

              While Ruth faces her struggles sometimes not head on, she is a very relatable character. She hides her face from people because she wants to be like everyone else, while many of us hide who we really are. It’s not as obvious as Ruth’s but many people mask their insecurities while Ruth is open about hers. I know that everyone can relate to Ruth’s story because we are all people who have had struggles, insecurities and felt as if we don’t belong. At one point in the book, Ruth’s grandma is moving out of their house and Ruth says, ‘“So you’re pushing me out now.” I meant to sound light-hearted; instead I sounded sullen and glum. Grandma must have heard that in my voice, because her own tone sharpened.’ You really get a feel of who Ruth is and how she tries to be strong for her own good, but her emotions are actually read like a book. It’s a great novel and I can’t wait to see how it ends.