Sin

by Josephine Hart

Book Overview

Ruth smiles, but beneath the surface nurses a hatred as powerful as the sea, and as sharp as the coldest of blades. The object of Ruth's malevolence is her cousin, Elizabeth -- orphaned at nine months and raised by Ruth's parents as their own -- whose very presence stole Ruth's birthright as only child. From this twisted sense of betrayal grows an envy, dark as night, from which there can be but one refuge: Elizabeth's destruction.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679416730
• ISBN13: 9780679416739
• Release Date: August 1992
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
• Length: 163 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

obsessions can be fatal

I see this as a story of girl, Ruth, who carried burden of deprived childhood, deprived in an unusal way(being too lucky/capable). It develps in to a dream to see her cousin and adopted sitestr Elizabeth suffer in pain, in all possible secretive ways. On the other hand Elizabeth has practiced to love Ruth instead of fighting her, She didn't figure this out till Elizabeth told her of her strategy at a very late stage in their lives. If Damage is a good book, this is an excellent one.

The complexity of badness

This is a novel that deals not just with envy. Elizabeth and Ruth are cousins, and Elizabeth gets adopted by Ruth's parents when her own parents are killed. The girls grow up as sisters, but all along Ruth develops an incredible ill for Elizabeth, even though she doesn't do anything to provoke that resentment. Ruth makes it her life's mission to destroy Elizabeth. Her dream is to see her in pain, suffering and humiliated. She resorts to extreme manipulations and convoluted schemes to achieve that purpose. Ruth is an amazing character, who personifies badness in a thought-provoking way. Her selfishness, envy and greed are almost incomprehensible. How can a human being harbor such hate for someone who has never done anything wrong? This novel made me think and think about the issue. Is it possible that people are born bad? So many times i've heard that we are all born good, and it's circumstances that make us bad. Did Ruth turn bad when she saw her parents combing Elizabeth's hair? Was that the moment when Ruth became jealous of her cousin? What happened in subsequent years, how did that badness grow? Almost as amazing are Elizabeth's reactions to her sister's attacks. As evil as Ruth is, so is Elizabeth gracious and forgiving. Elizabeth summarizes her philosophy of life during their final meeting, a cathartic episode for Ruth, who is deeply changed after that. A fascinating, disturbing novel that i highly recommend.

Captivating and wonderfully written

Josephine Hart has a superb way with words. As a novelist, her writing is almost poetic; she can say in one paragraph, what takes Pat Conroy several pages. This novel, her second, is deeply psychological, mostly taking place in the mind of the main character. Unlike her first novel, Damage, it should not ever be made into a film. The book is short. I enjoyed it immensely.

Hypnotic and Evil

She wraps her finger around you and entices you to enter her world. Ms. Hart has delivered yet another spellbinding novel. This book puts a spin on the typical good vs. evil. It takes you far into the villian's mind, her thoughts, her reasoning and makes you understand her hate, and recognize your own. Bravo for Joesphine Hart! Her fans await her next masterpiece...

Prepare for deception!

Josephine's second novel "Sin" is as equally moving and hypnotic as her first novel, "Damage"! As you read this story, you will find yourself inside of a calculating and manipulative person. You will never look at your siblings in the same way again! If you haven't read "Damage" yet, what are you waiting for? Another great story by Josephine Hart.