Saving Ruby King - By Catherine Adel West

 My first book of 2021 was Saving Ruby King.  Really liked this one.  I saw this book posted on a few Bookstagram Best of 2020 list.   So many folks were saying it was a top book for the year  and yet I hadn't heard of it.   I checked it out and read it in 3 days.   Ruby Kings mother is found dead in their home in Chicago's south side (this happens at the very beginning so i'm not spoiling anything, I promise!)  The story then flips from person to person- Ruby and her sadness and reality of living with a violent father.  Layla, her best friend who has been trying to save her  friend for years.  Lebanon, the abusive father/husband.  Layla's father and pastor of the church and even the church itself has a narrative.   

At first I thought the Church narrative was a bit weird but it ended up providing a lot of the back story we needed to understand this story.   By the end I liked having the Church as a character.   

Not only did I find it a page turner but I liked the exploration of the black church, the racial tensions,  and the theme of loyalty.   I also think the family violence passing from generation to generation is a tough and emotional subject but she handled it well.   

This is the authors debut novel and I am excited to see her future!  

I give this 4 solid stars!   Great way to start the new year. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Because there is a reference to a Pineapple Upside Down Cake in the novel, i thought...   That sounds delicious!  I haven't made a pineapple upside down cake in ages.  

I found a simple recipe and altered it just a bit and ...  here you go. 

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• Pineapple Upside Down Cake  (slightly altered from Trisha Yearwoods recipe) 
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 9 slices canned pineapple in juice, drained
• 5 maraschino cherries
• 1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup solid vegetable shortening
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup milk
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the butter in an 8-by-8-by-2-inch square baking pan and set it over low heat to melt.  ( I actually used a round copper pan and put it in the oven for about 5 minutes to melt the butter)  When melted, sprinkle the brown sugar over the butter. Arrange the pineapple rings in a single layer on top of the sugar, making 3 rows.( the round pan only took 7 pineapple rings so do what you can)   Cut the maraschino cherries in half, and place one half, cut-side up, in the center of each pineapple ring. Set the pan aside.
• Sift the flour, baking powder and salt.   Set aside. Using an electric mixer, mix together the shortening, granulated sugar, egg and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with flour. Stir only enough after each addition to combine.
• Pour the batter carefully into the pineapple-lined baking pan and bake for 40 minutes. Test for doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center or pressing the cake lightly with a fingertip; if the impression springs back, the cake is done. Run a knife around the edges of the pan and place a serving dish on top. Invert the cake onto the serving dish. Leave the pan inverted over the cake for several moments to allow the syrup to soak into the cake.
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