A remarkable and thought-provoking debut novel, which immediately becomes a compulsive read. Written with great eloquence, the tale transports you into an everyday reality filled with exquisite loss and longing. With harrowing memories of the savagery of Nazi Germany, tantalising glimpses into the 1930’s film industry and the wonderfully enigmatic Ruby Slippers (which introduce a dusting of glittery optimism); the novel focuses on the very human traits of hope and love. The wonderfully wide range of interwoven characters become tangible living breathing people who entice you into the story and help you feel and empathise with their emotions. The faded yet enchanting Delicatessen sits central in the story and binds together the disparate group. As you dance across the decades, the truth of the tales behind the characters slowly and tantalisingly reveals itself. The tortuous relationships take on a new energy and meaning and brings an understanding of deeper hidden thoughts and feelings. This is a book to cherish, to become friends with; the encounter leaves you thoroughly satisfied and yet still wondering… can the hope of something actually be more magical than the reality of it?
Old Rosa the bag lady shuffles along the streets of New York, stinking, silent and shunned by man and beast.
Time and again her nephew, Michael Marcinkus the grocer, has tried to help - but Rosa remains unknowable, hushed inside her hulk. On the day of the St Patrick's Day Parade, Rosa is in a terrible accident. As she lies in a coma, Mr Marcinkus visits her squalid flat and unearths something remarkable from the monstrous piles of junk: two glittering pieces of Hollywood history. How on earth does decrepit old Rosa come to own such treasure? And what is to be done with them now? Word of Rosa's 'Ruby Millions' soon gets out, and these old articles of faith become an irresistible beacon for the misplaced hopes and darkest desires of an unforgettable cast of characters. Could a pair of priceless slippers really bring some magic into to a mundane life? Would an unexpected windfall bring a hope of happiness? Lives are changed, relationships tested and real values challenged. But in the hunger to possess the prize, will anyone stop to learn the incredible story of the woman to whom they once belonged? The Ruby Slippers is a rare and moving story about the search for meaning, and the meaning of value.
We have asked a select number of members and browsers to review The Ruby Slippers. You can read their reviews below.
Kathy Martin - What a truly remarkable book. This is a stunning debut novel....I found myself thinking about it during the day and really looking forward to getting back to see what happened next.' Click Here to read the full review.
Josie Barton - 'This accomplished debut novel uncovers the minutiae of daily life and reveals the insatiability of greed, the sadness of family secrets and the destructive nature of overwhelming regret.' Click Here to read the full review.
Emily Wright - 'A contemporary fairy tale of coveted ruby slippers, permeated with secrets to be uncovered and cherished hopes; of good men with bad dreams and bad men with good dreams.' Click Here to read the full review.
Ruth Paterson - 'This novel promised to be a good mixture between mystery and fantasy. In it the worlds of entertainment mix with that of the ordinary and downtrodden. It is not a cosy read, but it is a good one.' Click Here to read the full review.
Glynis Elliott - 'An Intriguing Read.' Click Here to read the full review.
Julie Wragg - 'Beautifully written and thought-provoking.' Click Here to read the full review.
Xanthe Waite - 'This is a book about characters whose lives become entwined, their stories connected in unexpected twists. I found it engaging, uplifting and highly satisfying.' Click Here to read the full review.
Sarah Harper - 'This is a very cleverly written and magical debut novel. It is a truly absorbing read and I would highly recommend it.' Click Here to read the full review.
JB Johnston - 'How can a pair of Ruby Slippers can change the lives of so many people? If you are a fan of The Wizard of Oz you too will understand their magic.' Click Here to read the full review.
Anita Wallas - 'All human life is here in a story which challenges differing values...This book's a literary gem.' Click Here to read the full review.
Kathy Howell - 'This is an interesting read dealing with greed and how an amazing discovery affects lots of different people.' Click Here to read the full review.
Karen Cocking - 'Greed, loss, family secrets and regrets are just some of the facets of this story. There were many parts of the book that I enjoyed however sadly it won’t be a memorable read for me.' Click Here to read the full review.
Rebecca Whymark - 'I thought it was very good. Not a book I would have picked but I was pleasantly surprised.' Click Here to read the full review.
Angela Rhodes - 'I loved this book, it grabbed and whisked me away like Dorothy down the Yellow Brick Road.' Click Here to read the full review.
Rachel Hall - 'This is a thoroughly feel good read with the key elements being the dreams and hopes for the future of the very different individuals involved.' Click Here to read the full review.
Beth Townsend - 'Alexander clearly has a talent for creating compelling characters. As magical as the title suggests, The Ruby Slippers is simply wonderful.'Click Here to read the full review.
Karen Clark - 'Alexander cleverly builds up a web of connections between disparate characters from different backgrounds through the medium of the ruby slippers.' Click Here to read the full review.
Amrita Dasgupta - 'Rosa, the pariah with a pair of ruby slippers, touches the lives of a motley collection of individuals, giving them hope for a better tomorrow.' Click Here to read the full review.
Sara Fanner - 'Following her involvement in an accident, a pair of Ruby slippers are found in Rosa’s neglected apartment. How did these shiny pieces of Technicolor History end up in Rosa’s dingy forsaken home?' Click Here to read the full review.
Dorothy Calderwood - 'This is a story in which relationships are tested and values challenged. It is about the search for meaning and for what is important in life. Read it and remember it.' Click Here to read the full review.
Barbara Gaskell - 'The book was well written, sauntering gently through the lives of the characters, allowing time to get to know their flaws and their qualities.' Click Here to read the full review.
Author
About Keir Alexander
Keir Alexander was once an actor and stage manager before working in film as a writer and director. He is now an English teacher living in Sussex where he plays cricket as often as he can. This is his first novel.
Below is a Q & A with this author.
Is The Ruby Slippers based on a true story?
It's not, but there are three true stories in it. The most poignant event in the story is true. The most troubled character is someone close to me, and Rosa’s ‘condition’ is something I have first-hand experience of. Beyond that I cannot go.
The novel is at times funny, yet it deals with serious and tragic events. How do you arrive at the bittersweet tone?
I don't know. I think it reflects my philosophical outlook which recognises that suffering and joy are often strangely intertwined.
What were some difficulties you faced writing from a female perspective?
I didn't find it difficult, particularly, but that's not to say I succeeded; readers will make their own judgement of that. I know lots of females and find them intriguing. I work in a girls' school in fact, and never cease to be amazed by the insight and humour of women - and their togetherness compared to us dysfunctional males. In a way, writing about women is one way of celebrating them. I hope that doesn't sound condescending, it's not meant to be.
Which writers inspired you to write?
They didn't. If I relied on great writing for my writing I would probably have to chuck my laptop in the bin and give up altogether. When I'm in the middle of writing, I deliberately read nothing for months on end, except maybe anodyne thrillers. It's simply to stop myself from being influenced by anyone else.
What is your favourite novel?
War and Peace, followed by The Great Gatsby. John Steinbeck is my favourite writer: America’s Zola but with greater compassion and less visibly polemical.
Where do you write?
In a small study-cum-spare bedroom in our little house in a village near Hastings in Sussex.
