The Upper Room

Mary Monroe

Apr 2011 · A Mama Ruby Novel Book 1 · Kensington Publishing Corp.

About this ebook

The “magnificent, funny, and terrifying” debut novel from the New York Times bestselling author of God Don’t Like Ugly (The San Francisco Chronicle).
 
Mama Ruby’s known for taking things that aren’t rightfully hers, like her best friend’s stillborn infant, who she brought back to life and christened Maureen. She’s also rumored to have done away with her husband. Some fear her, others try their best to avoid her. But Mama Ruby doesn’t pay them any mind. Not when she’s got the one gift God gave her—her precious baby girl.
 
But growing up with a mama like Ruby is enough to make any half-sane girl wish for something—anything—else. And when Maureen gets the chance to explore the “real” world, you can bet she’s going to take it . . . and run like hell.
 
“[An] engaging debut novel . . . The dialogue and setting are reminiscent of Zora Neale Hurston, but the story has a bizarre, violent edge la Stephen King . . . a candid portrayal of the cold-blooded yet fascinating Mama Ruby.” —Publishers Weekly
 
“A chilling story that is bound to astound Monroe’s fans.” —Booklist
 
Praise for Mary Monroe
 
“An exceptional writer and phenomenal storyteller!” —Kimberla Lawson Roby, New York Times bestselling author
 
“A remarkable talent.” —Chicago Sun-Times
 
“Monroe is a masterful storyteller.” —Philadelphia Inquirer

Ratings and reviews

Loved this book! Hilarious and sad but true life issues during that period. The characters personalities are of people we all know, recognize and love!! I had, "sho nuff" slap my leg laugh-out-loud moments throughout this book!! Everyone should read this book if you need an up-lift in heart and soul OR just need a GOOD laugh!!

I enjoy this book about Mama Ruby . An incredible woman crazy. She go out of our way to protect our daughter and keep her in the house from every man away from her sad book and funny too

I love this book cause mama Ruby didn't let nothing get in her way or turn her love for her kid's backwards even though she could have gave the babygirl back but great book I still love it.

About the author

Mary Monroe is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five novels and six novellas. She is a three-time AALBC bestseller and winner of the AAMBC Maya Angelou Lifetime Achievement Award, the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Award, and the J. California Cooper Memorial Award. The daughter of Alabama sharecroppers, she taught herself how to write before going on to become the first and only member of her family to finish high school. She lives in Oakland, California, and loves to hear from her readers via e-mail at [e-mail]. Visit Mary’s website at MaryMonroe.org.