All We Had

by Annie Weatherwax

A poignant and fierce debut novel about the relationship between a teenage daughter and her struggling single mother—from a powerful new voice in fiction.

For Ruthie Carmichael and her mother Rita, life has never been stable. Jobs are hard to find, men come and go. But when a set of unexpected circumstances strands them in Fat River, a small rural town in upstate New York, life takes a turn. Fat River becomes the first place they call home. The modest economic security they gain gives them peace and space for friends. The people of Fat River—Hank and Dotty Hanson, the elderly owners of the local hardware store being driven out of business by the new Walmart; Mel, the flawed, but kindhearted owner of the town diner where Rita finds work; and the cross-dressing Peter Pam, the novel’s voice of warmth and reason—become family. Into this quirky utopia comes Vick Ward, a smooth-talking broker who entices Rita with a subprime mortgage and urges her to buy the ramshackle house she and her daughter have been renting.

Tough and quick-witted, thirteen-year-old Ruthie—whose sardonic voice and plain-spoken observations infuse All We Had with disarming honesty and humor—never minded her hardscrabble existence as long as her mother was by her side. Through it all, the two have always been the center of one another’s lives. But when financial crisis hits, their luck takes a different turn.

All We Had offers an unflinching look at the devastating choices a mother must make to survive and is an achingly funny, heart wrenching tale about love and loss, told with humor and razor sharp vision

Genres: Fiction, Coming Of Age, Book Club, Contemporary, Young Adult, Literary Fiction, Adult Fiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published August 5, 2014

About the author

Before turning to writing I had a long career sculpting superheroes and cartoon characters for DC Comics, Nickelodeon, Pixar and others. My short stories have appeared in The Southern Review, The Sun Magazine and elsewhere. In 2009 I was awarded the Robert Olen Butler Prize for Fiction and I have written for the New York Times. A graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, I am currently a full time painter and writer.

What is most important to me as an artist and a writer is authenticity of voice. If I had to classify my own voice, I’d call it comic realism. It is a heightened, stylized wryness that often plunges into darkness. It permeates everything I do. Like my visual work, my fiction is bold and colorful with an undercurrent of darkness.

My artistic inspiration comes from many places. My fictional characters are often inspired by paintings—Alice Neel’s portraits are my favorites. And the boldness of Lorrie Moore’s characters have inspired my paintings. Both my painting and writing styles are influenced by the campy melodrama of Pop artists such as James Rosenquist and Andy Warhol.

Yet what drives my work most is my voice—a dark and light, frivolous and grave, sardonic and serious sensibility that feels imbedded in my DNA. In life, as in art, I cannot see reality without seeing the absurdity of it too.

Reviews

[Elyse Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have empathy for the subject matter of this novel, but nothing felt original with this mother/daughter theme.

The mother is struggling to 'be-the-adult' to her teen daughter --(due to poverty, her own challenges from her past, unable to hold a job for whatever reason, choices she makes, and just rotten luck).

The Teen daughter is taking on more 'adult' responsibility than she should have to,...(trying to protect her mother -and encourage her mother to make better choices). Their love is deep --as they only have each other --but living day-to-day, trying to survive-- is beyond challenging -sad -lacking stability.


I'm reminded of "White Oleander", "Anywhere But Here", "Homeless to Harvard", "Thirteen", "8 Mile", "Man of Fire", "The Others", "Dark Water".... even a few episodes of the TV show Mad Men. (Children being more adults than their parents)

My own daughter was in an indi. movie when she was 12 years old --where she played a role much like the young girl in this book. So-much like this novel...(the car, the diet cokes and chips, the restaurant community of characters).

I'm not sure what might have made this book feel more 'fresh' and 'original' to me (and a little less choppy-in-the-chapter-storytelling) -as I'm not a writer --but I didn't 'feel' much of anything --(one way or another). I was sorta --neutral to it...

I'm sure many people will get value from this book... For which I am grateful.
I'll leave it at that!

I do want to congratulate the author on her first book...(with a movie coming out to boot). I hope she is celebrating & enjoying all the pleasures!!!


Again I want to say...Its NOT a bad book. I just didn't 'feel' much.

I'm a jaded old fart, so don't listen to me!

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars Debut novel for Weatherwax.
Being made into a movie, 2017 I think, starring in and directed by Katie Holmes.

Ruthie and mother Rita were vagabonds. Roaming and traveling where ever and whenever the notion struck - but usually to get them out of trouble or when Rita was fed-up with her current beau. Finally, due to car trouble and lack of funds, they settled in Fat River. They found work, made friends, and bought a house before everything turned sour, again. Rita reverted to her old stand-by - hustling men.
Rita and Ruthie were very close and regardless of Rita's faults and life style, Ruthie let her herself be drug along. However as Ruthie got older she became very unhappy with this life style and having lived in Fat River for a length of time, she did not want to leave. To solve their problems Rita made a decision that totally changed both their lives.

Good debut novel. Easy read, good characters with great variety. A plot that moved right along, to an ending that the author lead you to expect, but not quite in the way that it happened.

[Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Scribner through the Goodreads First Reads program in exchange for an honest review.

“Every character is a protagonist in their own story” is a quote I once heard (apologies, but for the life of me I can’t find the person who actually said it), and on my own attempts at writing, I have always tried to keep it in mind.

“All We Had” is hands-down the greatest example of this concept in action I have ever read. The heart of the story is Ruthie and her young mother, but every single character has a deep and rich history that is revealed through remarkably little prose. I found myself wondering what happened to them all after the last page, and I imagine I will do so for quite some time.

This book is a slice-of-life story that is a very easy read about subject matter that is not easy to read about. Ruthie shares it all with stark realism, zero nostalgia, and brutal honesty. There are no feelings of self-pity or self-congratulation. It is what it is, and that is how the story is told. As such, it feels raw and honest, ultimately leaving an uneasy feeling in the readers about all of the Ruthies that live within our world.

I don’t want to spoil anything, because in this case the journey is the story, so even a summary feels as though it would give away too much. I can say that it’s on the list of books I will be giving all of the readers in my life this holiday season. Annie Weatherwax is a wonderful storyteller, and I look forward to many more novels from her.

Five stars. I wish I could give more.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love stories like this! Quirky characters, ( and this one has plenty) and it's told by a 13 year old girl with wit and true to life honesty. I couldn't put it down. It is about a mother & daughter, who don't have much, but they have each other. It does have some swearing, but it fit with the character. Fans of Lori Lansen or Sandra Kring will love this book.

[Judy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A special thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Check out the latest Movie News- Congrats Annie!

From a poverty stricken and homeless mother/daughter team, comes a powerful, witty, and heartbreaking debut novel, ALL WE HAD by talented, Annie Weatherwax (her artistic talent most definitely lends her great insight into the human heart with her rich and well-developed characters)!

Wow, I knew I was going to love ALL WE HAD, when I viewed the cover and read the summary. However, it was so much more, as this dynamic novel, did not disappoint, and exceeded all my expectations.

Thirteen year old Ruthie, has been accustomed to being the mother in the family; sharp, street smart, and a survivor. From bullying at school, to fighting off her mom’s crazy boyfriends, and finding food and shelter.

Young mother Rita has never had it easy, from her poor childhood, which carried into her adult life as a single mom, moving from one place to another, living in their car, working endless jobs, and never being able to get ahead or provide for her daughter in the way she wants.

With her good looks, she goes from one man to another and when things do not work out, mother-daughter (Thelma and Louise) hits the road again for the next opportunity, always seeking the good life. Rita has never provided Ruthie with a stable home; however, mom knows her daughter will one day achieve the college education at Harvard, she deserves and hopes for a better life than the one she has known. From evil stepfathers, abusive boyfriends, stealing, going hungry, to mortgage fraud, they have seen it all.

At the beginning of the book, the duo head out in their used Ford Escort for greener grass and blue skies. When their money runs out and their car breaks down, in a small town called Fat River, their new life begins at a diner called Tiny.

There is a lot of love at Tiny and quirky characters which will make you laugh with their sometimes cynical, sarcastic, witty, sharp tongues, and hearts made of gold, which protect those they call family. (Arlene, head waitress, Mel, the owner, Peter Pam, transgender waitress, and the people in town, Hank and Dotty Hanson, the owners of the hardware store, and even the neighbor across the street, Patti who loves to shop at Walmart and gossip).

Everything about this scene is eccentric and quirky; however, the witty characters offer stability and love for Ruthie, and she hopes they will remain in this town (the first lasting more than six months).

However, the mom cannot be satisfied with just being, she wants more and again continues to make bad decisions and choices when times get tough. When she gets desperate, she shuts down, acts impulsively, and Ruthie has to be the caretaker, while Rita goes in search of another man, to keep them afloat.

All We Had is one of those books which remind us, how many of Americans have to live, and survive; desperate and alone with no help, and environments they cannot seem to escape, with little or no opportunities. When one generation cannot break free, sometimes sacrifices are made, and people come into lives which can change the course, as fate steps in for the next generation.

You will laugh and cry, as Annie uses flawed characters, yet demonstrates how people can touch our lives in so many ways in the least expected places. Readers will love the cast of characters--I fell in love with Peter Pam, Tiny’s transgender waitress! (I want to his/her BFF) and she becomes Ruthie’s salvation with a bond for life.

Loved the quote from Ruthie near the end:

“The meek shall inherit the earth, the Bible says, but how many have to suffer first? Where I come from, children are wrenched away from homes. Men are disposable, boys are lost, and women are beaten or killed. Little girls are left quaking at the sight of so much blood. And we blame them when they become less than perfect mothers. The meek shall inherit the earth, but why can’t we just share it?”

I enjoyed the way the author used home ownership as part of the storyline, as apparent these days with all the mortgage fraud, targeting desperate and vulnerable people who are in search of home ownership, making it seem possible to achieve the American dream, when they do not understand the high interest rates and all they have committed to.

A story of loss and love and raw emotions of the heart for a powerful first novel. I loved Weatherwax’s crisp, edgy, and fast-paced writing style. Fans of Fannie Flagg, Beth Hoffman, Joshilyn Jackson, Susan Rebecca White, and Amy Conner will appreciate the humor mixed with tragedy.

ALL WE HAD is a winner, and one I would highly recommend. Looking forward to many more bestsellers to come (and the movie)!

Judith D. Collins Must Read Books

TOP 30 BOOKS OF 2014

[Larry H · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd rate this 3.5 stars.

"When I thought about hell, I thought about life without my mother. She was all I ever really had. I tried to picture who I'd be without her and the only image that came to mind was of a ghost."

Thirteen-year-old Ruthie and her mother, Rita, often lived life on the fringes. Rita isn't above using her body or her sexuality to get what she wants, especially if it means ensuring a better life for the two of them. Rita smokes like crazy and likes to drink, but the one thing she knows for sure is that Ruthie is tremendously intelligent and is destined for great things.

The trouble is, most of the men Rita latches onto look good for a little while, and they save her and Ruthie from certain disaster, but their true selves are ultimately revealed, which leads to the need for a rapid and furtive escape. (Although they're not above taking a few parting gifts from these men on their way out the door.)

"This was how our story always went. With the wind at our backs we soared like bandits narrowly escaping through the night. And no matter where life took us or how hard and fast the ride, we landed and we always stayed together."

When Rita and Ruthie land in the small town of Fat River they don't plan to stay, but their battered vehicle decides otherwise. Through the mercy of Mel, who owns Tiny's, the local diner, Rita is able to get a steady waitressing job, and Ruthie is also able to make some money as a dishwasher. The two are able to let their guards down enough to make friends with Arlene, the tough-but-compassionate head waitress, and Peter Pam, Mel's nephew and the diner's transgender waitress. Rita and Ruthie are able to save enough money to rent a small, dilapidated house, which is actually the first place they can call their own, and their coworkers and neighbors become their extended family.

While Ruthie is content to live her life in Fat River, especially since they were able to buy their house thanks to the help of a crooked mortgage lender, it's not long before Rita starts feeling restless and their security starts rapidly going downhill. With seemingly no other solution, Rita relies once again on her feminine wiles to keep them out of poverty. But the decision that Rita makes has a tremendous impact on her relationship with her daughter.

Many books have been written about the often-tempestuous relationship between mothers and daughters, particularly those struggling to make something of their lives. Annie Weatherwax's All We Had is a sweet, enjoyable addition to this genre. The characters are well-drawn and tremendously engaging, and they seem larger than life without being caricatures of themselves. While you probably can predict how the plot will unfold, you're still captivated enough to want to keep reading.

My only criticism of the book is that at times it seemed like each chapter was an anecdote or interrelated short story rather than a continuous narrative. It almost was as if Weatherwax was trying to say, and here's yet another example of Rita's behavior. It didn't ultimately detract from my enjoyment of the book, but it felt a little less whole, if that makes sense. In the end, however, the vividness of the characters and the heart that Weatherwax imbued her story with really win you over.

Check out all of my reviews (plus other stuff) at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....

[Donna Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This quirky, funny, poignant story had me from hello. How often have you read a really strong mother-daughter novel? The legendary Marge Piercy brought some our way, and of course Amy Tan. Does Annie Weatherwax deserve a place in such auspicious company? I think she does.
Ruth and her mother have nobody and nothing, apart from each other and whatever they can throw in the car, and most of that stuff might not actually belong to them. They sleep together on whatever flat surface is available, sometimes a nasty mattress in an unfinished basement, but they call no place home.
Sometimes it seems more that Ruth is raising her mother than the other way ‘round, and so the fur flies when her mother suddenly decides to exert authority.
Does this sound like anyone you have known? It rings true to me. I’ve known people like this, both professionally and in my personal life. A friend in social work once told me that this “type” of kid keeps it together until she is in her mid-20s and then falls apart, because she didn’t get to scream and act out as an adolescent. At least in developed Western societies, the adolescent stage is necessary to development; if a kid can’t do it at the socially acceptable time of life that most people do, she’ll do it later.
And the fact that I found myself thinking such things, making such predictions for a fictional character, proves exactly how real Ruthie and her mother became to me as I gorged on the literary feast Weatherwax has cooked up. I was notified by Net Galley that since the book was coming out August 5, it would be nice to have my review run in early August, just before its release, and so I set the galley aside when I hit 60 percent. Later, I told myself. You can read it later.
I couldn’t stand it. I have over 100 unread books, most of them used, some of them galleys with a sell-by date on them, but I dove back in mid-July, like a dieter on a chocolate binge. I’ll run this review on my blog in July and then run it again in August, because All We Had is not just any story. It’s the story that couldn’t wait.
Rejoining mother and daughter, then, we head westward. Mom is determined that come what may, Ruthie will go to college, and she has her eye on the Ivy League schools. No matter how many boyfriends she takes up with, moves Ruthie and herself in with, and then books it (sometimes with the guy’s car and almost always with some of his money), their journey continues toward New England.
That is, until they come to Fat River, Ohio, a place that proves exceptional. It is here that Ruthie becomes fast friends with Peter Pam, the transvestite waitress at the local diner. People are different here in Fat River. Nobody has a lot of money, but there is such character here, a sense of community surpassing anything they had ever believed was possible for people like themselves, and the cynical, wise-cracking, foul-mouthed Ruthie and her mom find their defenses breaking down, a bit at a time, as the town takes its hold on their hearts.
What happens from there you will have to learn by yourself. I couldn’t tear myself away. I don’t know whether this book will be a best seller, but I do know that I would have been the poorer for not having read it.
Highly recommended!

[Sylvia True · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down. The writing is clean, crisp, and stunningly vivid.
The narrative begins as Ruthie and Rita need to vacate another unstable home. The protagonist, thirteen-year-old Ruthie, has not had an easy life, yet she gives amazing strength and voice to this novel. She is edgy, smart and funny, and despite the difficult situations she is placed in, she always manages to have empathy for others. When she finally finds a “family” in Fat River, we watch her relationships develop and see the depth of her character. Ruthie is brave and kind, and intensely loyal. Rita, Ruthie’s mother, might not always make the greatest choices for her daughter, but we grow to understand her limitations and see that she is doing the best that she can. This complicated mother-daughter relationship feels poignant and authentic. Ruthie must often take on the role of caretaker, and although there are moments when it’s difficult not to feel angry at Rita, we understand that she is a product of her history and circumstance. All of the characters, so complete and well-drawn, with their beauty and flaws, pull us into this narrative and move the story forward at a perfect pace. And how can you not fall in love with Peter-Pam, the warm, witty, and utterly charming waitress.
But what makes this book so outstanding is the hope it gives us—hope that there is a better life, that Ruthie can rise above the chaos and dysfunction, and that compassion and kindness really do make a difference.
Every character is unforgettable. One of the best novels I’ve read in a long time.

[SUSAN *Nevertheless,she persisted* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Ruthie Carmichael and her Mother,Rita. Although they live a life of poverty,they have each other. Rita works multiple jobs and uses men to get by.
One day Rita makes a spur of the moment decision to leave California and head east. When they arrive in Fat River,New York their old car breaks down and Rita begins waitressing at the local diner "Tiny's". And so the story begins.

The town of Fat River is filled with wonderful characters,a superlative supporting cast. I fell in love with Mel, Arlene, Peter Pam, Dotty, Hank and Miss Frankfurt.
My problem with the book was Rita's character. I couldn't stand her. I thought she was a dreadful narcissist. I found her jarring, grating and intolerable.

Overall,I really enjoyed the book. The writing is smart and moves with ease. I would recommend this book. The town of Fat River and it's cast of unique characters make it a delightful read.

[Linda Button · Rating 5 out of 5]

How often do you find a book with such humor, warmth, truth, and heart? Annie Weatherwax tells the story of Ruth and Rita with language and characters that break out of the page, original and vivid. But the true story, of love and yearning, beats strong and true and carries us along. Please read this book. I am still under its spell.

[Latarsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

All We Had is one of the best books I've read all year. It was such a pleasure to read such an unflinching book about family, community, poverty, friendship and love. At the center of this story are Rita and Ruthie, a mother-daughter pairing living in instability and extreme poverty. Rita and Ruthie are inseparable, so close that not only is it hard to see where one ends and one begins but also many times the child is the adult to the parent.

Unable to keep a job and bouncing from location to location, the two end up in a town called Fat River in upstate New York. Their car broke down en route to Boston where Rita is convinced that Ruthie, age 13 at the start of the book, is smart enough to some day get into Harvard. What was a plan to stay just long enough to fix their car turns into something more charmed: establishing roots. Rita takes a job as a waitress at Tiny's, the local diner. Mel, the owner, is helpful and kind to them. A cast of characters envelop the pair, none greater that Peter Pam, a transgender waitress who is the heart and warmth of the book. Mrs. Frankfort, the crotchety principal at the local high school, turns out to be a guardian angel for young Ruthie.

Things are going well for the two and the fragile world they have built for themselves until the economy tanks and the threat of being homeless again due to a subprime loan they take out at the encouragement of shady mortgage banker, Vick Ward.

While told from Ruthie's point of view, she has none of the angst and awkwardness seen in most pre-teens, in large part because her world isn't kid-friendly and hasn't been in a very long time. Rita is presented as a absolute beauty queen throughout the book but also a woman whose expiration date is quickly coming near. You know how you meet women who are so pretty and they use it to get all sorts of perks but they know the clock is about to run out, that their looks will fade and soon they'll be ordinary and average like the rest of us? That's Rita. She has used her beauty and her sex with ease to keep she and Ruthie together but at a cost. There's always a cost.

The author, Annie Weatherwax, does something few debut authors manage to pull off successfully: write fully-realized characters clearly. There isn't an extra word anywhere in the reading. Some new authors can write as if their thesaurus is on Adderall, presenting stories that read like the capstone project for their MFA at Columbia. There is a surefootedness to the narration in All We Had that had me and held me the whole time. I highly recommend it.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like I had read this book before – the struggling single mom who drives into a small town, has car trouble and is taken in by the local quirky townspeople. But there were some new fresh angles on this story. It was obvious that the mom, Rita, had mental health and alcohol issues. Her daughter Ruthie looked out for her and tried to keep her calm and functioning. It was funny (in a sad way) how Rita becomes obsessed with her neighbor’s possessions and gets so excited about getting a credit card. After getting a subprime loan from a shady real estate agent, the 2007/2008 recession hits them hard and it looks like they are going to be homeless again.
There were a few things I found disturbing – that Rita was teaching her young daughter to steal – that Rita graphically discussed her sex life with her daughter, and that she let her smoke. Ruthie should have turned out to be a teen delinquent, but she was a quiet kid who loved to write and her essay topics were odd and humorous. And thanks to help from the townspeople, both Rita and Ruthie ended up with better lives.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

You may think this is a story you've read before, and I suppose in some ways it is. The narrator is a teen-age girl. She lives with her mother. Their lives could be grim--they are poor, just barely getting by, buffeted by chance and circumstances and bits of bad luck. But it isn't a grim book, because the bond between mother and daughter is sustaining and the characters are wonderful. Parts are funny, parts are very sad. And the relationship is NOT a simple thing.

All in all I'd say what makes this book special is not the plot, per se, but rather the people to occupy the story. Many are memorable and complex characters. And the narrator has a great voice. Really worth reading.

[Ronnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I was introduced to Ruthie and Rita in Orange, CA, and I never thought I would get through Chapter One, "Grit." By Chapter Three, "Flesh," I was so engrossed and unable to put the book down that I knew it was going to be a long night. At 3am, as I read the Epilogue, I realized that author Annie Weatherwax truly had captured me at the first sentence: "Phil's kitchen was littered with crap." This is an amazing story—a love story in camouflage—and an author who is brilliant and powerful in her delivery.

[Susane Colasanti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. Brilliant. Breathtaking. Annie Weatherwax is a natural storyteller and incredibly talented writer. Her prose flows like poetry, her characters are vibrant, and this plot is absolutely riveting. All We Had is one of the most resonant, emotionally gripping books I have ever read. This book deserves all the stars. All of them.

[stacia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weatherwax's imagery is truly incredible. I haven't read a book with descriptions so vivid and haunting in years, and I admired that most of all, but the central relationship between a toxic mother and her always dutiful, occasionally resentful daughter was also a core strength of the book. The story of a poor, transient mother-daughter pair who stumble into an idyllic living arrangement after years of sleeping in abandoned buildings, cars, and the homes of the mother's abusive boyfriends, All We Had serves as an allegory about balloon mortgages, the housing crises, and class division. Weatherwax manages to make the mother in this story alternately despicable and empathetic, which felt like a real feat. Ruthie, the daughter here, is eccentric, precocious and interesting as her mother's protector and conscience. The novel also excels as crafting eccentric characters in a tiny, tight-knit community without turning them into complete caricatures.

I think I could've done without the epilogue, as it put too fine a point on Ruthie's future, but I also found that glimpse into her future satisfying, if a bit neat. I understand why we're given that glimpse. I'd read other works by Annie Weatherwax (this was my first) and I'd definitely recommend All We Had to others.

[Dbarsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get ready to read this book in one sitting. Annie Weatherwax's debut novel is stunning. She manages to realistically and empathically channel the voice of a 13-year-old and tells a rich, quirky, and heartfelt story with surprises at every turn. The reason I love it is because it has the potential to be an emotionally incestuous/co-dependent story and instead presents itself as a genuine love-filled relationship between a mother and daughter. This is a very fine line to walk, and because the author has us laughing at every turn through her well-defined characters, we can't help but love them. And we love all of them, despite...or maybe because of...their unique dysfunctions. I am in love with this book, and would recommend it to anyone.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I just finished this book 20 minutes ago and I am still feeling its effects. I love books that literally take your breath away and this was one of them. I think it was so powerful because i could relate to the book both as a daughter and as a mother. Their predicament was so challenging, I could literally feel the mother's exhaustion and despair. Yet the humor in the book was fabulous and would find myself laughing out loud. It was emotional read, full of hope and despair, kindness, hilarity and depravity. The descriptions were so spot on that I can picture the book in my head and I feel like I know the characters well--particularly the Mom, the daughter and Peter Pam. It was a perfect read for me right now.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful experience I had reading Annie Weatherwax's first novel. This mother/daughter story is witty, funny, sad, and poignant, and the language is luminous! I wanted to savor this novel as long as possible, and I've saved many, many of the paragraphs as some of my favorite quotations. The author is an artist who characterizes her writing style as comic realism. She says, "It is a heightened, stylized wryness that often plunges into darkness. In life, as in art, I cannot see reality without seeing the absurdity of it too." I want everyone to read this book!

[Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book & found it to be an easy, quick read. The main character, Louisa, is the voice of the novel & Annie Weatherwax creates a charming character that you root for throughout. Great story of the triumph of love over adversity. The town of Fat River & it's characters reminded me of my hometown, (which I don't always remember fondly) & I was captivated by the odd little family Ruthie & her mom created there. Throughout the book I kept thinking this would make a great movie. Today I read the rights were optioned to Katie Holmes. Hope it makes it to the theater.

[Alma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruth starts her story in June 2005 when she was thirteen years old. At that time, she and her extremely beautiful mother Rita were living with Phil, another of her many boyfriends. Times were tough, and Rita’s many low-paying jobs were never enough to keep a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs. Read the rest of the review on my blog: http://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.c...

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie Weatherwax's debut novel is outstanding! I tore through it in two days, yet the characters have stuck with me for much longer. The prose is clear, incisive, direct, and compelling. The characters are thoroughly likeable, even when their actions aren't totally honorable. This is one to read...soon.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All We Had

I can't believe that I lucked out and borrowed this kindle book from the library on accident. This book turned out to be one of the very best books I have read in a long time. I already know that I will never forget this book. It touches on things that are so true in life and it was written unbelievably well. Annie Weatherwax is an incredibly author. Bravo!

[Peggy Lingard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. It is beautifully written, painful yet touching. Ruthie is believable, resilient and wise. I recommend this quick, satisfying first novel and can't wait for her next book.

[Debbie Eubank simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story told by an innocent naive character about true life circumstances. I believed the character was real and wanted to slap her mom for her shortcomings. Serious subject made light by a child's humorous point of view.
Loved it and can't wait for another Weatherwax edition!

[Jane Rotondi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quirky yes, awesome yes!
Laugh out loud, entertaining, honest and wicked bold.
I loved the voice of Ruthie, her insight and mature wisdom.
I savored every keen description through out "All We Had". I want to read more from Annie Weatherwax.
Annie is one talented artist.

[Darlene Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book. I was pulled into the story of Ruthie and her mother from the beginning. This book is the kind of book that has you reading "just one more chapter" until you're finished. I look forward to more books by Ms Weatherwax.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tbis is an amazing book that I did not want to end.
Annie Weatherwax is an amazing writer. I saw the story as I read the story and was totally absorbed in it.

[Jan Puibello · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving story about poverty and determination written with well developed characters . It is funny, poignant, and easy to read. Strong female characters. Highly recommend this book.

[karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sorry to see this book end! I loved it loved it loved it. The main character was adorable and everyone else in the book was fabulous.