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Old Rosa the bag lady shuffles along the streets of New York, silent, stinking and shunned.
After she suffers a terrible accident, her nephew Michael is called upon to visit her squalid apartment and from in among her reeking piles of junk, he unearths something that hints at a Rosa he can barely imagine: an original pair of the ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz.
The slippers soon become an irresistible beacon to the misplaced hopes and darkest desires of friends, family and foe. But who will stop to learn the remarkable story behind Rosa’s ‘Ruby Millions’?
Bursting with atmosphere, invention and an unforgettable cast of characters, The Ruby Slippers is a sweeping tale of hidden treasures, forgotten histories, lost connections and the search for real meaning.
After she suffers a terrible accident, her nephew Michael is called upon to visit her squalid apartment and from in among her reeking piles of junk, he unearths something that hints at a Rosa he can barely imagine: an original pair of the ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz.
The slippers soon become an irresistible beacon to the misplaced hopes and darkest desires of friends, family and foe. But who will stop to learn the remarkable story behind Rosa’s ‘Ruby Millions’?
Bursting with atmosphere, invention and an unforgettable cast of characters, The Ruby Slippers is a sweeping tale of hidden treasures, forgotten histories, lost connections and the search for real meaning.
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Reviews
A bittersweet story that will leave you genuinely touched.
This emotionally charged story had us hooked.
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 1930s 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. 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?
An accomplished debut . . . The need to find out just a little bit more kept me turning the pages with real enjoyment.
The Ruby Slippers is the type of book I absolutely love . . . Very enjoyable and extremely well-written. Sad and poignant at times, the story also offers hope and a promise of a better life.
A lively and highly atmospheric story.
An extremely well-written debut.
How can a smelly old bag lady change your life? That is exactly what the characters in this social drama thought about their unkempt acquaintance, Rosa . . . Keir Alexander’s debut novel has shown mastery over plot and character building. Creating many multi-dimensional characters in a compelling and convoluted story is no mean feat.
One fabulous, iconic item is the link that binds together a story that is terribly clever, a little whimsical, but utterly human at its centre. At times very funny, and sometimes very very sad, Keir Alexander is a gifted author.
A really enjoyable read from a consummate writer.