Arthur Ruben’s work effortlessly brings the streets of 1950s Brooklyn and Newark to life, evoking a sense of familiarity and authenticity that is truly remarkable. As someone who grew up in the same era as the characters in Ivy Hill, reading this novel felt like a trip down memory lane. You can tell every detail is meticulously crafted, I found myself in a world that felt both familiar and enchanting.
What struck me most about Ivy Hill was its ability to capture the essence of a generation that was dealing with these profound societal changes and personal upheavals. Through the eyes of Eddie, we witnessed the struggles of a family torn apart by tragedy and brought together by love. Ruben’s characters each have their own unique voice and story to tell. From young Eddie’s innocent perspective to the complex dynamics of his family, every aspect of the narrative feels rich and authentic.
One aspect of the novel that stuck with me in particular was its portrayal of the post-war era and the cultural shifts that shaped the lives of its characters. From the civil rights movement to the Vietnam War, these true historical events are fit into the story and I found it really provided context and depth to Eddie’s journey.
Ivy Hill is beautifully written and it captures the heart and soul of a generation. It tells a story of resilience and getting up again and again even when you fall. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to be transported to another time and place. I loved this book!
Ivy Hill: A Novel Inspired by True Events
What happens when a loving family man dies suddenly and a stranger takes his place?
IVY HILL is a thoroughly American coming-of-age story set in the mid-20th century. Earthy, realistic, and mordantly funny, it is rich with details of that iconic era. It is also a timeless, universal tale of 
redemption, morality and conquering adversity, with nearly-mythic elements anyone from any century and virtually any culture would recognize: there’s a wicked giant, a good grandmother and a bad one, a “ghost” or two, and even, in a manner of speaking, a dark potion.
And at the center of the story, an innocent child.
Love, death, danger and fate intertwine in this novel, which was inspired by author Arthur Ruben’s actual life. It takes place in Brooklyn from 1952-1957, then Newark from 1958-1970. Ruben’s protagonist, five-year-old “Eddie,” is devastated following the death of his beloved 34-year-old father. He waits in vain and with a slowly breaking heart for Daddy to return. His mother’s disastrous remarriage, plus the family’s wrenching move from Brooklyn, NY, to the Ivy Hill section of Newark, NJ, turns Eddie’s life inside out. Over the next thirteen years, he is transformed from helpless brokenhearted child into an entirely different creature. The post-war society he was born into is also transformed: the repercussions of that potent and turbulent time, still in living memory-Viet Nam, Woodstock, the Mansons, and especially now, civil rights-are with us to this day, and will resonate with millions of readers.
