REVIEWS for Castles & Ruins
“In her outstanding memoir, Castles & Ruins: Unraveling Family Mysteries & Literary Legacy in the Irish Countryside, Rue Matthiessen documents her return to Ireland, intertwining her experiences with reflections on her childhood and the dynamics within her family. Matthiessen was inspired to return to Ireland by her mother’s literary work, Annaghkeen, whose name is derived from Annaghkeen Castle which stood across from their home in Ireland. Her journey to childhood places in Ireland with her current family—rekindles long lost memories. She explores her early years in Galway and New York, chronicling her parents’ relationship and the turbulent years that followed.
In this intimate and poignant book, Matthiessen recounts her difficult upbringing and follows her parents’ personal lives and professional achievements. Her powerful storytelling vividly portrays her childhood and coming-of-age years, while evoking events and scenes from long ago. She takes readers on a heartfelt journey, beautifully recreating her experiences and their effect on her. I appreciated her brave and honest examinations of her parents, including their literary accomplishments and their dysfunction. Matthiessen writes with impeccable clarity. The backdrops that frame her experiences and the people she includes in the memoir are eloquently described. Her trip to Ireland includes fascinating information about the places that her family visits. I found her reflections on the memories she covered and the loss she endured thought-provoking and moving.”
Readers’ Favorite, Edith Wairimu, 5 stars
“Rue Matthiessen's heartfelt memoir, Castles & Ruins is, in essence, configured like a Celtic cross… …we see how the figure of the circle is at the very center of Matthiessen’s being. Celtic tradition calls for both mourning and celebrating at death. Precisely the emotions and the rituals that Rue Matthiessen gives the reader in this complex, deeply felt work.” Read full review: Looking for Ireland
East Hampton Star, Lou Ann Walker
“More than halfway through the memoir, Rue acknowledges, ‘I was arrogant when I began this quest. I believed that I would control the story. Nothing would go into it that I couldn’t create or re-create. But I hadn’t been prepared for what would be exposed under scrutiny.’ Regardless of the initial impulse to manipulate, Rue doesn’t. Instead, she delivers an unflinching, often painful account of a period in her childhood, and then contrasts this with the wife and mother she was able to become in spite of it all. The gift of herself, present and engaged, that she gives to her son, Emmett, is deeply touching and provides a much-needed counterpoint to the story of her early life.” Read full review: Story Circle Castles & Ruins
Story Circle Network, Jane Ward
“Castles & Ruins is a masterpiece, a must-read for anyone who sees beauty in the broken, finds solace in the unraveled, and believes that stories, like ancient stones, hold the power to illuminate the paths of the present.”
Mom Egg Review, Lara Lillibridge
“…We can sense how important this summer had been to Rue, not knowing that cancer waited to take her mother from her. And as she revisits these places with her own child, there is a feeling of convergence, or at least conversation, between memory and present. We see this reconciliation in lines such as, ‘It takes a long process of growing up to forgive one’s parents the things they needed, or even undertand the things they needed.”
Midnights Book Tours
“Prepare to be transported through the vibrant landscapes of Ireland as Rue Matthiessen unravels a captivating tale in her memoir, Castles & Ruins. This enchanting narrative goes beyond the ordinary, immersing readers in a world where the past and present converge in a lyrical dance of memories, familial bonds, and the enduring legacy of literary brilliance.”
Twins Reading Books
INTERVIEWS and FEATURES
Sag Harbor Express and 27 East, Rue Matthiessen Revisits Ireland, a Long Ago Summer and a Family’s Past
The Table Read Magazine UK, Author Interview
Irish Radio Canada, Author Interview (radio)
WLIW Public Radio, Heart of the East End, Author Interview (radio)
Writer’s Voice with Francesca Rheannon, Author Interview (radio)
Women Writers, Women’s Books, Feature
REVIEWS for Buttonwood Cottage, available on Amazon.
“Although they say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, in this case, you really can. Buttonwood Cottage delivers exactly what it promises. It’s a quick read that provides all the juicy details and information you need, along with a handful of laughs along the way. The story follows an American family as they buy a fixer-upper on Bonaire in the Dutch Caribbean, turning it into a second home and income property. The narrative is well-written and enjoyable, taking readers through trials, challenges, and underwater adventures, while also introducing new friends.
One of the standout aspects of this book is how vividly it brings Bonaire to life. Matthiessen’s writing makes you feel like you’re right there with the characters, experiencing everything firsthand. This book would make for an excellent cruise ship excursion or guided tour, allowing visitors to see the various places mentioned in the story.
Overall, Buttonwood Cottage is a delightful read. Maybe one day we’ll get a movie adaptation or a sequel, but for now, it’s a great literary escape to the beautiful island of Bonaire.” William Ostrow
“Buttonwood Cottage is an entertaining and often hilarious account of the author and her family’s purchase and gradual renovation of a house on the island of Bonaire. I didn’t know anything about the island before reading this book and was immediately drawn in by the vivid descriptions of Bonaire’s beauty, culture, people and extravagant bird and sea life. With her boundless determination and enthusiasm, Matthiessen throws herself into the predictably fraught process of managing a home renovation—much of it remotely—in a country and language not her own. The book is part personal journal, part love letter to Bonaire and part tribute to her initially skeptical but unflappable husband and equally game son.” Robert
“As someone who has always been curious but fearful about finding a home far away from home, Buttonwood Cottage was a thoroughly enjoyable, page-turning voyeuristic experience. I was both vicariously anxious as well as laugh-out-loud entertained. Rue Matthiessen knows how to write real and write funny and her book left me wanting to see beautiful Bonaire for myself someday soon.” Heidi Neurauter