Her mother plays the central role in her family and thus has a powerful impact on Ruth. ... This guilt and responsibility limits Ruth's ability to accomplish all that she wants to and to branch away from her family. ... Doug and Ruth's father bond immediately and Ruth realizes that she knows nearly nothing about her father, and in fact had virtually no relationship with him. ... Our families affect us all; we all have adopted traits, both good and bad, from those to whom we are closest. For Ruth Reichl, her mother is the driving force in her family and the central figure in much...

• Word Count: 1198
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate