IT RHYMES WITH TRUTH is a heartfelt and introspective exploration of the relationship between a runaway young boy and a quirky, extroverted elderly woman. The novel delves into themes of loneliness, friendship, healing, and self-discovery. It highlights the profound impact small interactions and gestures can have in shaping a person’s identity and understanding of the world.

The novel begins with the boy reminiscing about his first encounter with Ruth, the elderly woman. At that time, he was an eight-year-old kid cracking sunflower seeds in front of her retirement residence apartment—hungry, starved, and dirty. Ruth had noticed his poor state from behind her sliding door, and left out some milk and cookies for him to eat. Without meaning to—and definitely against his wishes—he couldn’t stop himself from going up to Ruth’s patio for the snacks. Nor could he stop himself from coming back again, and again. After it became clear to Ruth that the boy had nowhere else to go, she offered him a place in her apartment to stay. This unexpected gesture marked the beginning of a hesitant, heartbreaking, and yet transformative relationship and journey.

In his first literary fiction novel, author Rich Miller does an excellent job depicting the boy’s perspective from a childlike point of view while offering glimpses of a mature adult who is finally able to process the emotions and feelings he always ran away from. The boy, whose name remains undisclosed for much of the story, is a complex character shaped by the challenges of his early childhood. His initial wariness and snarky attitude towards Ruth’s kindness reflects his deep-seated mistrust and the rough upbringing he had to endure.

The relationship between these two characters is a constant push and pull, especially during the first half of the novel. On one end of the spectrum, we have Ruth, who is like your warm, sassy, energetic grandmother; on the other, we have the boy, who is more serious, angry, and pessimistic about everything. Throughout the novel, Miller is able to balance out the book’s atmosphere with witty back-and-forth, pranks, and deep conversations about death, loneliness, and love.

Weighty as the themes are, IT RHYMES WITH TRUTH is light and easy to read. It is in the simplicity of the novel’s dialogue that the complexity of human emotions and relationships can come into their own and draw readers deep inside the inner worlds of both the boy and Ruth. Take this passage:

“You and I made an agreement to never talk about what happened before we ended up here on this couch together watching the Mariners. And I won’t break our agreement, but I will say this: I know you know the world isn’t all cookies and milk. And you know I know the world isn’t all smooches and living happily ever after. You are a smartie, for sure. You’ve already seen what’s behind the rainbows and teddy bears, haven’t you? You know what the world is, don’t you?” You let the question hang there like a noose, gently swaying from side to side between us, then answered. “Of course, you do.”

Their journey together, marked by moments of vulnerability, humor, and quiet reflection, underscores the enigma of life and finding healing in unexpected places.

With a heartbreaking story, witty banter, humor, and creative storytelling, author Rich Miller invokes an eclectic range of emotions in his debut novel, IT RHYMES WITH TRUTH.

~Tomi Alo for IndieReader