I grew up in love with the movies from Ivory and Merchant. They were so detailed and could easily transport me to a different time. It was only after M+I films had become successful did I realize that some people just thought of them as "set pieces".

I'm a little startled that Sherrill has been able to create a richly detailed set piece about California in the 1970s. Am I getting old enough to be wistful? I guess the answer is clearly "yes".

The Ruins of California is a story about Inez Ruin growing up from small child to young adult. She spends her time split between her mom in Van Dale and her dad who lives in the Bay area. In describing her grandfather, "The dams that he built were just his job, and in California, as everybody knows, it only matters what you do on the weekends." Sherrill is able to capture many of the anthems of The Left Coast in this tale.

I also enjoy that even though the book is clearly told in flashback, Inez's voice and perspective are seemingly appropriate for her age. When she is just six, Sherrill doesn't let Inez foreshadow her current understandings of her father, she simply is fascinated with her white clod hoppers. As Inez enters her teenage years, she's more aware of her self, but not so much what is going on around her. Finally, when Inez is a young adult, Sherrill gives her a voice of reflection and even a little bit of wisdom. This consistency and accuracy in Inez's perspective keeps the story linear, but also enjoyable.

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