What is the book Ruined about?

Ruined, by Lynn Nottage, is a play (not a book), though it has been published in book form. The play tells the story of Mama Nadi, who runs a brothel in the midst of the Congolese war. It explores the devastating impact of the war on women, particularly the ways in which they are exploited and forced into sexual violence. The play focuses on several women whose lives intersect in Mama Nadi's brothel, showing how they cope with trauma, find fleeting moments of connection and agency, and struggle to survive in the face of unimaginable brutality. The themes of resilience, exploitation, the complexities of war, and the search for hope amidst devastation are central to the narrative.