Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown

8 reviews

rampaige19's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual violence, Incest, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Lesbophobia, Suicide, and Rape

knicke's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The characterization in Rubyfruit Jungle is super simple, but it’s super consistent and no character is too polished, which I found appreciable. It’s also very funny; Molly (narrator) has a dry humor that reads very well. I understand why some people find this novel offensive, and that’s valid. Still, I also recognize what it accomplishes in treating such varied and serious material so lightly. Basically, bad takes in this novel should not be considered as endorsements of hateful rhetoric but rather examples of how hate and othering can come from anywhere, including from inside the house, so to speak.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Incest and Suicide

miap09's review

challenging reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Rape, Incest, Abortion, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Suicide

theyellowbrickreader's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Suicide

hollifr's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I felt like the story had a slow start but once it picked up I got really into it. It's a great LGBTQ+ coming of age book with relatable characters and relevance to life now in the LBGTQ+ community. Will be recommending this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Homophobia, Racism, Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Abortion

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Alcohol, Infertility, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Religious bigotry, and Incest

whimsykat's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Homophobia

Moderate: Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Blood, Abortion, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, Infidelity, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Suicide, Pregnancy, Incest, Classism, Alcoholism, Racism, and Sexual harassment

sib_reads's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Homophobia, and Incest

Moderate: Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Grief, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Fatphobia, Infertility, Suicide, Vomit, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Antisemitism, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Sexism, and Misogyny

mollyv's review against another edition

hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

It is hard to rate a book that has such historical significance for queer women - so a neutral rating seems fair. 

I can see why it has the praise it does, to read about such a confidently queer female character in a book written in 1973 and set even earlier was really interesting. To see the struggles that came with being queer and working class in the USA at the time was also very illuminating. 

However, the stance the book takes on some issues disturbed me. The acceptance of incest was particularly jarring and made me extremely uncomfortable. The several dub-con moments between the main character and others was also difficult to read and never critically discussed. The bandying about of slurs and racist opinions was also something that was not handled as well as I would have liked. There was also very weird adult/minor sexual relationships and moments which were extremely uncomfortable but not called out.  Be warned it is also very sexual, this is not a criticism, but it was something I was not expecting to that extent and did find a little difficult at times, especially when the main character was a child. 

Overall, as a queer woman I am glad I read it due to its importance to the community but I do not know if I could recommend it to others without a whole slew of warnings attached. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Racial slurs, Homophobia, and Racism

Moderate: Antisemitism, Misogyny, Cancer, Lesbophobia, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Outing

Minor: Infidelity, Infertility, Ableism, and Suicide