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scarroll178's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved the MC; I don’t think I’ve ever read a more independent female character, much less in a book as old as this one. She’s also kind of an asshole, which again, I love lmao. She really embodies all the traits male characters are often applauded for, and she exposes the goofiness of heteronormativity along the way? Hell yes. Sexuality, race, and even family are all social constructs.
I thought the ending was a bit rushed, but it wasn’t really an ending, was it? The MC’s story is ongoing.
It really should go without saying that I don’t condone any of the bad things the MC does. Yes, the SA was bad; the incest mention was bad - but books aren’t made to be morally correct, they’re made to deliver a story and a theme. Failing a book on the basis of some morality test is a waste of your time, and doubly so if it’s a book that was written during a time when society’s morals were completely different than they are now.
I thought the ending was a bit rushed, but
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Racism, Violence, and Incest
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Incest and Suicide
kaitlinlovesbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Antisemitism, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Grief, Violence, Incest, Terminal illness, and Sexual harassment
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