Reviews

Rubyfruit jungle: de avonturen van Molly Bolt by Rita Mae Brown

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draig_dyke's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

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

2.25

Usually I enjoy an unlikeable character but this novel being semi-autobiographical makes it hard for me to differentiate between protagonist and author. Sooo problematic:

“But I never have been able to figure out why parents and children put each other in these desexed categories. It's antihuman, I think?”

“I'm not against incest if both parties consent and are over fifteen[…]”

In addition, the writing was rather flat and cringey (in a bad way).

dakotach7's review against another edition

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fast-paced

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

4.75

Really, this book was fun, and I really enjoyed Molly Bolt as a character. I'm someone who always finds it difficult to NOT care about what people think, so to see a character like Molly, who is someone in her mid-twenties by the end just trying to work towards what she can, while also still having to trudge through the difficulties of her life, was really admirable and relatable, imo at least.

lonicole27's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

the ending wasn’t what id hoped it would be it was more realistic than if they would’ve had all her dreams come true but i needed just a little bit more i guess.

bearbutch's review against another edition

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dark funny reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.5

Easy to read and easy to get attached to the protagonist (despite them being a very flawed person). Aside from the casual putting down of butches, I definitely recommend it. Provides a lot of reflection on heteronormativity, gender, and the way people can get trapped into roles and relationships that they don’t really want. Really good book.

Content Warnings