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A review by noelleandherbooks
Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow. I signed up for an LGBTQ+ literature class this semester despite friends (and my academic advisor) telling me to drop it for multiple reasons. However, I wanted to see it through and I'm so glad I did. This was our first read.
Published in 1973, Rubyfruit Jungle follows lesbian Molly Bolt from childhood to college graduation. It's a beautiful book that'll make you laugh and cry at the same time. Molly has a way of being so honest that I couldn't help but fall in love with her.
My professor also had us read Brown's essay entitled "Take a Lesbian to Lunch" which made it clear that Rubyfruit Jungle is about as autobiographical as fiction can get. Brown writes in the essay:
"There were always a number of women who questioned the system and found it destructive to themselves. Those women became self-identified. The male culture's word for this is lesbian."
I'm obsessed. Reading and discussing this book has been the highlight of my classes this week. As Gloria Steinem herself wrote:
"Because its heroine dares to be her unique and spirited self, despite society's biases about class and sexuality, she has helped generations of readers to do the same."
Gloria, I agree wholeheartedly.
Published in 1973, Rubyfruit Jungle follows lesbian Molly Bolt from childhood to college graduation. It's a beautiful book that'll make you laugh and cry at the same time. Molly has a way of being so honest that I couldn't help but fall in love with her.
My professor also had us read Brown's essay entitled "Take a Lesbian to Lunch" which made it clear that Rubyfruit Jungle is about as autobiographical as fiction can get. Brown writes in the essay:
"There were always a number of women who questioned the system and found it destructive to themselves. Those women became self-identified. The male culture's word for this is lesbian."
I'm obsessed. Reading and discussing this book has been the highlight of my classes this week. As Gloria Steinem herself wrote:
"Because its heroine dares to be her unique and spirited self, despite society's biases about class and sexuality, she has helped generations of readers to do the same."
Gloria, I agree wholeheartedly.