I've been wanting to read this book since 1973. It took me a while.

The star rating has to be a 5 because of all those years of yearning to read it. Now that I have, finally, I'd say it's a 4-star leaning toward 5. The narrator's voice was lively and the dialog natural. Some of the shenanigans annoyed me because the characters were young and foolish, and now I'm old. (I might have enjoyed their risky adventures more in '73.) I loved the character of her mom, and the film at the end which, for me, was the highlight of the story. Very, very touching.

Recommended, if you want an adventurous lesbian tale that gallops along to the end. ( )

While this novel has some profound moments and several thoughtful reflections on gender, sexuality, class, and family, these positives were often overshadowed by a plot that, especially in the beginning, felt like a series of small car accidents I couldn't turn from rather than a fascinating progression of story and a protagonist who felt too superior, uncritically examined, and fundamentally unchanged by the end of the book. I do understand why this unabashedly lesbian novel has been life-changing for some, and I'm glad that I took the time to read this book for myself. That being said, I don't expect to recommend this book to any young lesbians I meet anytime soon. ( )

Published in 1973, it was remarkable in its day for its explicit portrayal of lesbianism.

The story follows Molly Bolt, a spirited and ambitious young woman with a sharp wit and a determination to forge her own path. Growing up in the American South in the mid-20th century, Molly faces societal expectations and challenges as she discovers her identity as a lesbian.

Parts of this I loved and other parts I hated. It was a real mixed bag. Warning: If you are thinking of giving this one a read prepare yourself for some incest.

I was disappointed with the ending but I’m certainly not going to spoil it for everyone. ( )

Originally published at http://lesbrary.com/2012/08/14/mfred-reviews-rubyfruit-jungle-by-rita-mae-brown/

Well, I finally read Rubyfruit Jungle. I’m not entirely sure what to think of it.

Is it well written, tightly plotted, compelling, and interesting? Not really. One meandering story runs into the next, sometimes without pause. It is very picaresque in that sense; so perhaps Brown purposefully sacrificed plot in order to maintain that genre’s style. I can’t say that it really works. As a loose collection of adventurous anecdotes, I would have prefered the book to be better framed into chapters and sections, rather than literally going paragraph to paragraph, one story to the next.

On the other hand, is the book funny and entertaining, with a refreshingly frank protagonist and consistent narrative voice? Absolutely. As both a child and an adult, Molly Bolt is always herself. She knows what she wants and she knows how to outsmart everyone around her to get it. Brown’s book is fairly revolutionary simply because Molly never really struggles with being queer– whatever unhappiness comes her way has more to do with society (personified as her parents, co-workers, classmates, etc.) and its inability to accept her as a normal.

In the last part of the book, Brown indulges in some fairly stilted dialogue between Molly and various characters, especially on the topics of heterosexual privilege, homophobia, and feminism. It’s not only obvious and heavy-handed, it slows down an already poorly plotted book. Most disappointing, though, is the dated, myopic judgement Molly expresses for other queer people. The condemnation she has for butch/femme dynamics, while totally suited to a book written in early 1970s, is painful and disappointing. ( )

I'm so shocked that I'd never read this book before, especially when I came out as bisexual and was first beginning to spend a lot of time with gays and lesbians. I was an avid reader then--I'd have thought at least ONE of my lesbian friends would've given me a copy or something. Whatever. I'm glad I read it now. I'm in lust with Molly Bolt! She's the woman we all want to be--even the straight women do. Not for the lesbianism, but for the fact that she takes no shit from anyone and she decides to actually do what SHE wants to do, not what everyone tells her she "has" to do. Man, this was an amazing book!!! Loved it!!! ( )