Customer Reviews

Rubyfruit Jungle

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Rita Mae Brown's novel "Rubyfruit Jungle" had me laughing out loud by the time I reached page 5. The book tells the life story of Molly Bolt, a poor girl who comes from rural Pennsylvania. Molly narrates the book, which follows her to her adolescent years in Florida and to her life as a struggling film student in New York. Along the way, Molly lives her life as a sexually liberated young lesbian.

Molly is a wonderful character: a witty, intelligent combination of artist and trickster. The book is full of humor and satirical outrageousness. Molly is surrounded by a colorful cast of characters, most notably her strong-willed mother. The narrative as a whole is well-structured, and Brown brings Molly's story to a very satisfying conclusion.

As funny as "Rubyfruit" is, it also has some relevant insights on a number of issues: mother-daughter relationships, anti-gay prejudice, sexism in academia, socioeconomic barriers, etc. Molly's desire to be a filmmaker is a key theme: she is a creative individual who wants to tell relevant stories about "real people," and not just impress some pompous group of cultural elites.

Brown's prose style is excellent: muscular, sexy, lively, humane, down-to-earth, and always enjoyable. For a good companion text, try Audre Lorde's "Zami," a moving narrative of African-American lesbian life.

I have been reading all of the customer reviews, and it seems that they have been missing the whole point of this book. By no means is this a "lesbian" book, or a book that completely focuses on dealing with "coming out". Nor should this book be read exclusively by lesbians. It's a book that simply follows a unique, strong young woman from when she was a kid to when she grows up into her 20's. Futhermore, the simple style is the essence of the book; more complicated wording would not embody the character of Molly nearly as well. The point is that Molly, who is sassy and a shamelessly cut-and-dry lesbian, does not think that things should be overanalyzed and obsessed over. She sees everything as obvious and blatant. Hence the simple language. It is an unapologetic, extremely funny book, and it is hard to put it down. It pulls you in from the beginning and continues to stay exciting throughout this girl's tumultuous life. In some ways she grows, but in others she never does compromise her gutsy, fiery self. I loved it.

This is a well-written jewel. Rita Mae Brown's dialogue and plot is interesting from the very first page. The book tells the story of a lower-class girl growing up, her learning about sex and dealing with her own homosexuality, leaving home and starting a life of her own, college, city life, dating, etc. The reader identifies with Molly through all of her hardships and celebrates with her through her joyous relationships. This book deals with lesbianism in a very realistic manner, but at the same time could appeal to heterosexual women and men of all types. It is a coming of age story that is simplistic, yet incredibly ... can i say perfect. It's a very short book, and easy weekend read for pure enjoyment. I'd highly recommend this book - to anyone.

I've just recently finished this novel for a college class I'm in dealing with gender and sexualities. The novel tells the coming-of-age story of Molly Bolt in primarily the 50's. As a child adopted by a very poor southern couple, Molly comes to realize early in her life she's a lesbian and she doesn't intend to apologize for this. Despite her family situation, she'a very smart and witty girl and people are drawn to her. After being kicked out by her mother who discovered she's lesbian, she goes out on her own determined to be successful.

I have to say like most other people in my class, I liked the character of Molly. She's smart, funny and witty. But, the book often seemed very unrealistic. Virtually every woman she meets that's her own age about ends up wanting to have sex with her once they discover she's lesbian. Now, I realize that must sound like an exaggeration, but if you read it you'll see it's not. The way in which she always ends up having sex with women is kind of hard to believe and some of her sexual encounters are comical. With all the sex she has and the gay people she meets, this book makes it seem like almost half the population is gay which I'm pretty sure isn't true, but these points shouldn't deter someone from reading the book if they're really interested. At one point, what's really weird is when Molly has sex with a woman who is a mother and her daughter finds out about it and starts to like Molly too and then wants to have sex with her own mother. That was even harder to believe.

But, the novel is easy reading and it's definitely something that's controversial. I can only imagine what people's reactions were to it when it came out. I think this book is worth reading since it's so simple and not particularly long. I have to say I do kind of have mixed feelings about it as one part of me feels like I'd never read it again and then another thinks the book was pretty good. I think this would be the kind of book it'd be fun to read with a friend and then discuss. I know there'd be plenty to discuss. So, even if you're only mildly interested, go ahead and pick this book up. It'll get you thinking and give you something to talk about.

I am struck by how many of the reviewers felt they had to categorize this book as 'lesbian fiction.' OK, it is written by a lesbian and its central character is a lesbian and most of the book deals with issues related to sexual orientation. But all books have to be about something, and whether one is a lesbian or not, this book deals with the same human issues that confront everyone in growing up and makeing a place in the world. The very things that some of the reveiwers criticise - the humor and lightness of touch on some serious issues - is exactly what makes this book accessable to the reading public at large and really saves it from being simply 'lesbian fiction'. It is a truely entertaining and (for those who need it) informative book. Lesbians may, indeed, have a predisposition to like it because the themes are more immediate and personal, but all readers can relate.

I loved this book! I read this book when my sexual self was beginning to open up. I love how the main character views herself. She sees nothing wrong with who she is and the way she is. She is growing up and just happens to be a lesbian and it's NO BIG DEAL to her. She doesn't morph into a caricature of her lesbian self. I loved how she considered herself NORMAL and didn't try to create a separate lesbian world to live in.

I'm surprised it took me as long as it did to get to this book. When I was home over the holidays I went through my closet of books and found this novel, which I'd bought years ago. I started reading it and within an hour, I was completely hooked. Molly is so independent and smart, and Brown's writing keeps the story light even during some of the darker moments.

I would love to see whatever became of Molly (whom I suspect was at least partly informed by Brown's own life), but until a sequel appears, I am glad to have known Molly Bolt for the brief time we had together.

I read this novel because it is referenced in the Educating Rita. The relevance of the main character saying that this book is her favorite escaped me until I read the novel for myself.

A lovely coming of age novel which I found very enjoyable. I can't say that this is great literature but I don't think that the the author was aspiring to write "the great American novel." What she did set out to write, an honest novel about a young girl's coming to terms with her role in society and her sexuality, is genuine and uncompromising. Above all else, it is gentle and sometimes, in a world where you are disenfranchised in spite of so-called equal rights, it is nice to have an honest and gentle story to remind you of how much further we still have to go.

This book is absolutely hilarious and witty! I love the main character, Molly Brown. Even though it's classified as a gay and lesbian book it doesn't focus on that, which is what I most admire about this book. It focuses more, to me, on Molly's ability and strength to do what she has to do, regardless of her financial situation and what other people think. This book is a story about having the strength, will, and courage; to do what you wish and be who you want to be, all of which Molly has little bproblem obtaining and keeping.

I first read this book in the mid '80s at UMCP in an American Studies class. I remember that I commented in class that the book was unbelievable because the main character seemed to meet lesbians every place that she went. Surely there weren't that many gay women in the world! So, lesson one for me was that I had been living a (very) sheltered existence.

The other lesson turned out to be that we all have our own "coming of age" story. Almost no one gets to adulthood without bumps and bruises. We are driven to explore who and why we are. Our evolution is tumultuous and inexorable. Growing up is filled with joy and pain despite orientation - or any of the other descriptive details of life. Brown makes this point beautifully in this novel.

This novel is instructive and enthralling. HIGHLY recommended!