Rubyfruit Jungle: A Novel

I have a lot of novels over the years, and I have to say this 1973 novel by Rita Mae Brown is one of the best written pieces of modern literature that I've ever seen. I like a straightforward writing style, which she excels at. I also enjoy characters that stay with you long after you read the book.Molly Bolt is a woman few people can forget once they are introduced. Molly starts life with overwhelming disadvantages and overcomes them with desire to succeed and a wonderful sense of humor. Central to Molly's character is the fact that she discovers early on that she is a lesbian. She keeps this information almost exclusively to herself because she knows others won't accept it, (especially her narrow minded, ignorant, controlling mother).The wonderful thing about Molly, however, is that she never sees anything wrong with it. It's part of who she is and she embraces it fully. This was a landmark novel when it was written, because many lesbian novels of the time had characters who hated themselves because of their lesbianism and had unhappy lives because of this perceived flaw. Meeting a character like Molly in the 70's was truly groundbreaking. It's one of the reasons Rita Mae Brown has such a huge following.  Rubyfruit Jungle Please note that this is not just a "gay novel" it has much broader appeal. Molly is a strong character who overcomes her disadvantaged background to follow her dreams of becoming a flim maker and getting a degree. This is a modern, confident, self possessed woman that would serve as role model to any young woman, gay or straight. Her adventures along the way are hilarious, touching, disturbing and life affirming.It's a book you can read straight through because the fast paced wit and writing style make it hard to put down.If you've never read this book, you're missing a treat!

I wanted an authentic portrayal of a Lesbian struggle and life and how lesbians interact with each other. That I got. I thought it might be a little older version and a new updated version could be written with more passion between the lesbian couple. I think a new book would be in order. It felt restrained in the love department. But for the era it was written, well done. I am writing my own book and I am not a lesbian so I don't know how they interact or in the case of my book, how they make love. I asked a friend of mine who is lesbian and she recommended this book. i read the book in two days waiting for the passion to build and felt disappointed in that area, but like I said, it was good for the time it was written. We have come further than that and can get past any shame that might hold the writer back of old opinions. The language was funny at times, purposely, and that was something I enjoyed about the book. Well done, a little dated. My book will include love scenes between two men and love scenes between two women although the book is not about that, it will include it. The book arrived in a timely fashion and was very cheap. Could get a little more money for that book.

RMB is an incredible writer, great storyteller and was a huge part of the gay rights movement in the 1970s. This book literally changed the lives of so many, and may even partially explain my own life’s trajectory. I’m an Australian who now lives in Pennsylvania with my beautiful Pennsylvanian wife, after being enthralled with the way she described it in her book through her protagonist’s experience. It’s a huge state and huge differences exist between the rural areas and cities, but she painted such a vivid portrait of both, and not just in PA but NYC, FL and most fascinatingly, of a period of time before I was born. RMB and women like her walked so our generation and beyond could run. Now let’s make sure we hang on to the rights they fought so hard to give us. And definitely read this book.

This is a must read and a good addition for your LGBTQ library.

The first time I read Rubyfruit Jungle, I was about 12 and because my mother had signed the permission slip at the NY Public Library I was able to gain access to the Young Adult and Adult sections. This was the first book I'd ever read that had a main character who was a lesbian. The notion just blew my mind! Rita Mae Brown (the author) took me on a wild ride with her character Molly as she grows up the bastard (or rather adopted) daughter of a poor country family. One of the things I love most about Molly is how sure she is of herself. She's strong willed as a child--the struggles between her and her mother are really exciting and tense, willing and open to explore her sexuality as a teenager, and straightforward and no holds barred as a young woman, Molly only gets better as she gets older.Reading this back in the early 90's was definitely an experience because back then lesbian literature was few and far between. Rubyfruit Jungle held so many secrets of what it was like to be female and gay. I can remember hiding this book for fear that my mother would find it and think I was a lesbian too. But sadly as an adult, the allure was gone. Maybe it's because I'm a jaded New Yorker where being gay isn't a stigma and Molly's experience has been sort of deflated by all the other writing that followed it.For me, a book like this must be read when you really don't have a clear understanding of the world you live in. The reader has to be naive to put it plainly. As I think this book is meant to be an eye-opener for those who only know one side of the coin. Reading it as a young girl definitely had my heart pounding, made me blush and laugh out loud and want to share it with the world. Reading it as an adult was still an experience, and while it didn't move me as much, it did give make me reminisce about the young girl I was and how my innocence played such an important role in how I responded to literature. What I wouldn't give to be young again!

The book just flows, sometimes from the surface, sometimes diving deep but the flow does not stop. For any Turkish readers, there is no the Turkish translation of the book as well, which I highly recommend too.

This book is amazing. I am a 19 year old queer bookworm and this book blew my expectations.If you are a person looking for a book with queer content but not overwhelmed by gay and need a strong independent female character to look up to, this is your book. Molly is different, growing up in a family she didn’t quite fit and wanted to be loved. She is the character that you warm to love despite her defensive demeanour, she is confident within herself and grows stronger with her understanding of herself.If you’re queer or questioning, she is the character that you will understand so deeply. She puts words to your feelings and acts as the friend you need to boost your ego and make being queer okay.P.s it totally is.Literally just buy this book tbh.Oh also incase it’s important for your book to not look obviously queer, it’s got nothing on it that makes it stand out from the rest of my books! (For all my closet fairy’s out there)

The first half of Rubyfruit Jungle introduced me to a brilliant, quick-witted, defiant protagonist who became insufferable by the second half because she couldn't stop talking about how great she is at all times. Molly Bolt is a one-dimensional saviour of everything deviant. She impacts the lives of everyone she meets without any character development of her own. She disapproves of butch lesbians, approves of incest, rapes a woman, all without a shred of regret. Rubyfruit Jungle embodies almost every LGBT stereotype that exists. I'm extremely disappointed with this book. The two stars are for the first half and the pretty cover. Print and paper quality are fine.

Read and analyzed for an exam at University, Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown is an enjoyable and powerful novel which makes you reflect upon the fact that happiness is something that anyone should achieve in his/her own way.

Vraiment dommage que ce titre n'ait pas été traduit en français. C'est une excellente découverte pour moi. Une comédie franchement drôle, avec pourtant en arrière plan quelques sujets un peu durs. Une tranche de vie, qui a le mérite, en plus, de présenter un personnage central lesbien, bien dans sa peau et ses baskets. Je le recommande chaudement.