Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.08 You Save: $3.91 (49%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Rubyfruit Jungle
Book Review: I loved this book
Summary: 5 Stars
I found the girl Molly very bold and straighforward. I loved the way the book was so honest about how things were. They didn't censor things because that is how life really is. People say what is on their mind and this book just showed us that. I would recommend this book to everyone. It made me laugh, cry and made me feel stronger after reading it.Book Review: Interesting Account of 1960 Society's Bias Against Homosexuality [91]
Summary: 5 Stars
Written in the early 1970's, this book's topic is far less shocking to the 21st century reader than it would be to even the most liberal-minded person emerging from the revolutionary 1960's.
The auto-biographically depicted protagonist, Molly Bolt, allows us to follow her life from 11 years of age through her graduation from college. We jump from Pennsylvania to Florida to the Big Apple. And, in the end, she feels betrayed or unaccepted by each city for the simple rule of thumb: she is a woman. Some of the places discriminate mainly because of her sex, others for her sexuality.
As you proceed to read this book, you wonder what one would ever think is wrong with a child of such promise. She is a star student and athlete (college as well as high school), leads people in student government, and really does not step on other people's toes. But, when she speaks her mind, she becomes besieged by prejudices which even she could not fathom would be thrust against her.
To the 21st century reader, the horrible experience in Gainesville, Florida may top the list. It is there that she is institutionalized and reviewed by psychiatrists for her mental problem of lesbianism. No shock therapy or eternal imprisonment. Gainesville is not the Gulag. But, like the Gulag, her sexual decisions are deemed inappropriate - hence upon her release she also loses her scholarship. Gainesville is a Gulag with a lower case "g?"
This angel is not always a dear one. Toward the end of the book she seeks to seduce a middle aged assistant professor, Polina, whose curiosity leads them to an affair. Polina then thrusts this bright young woman to her daughter for intellectual growth, but the teenage daughter seeks the opportunity for sexual experimentation. Molly obliges. While this is happening, Molly intentionally stumbles upon Polina's extra-marital lover, and coyly grabs his attention and seduces him. With friends (let alone lovers) like Molly, Polina needs no enemies. The result of the disclosure is too obvious.
But, the book leads the readers to understand that all lesbians are not biker chicks with bad haircuts and farmer's clothing. Molly is petite and certainly pretty whose physical self attracts most everyone - and the exploits divulged in this book establish that her good looks attract most everyone - cheerleaders, housewives, black sex goddesses, movie stars, football running backs, professors, and precocious children of Manhattan.
She understands that she is not understood. "Either way you get gored." The liberals had their "make love not war" agenda - not her agenda of freedom of with whom one can make love. The feminists had their agenda for equality of the sexes - not equality of sexuality. The hippies had their revolution - devoid of her sexual revolution. She was a progressive wandering the streets of Manhattan without an army.
But, in the end, she understood what to do and what not to do - to a certain degree. This book stands as a cry to the American readers of her call for reform of the biases placed by society against people of her sexual proclivity. And, this book is an anthem calling upon the masses to listen to her and make her call become society's decree. To a certain extent she may have succeeded.
Book Review: It is an interisting book, but a little bit to discriptive.
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a story about a girl named Molly as she goes through life doing things her own way. She is bold and gay! She finds how people are predjudice about anybody diffrent! I say hurrah for her!!! It's her life and people shouldn't butt in if they don't like it. At least she is honest about it! I bet nobody can find five people half as honest as her!!! Could've gone a little easy on the discription though!Book Review: It was alright.
Summary: 3 Stars
I read this novel for a women's studies course and even though I admired Molly's strength, she is the only character that you grow to have any feelings for! The language is also quite simple; you would think that the book was written for a child! However, this being my first lesbian novel book as I was coming out to myself, I recommend it to others.Book Review: Loved this book!! Funny, human, moving, personal
Summary: 5 Stars
While on the phone with a friend I heard her mom in the background laughing out loud. Nobody else was in the room, she was just reading Rubyfruit Jungle. I had to read it and have been in search for a book as funny, streightforward and moving ever since. For me, the moral of this story was embrace what is unique and quirky about yourself. Live life to it's fullest, and laugh while your at it.