Getting lost in the “Rubyfruit Jungle”

I am a pretty slow reader. To finish a 200 page book takes me about two weeks. To finish “Rubyfruit Jungle” by Rita Mae Brown, I took 3.5 days. Brown laments on the back cover that her autobiographical novel is often advertised and known primarily for its “lesbian” themes. My mother recommended the book to me, and I had no idea its content or thematic reputation prior to reading the book. This benefited me, as I was surprised at the book’s coming of age storyline and its inclusion of queer narratives (which is a narrative that I particularly enjoy). “Rubyfruit Jungle,” in its depiction of self-discovery, poverty, brilliance, travel, heritage, sexism, homophobia and sexuality, will make you laugh, cry, smile and curse within the same chapter. Brown is absolutely wonderful. 

There is no part of her novel that feels transitory or less-significant. She turns her ability to create tragedy and jubilance on in the first chapter, and never turns it off. Her writing style and vocabulary is particularly hilarious — like laugh out loud on your airplane while everyone is asleep around you type of hilarious. Brown’s comedy was a welcome surprise, as most books I read are serious, or fail in their attempt to be “laugh out loud” funny. 

Similarly, there are many moments throughout the book where I was left with my jaw dropped. For example (without spoiling the book for anyone), the main character Molly Bolt, who is about 19 at the time, becomes the lover of an older female friend, who is married. Molly then simultaneously becomes that woman's 16 year old daughter’s lover. Frankly, the book is wild, crass and Brown does not shy away from describing the details of her sexual activities. Nonetheless, I found myself emotional and quite sad at different moments throughout the story as Molly navigates her sexuality and gender identity in a poor, sexist and homophobic environment of the 20th century. Learning after I finished the book that the novel is indeed based on her life experience was very tragic considering the events that occur throughout. I was only one third of the way through the story when I found out that “Rubyfruit Jungle”belongs in my top three favorite books of all time.