Rubyfruit Jungle [Paperback]

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.

"Rubyfruit Jungle" is a chronicle of Molly's life, told from her perspective, from the poor area of Pennsylvania to the somewhat nicer area near Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to her hitchhiking to New York to become a film director. Along the way, she learns that she's the bastard child of a woman named Ruby and some unkown, married Frenchman, and she also must contend with the societal pressures of the 1960's and 70's of marrying a man to secure your future and that wanting to be a film director is easier than becoming one.

Molly Bolt is a strong-willed, self-suficient, incredibly proud character. She's a lesbian and doesn't care what anyone thinks about it. (I like that she's so matter-of-fact about herself.) She's determined and nothing is going to stop her from fulfilling her dream of becoming a director, even if she isn't able to make her film until she's 50. I think that she represents the kind of person that we would all like to be: strong, no-nonsense, and comfortable with ourselves.

The only item I didn't like about the book is that every woman Molly meets -- with the exception of her family -- falls in love with her: cheerleaders, New York socialites, college roommate. That just seemed a bit too farfetched to me. But, it doesn't detract from this incredible novel about remaining true to yourself. I highly recommend it!