A coming of age story tethered to a society only a few people will actually understand, Rubyfruit Jungle follows Molly Bolt, an adopted girl who is desperate to find a place for herself. In this no-nonsense narrative, Brown breaks down the reality of growing up gay. With a style akin to Harper Lee, Brown takes the reader into the mind of a child growing into her sexual identity, and learning to accept and understand herself.
Not only does Molly fight to be included as woman, but as a lesbian. Being born in 1944, she has her work cut out for her. She battles with her family, with the world, but most of all with herself. Growing up, Molly didn’t have access to modern popular culture and being homosexual wasn’t a well known issue. People mostly just kept themselves to themselves. Molly goes a different route altogether and no level of intolerance or disdain was ever going to sway her from that route.
Unlike so many, she lets her talent and intelligence define her before any sexual identity. She is open about being a lesbian, but to her it’s like being open about her hair color. It is what it is.
I think anyone in the LGBT community or allies of the LGBT movement would benefit from reading this book. Beautifully composed dialogue, first person POV, and a strict linear plot tell this story in an unforgettable way.
