Rubyfruit Jungle

This book technically exists in French, but you're lucky to be able to read it in English. Unless you are willing to spend $130 on Amazon, you will have very little chance of getting your hands on the French translation Rubyfruit Jungleby Rita Mae Brown. A bit strange though, considering that it is one of the most important books for the queer movement, then and now.

Summary

Molly lives poorly in the southern United States with her adoptive parents. She hates wearing dresses, hangs out mostly with boys and tells everyone what to do. She hates the idea of getting married and being a housewife. But when she gets lost in the eyes of her friend Leota, she is suddenly ready to make concessions. She loses her virginity to her friend Leota for the first time at the age of 11.

Molly is a bright go-getter who fully embraces her attraction to women. In the United States of the 70s, society is not on her side, but Molly doesn't care. Despite all the obstacles, she will study film, sleep with as many women as possible, and create her own happiness.

Impressions

I can understand why it was a sensation at the time. Clearly, it was original. Seeing a woman who is so self-assured and has such an unbridled sexuality, it must have inspired many, even if we don't understand at all where this confidence can come from given the context.

But 50 years later, I must admit that I find it rather crude. To get the message across that lesbianism is more common than we think, the author creates a character who converts every woman in her path, as if all women had it in them somewhere. Molly loves sex, and does it with everyone, guy or girl, although girls are infinitely better for her. She doesn't have an ounce of jealousy in her. She never questions herself. There's something interesting about that. But when she starts to say that incest is okay, that she sleeps with the mother and her daughter, or when she rapes a woman (who wanted to, of course), it's not so funny.

I know that this book has stirred a lot of emotions in people. It has inspired many and shocked many others. But I remained lukewarm. The book has qualities, flaws too. Not bad, not great. A nice three stars.