Just because it’s iconic, doesn’t mean it’s right.

Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown is celebrated as one of the greatest sapphic fiction novels in modern times. Whilst technically fiction, it is generally considered a loose autobiography of Brown’s own coming of age as a lesbian, writer, filmmaker, and woman in the mid-20th century. The novel paints a picture of the main character Molly Bolt’s growth from childhood to university with the story ending in the midst of her post-graduate life.

Molly can only be described as a storm. Early on in the book we see from childhood what Molly wants most is to get away from her adopted family where Molly’s adopted mother, Carrie, treats her as if she is worthless. Molly declares—“I decided to go back to the house but only until I was old enough to get a job so I could leave that dump.” And whatever Molly wants, she will get it. Rubyfruit Jungle is the first of its kind for the time period it is written as it features an explicitly lesbian plot and strong lead woman character that challenges just about everything—heterosexuality, queer labelling, sexism, and class mobility.

The story opens while Molly is living in Pennsylvania with Carrie and her adopted father, Carl, who is her most staunch supporter that knows (not thinks) his daughter will be going to college. In middle school, we learn about Molly’s first experiences with love and sex with someone of the same gender. Notably, this is not the first time we learn about her affair with sex. From the first page, Molly’s interest in sex is made clear with all genders, though Molly is decidedly “lesbian.” In university, we see her grow further into her own understanding of love and sex. The novel ends with Molly living in New York and grounding herself deeper into her sexuality as well as meeting other queer people from who she learns more about queer culture, which Molly unsurprisingly rejects as she continues to forge her own way forward with her Molly storm. Sex is the name of the game of Molly’s life, but the story does cover other themes, including motherhood, family, patriarchy, and love (outside of sex).

In Rubyfruit Jungle, we learn to love to hate Molly. She is determined, strong-willed, sometimes inspirational because of her “nothing will stop me” attitude, and is incredibly selfish. At the end of the day, Molly doesn’t tend to care about anyone but herself. Whether that is because of her tough childhood (her adopted mother denouncing her “bastard” daughter, her beloved adopted father dying when she is quite young) or because of the patriarchal and homophobic society of the 1960s (Molly is kicked out of one university for being queer and is rejected constantly in her male dominated major in filmmaking), we see that Molly is not the “perfect lesbian” nor does she have to be. And it is important to make that distinction to fully grasp the novel.

Molly gives us an insider view of what the world was for a white lesbian in the 1960s Eastern United States. Molly was repeatedly “caught” being a homosexual, but seems to always get another chance in the world. Molly runs away to New York with just the clothes on her back and can secure an apartment within days, whilst the queer people of colour she meets are not living the same reality. Molly meets Calvin, a gay Black man who sleeps in an abandoned car near New York University, because she had the same idea to find shelter one night. Calvin shows Molly the city and from his extensive knowledge and connections, we know he has been in New York for a while. Though it only took Molly a few days to find an albeit shitty apartment, Calvin never meets the same fate and ends up hitchhiking to find a life in California.

Molly’s whiteness gives her opportunities and she still Molly faces oppression regularly because of homophobia. She was kicked out of university because of it, is disowned by Carrie for her “perverted acts,” and has her sexuality constantly questioned because how could she be one (from one of her lovers: “Molly don’t be silly; you can’t be a lesbian”). In spite of all of this, Molly still finds a home, graduates with honours, and secures a job after graduating (Although, yes it is a job she wouldn’t choose herself and is strong-armed into because she is a woman). Her whiteness gives her the privilege of chances while society simultaneously shames and blocks her success because of her lesbianism and womanhood. The latter two cannot be pulled apart and society colludes to work them against her. At the same time, her whiteness makes this reality a different type of oppression versus her Black counterparts we come across in the book. Even the fact that this book still exists today adds to this existence of her privilege creating a different world for her in the long run.

Rubyfruit Jungle is a wild ride and it is an iconic queer piece, but it is not good (for lack of a better word) and that’s okay. Molly does bad things. She says bad things. She is… bad. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read it, but it does mean you can’t do it without a critical eye and some healthy scepticism. In the Molly storm, we sometimes see sexual consent thrown out the window, glorification of incest, and someone who is willing to take revenge even if that means suffering herself. Molly gives you all of her vulnerability by laying bare everything she is and thinks. There is no filter. No crossing out. No holding back. She lays herself flat so you can see all of her edges, both good and bad, which is beautiful and scary all at the same time. Molly attacks the world whilst simultaneously embracing it. The book’s final line makes sure you know this: “I don’t feel like having to fight until I’m fifty. But if it does take that long… I’m going to be the hottest fifty year old this side of the Mississippi.”

It’s important and captivating and scary to read, but not everyone can read this book. It is not a bestseller for the population, but rather a work of research…a thought piece to be analysed. It cannot be handled carelessly and the reader must proceed with caution so you can be proud of Molly for her tenacity, but also angry at her for her lack of care for anyone else along her journey. It is 2022 and we all have to challenge appropriately while also being able to listen wholly. If you cannot understand and take on the responsibility of that, then this book cannot be for you until you are.

Synopsis | Goodreads

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Welcome to the most beautiful month of the year, Pride Month! Usually, this month is packed with parades, events and festivals, but due to all of us #stay(ing)athome, Pride will have to find a way to take place online even more than the years before. But we are not The Nerd Daily for nothing, after all; we specialise in making the online world as welcoming, engaging, and inclusive as possible!

Let’s make this month as colourful as we can! To help you kick off, we present you: The LGBTQ+ Literary Alphabet. We will take each letter (and as many of the letters from the ‘+’ category as we can) and will recommend you some fantastically diverse books that are simply perfect for a good pride month read. 

And we’ll start right here! Our letter today is: L as in Lesbian. We’ve divided our bookish recommendations into genres, so that every single one of you bookworms can find a book that fits your tastes and reading habits! From adult and YA, all the way to middle-grade fiction, we’ve got you covered!

Happy reading!

Adult Fiction

Carol by Patricia Highsmith | Goodreads

Patricia Highsmith’s story of romantic obsession may be one of the most important, but still largely unrecognized, novels of the twentieth century. First published in 1952 and touted as “the novel of a love that society forbids,” the book soon became a cult classic.

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters | Goodreads

With dreams of paying back the kindness of her adopted family, Sue agrees to a plan. Once in, however, Sue begins to pity her helpless mark and care for Maud Lilly in unexpected ways, but no one and nothing is as it seems in this Dickensian novel of thrills and reversals.

The Wicked Cometh by Laura Carlin | Goodreads

Even in the darkest of times, you cannot bury the truth . . . A debut historical novel that will appeal to fans of Sarah Waters and The Silent Companions.

Disobedience by Naomi Alderman | Goodreads

Steeped in Jewish philosophy and teachings, Disobedience is a perceptive and thoughtful exploration of the laws and practices that have governed Judaism for centuries, and continue to hold sway today. Throughout the novel, Alderman retells stories from the Torah — Judaism’s fundamental source — and the interplay between these tales and the struggles of the novel’s unique characters wields enormous power and wisdom, and will surely move readers to tears.

Young Adult Fiction

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth | Goodreads

The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a stunning and unforgettable literary debut about discovering who you are and finding the courage to live life according to your own rules.

Juliet Takes A Breath by Gabby Rivera | Goodreads

A gutsy, queer YA coming-of-age story perfect for fans of The Poet X, Roxanne Gay and Feminists Don’t Wear Pink.

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan | Goodreads

Leila has made it most of the way through Armstead Academy without having a crush on anyone, which is a relief. As an Iranian-American, she’s different enough; if word got out that Leila liked girls, life would be twice as hard. But when beautiful new girl Saskia shows up, Leila starts to take risks she never thought she would. As she carefully confides in trusted friends about Saskia’s confusing signals, Leila begins to figure out that all her classmates are more complicated than they first appear to be, and some are keeping surprising secrets of their own.

The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth | Goodreads

Two girls embark on a summer of montage-worthy dates (with a few strings attached) in this hilarious and heartfelt lesbian rom-com that’s perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Jenny Han.

Fantasy & Sci-Fi

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon | Goodreads

From the internationally bestselling author of The Bone Season, a trailblazing, epic high fantasy about a world on the brink of war with dragons – and the women who must lead the fight to save it.

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone | Goodreads

Co-written by two award-winning writers, THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR is an epic love story spanning time and space.

The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave | Goodreads

Gothic, intoxicating, feminist and romantic – this is the breathtakingly imagined untold story of the brides of Dracula, by bestselling author Kiran Millwood Hargrave in her much-anticipated YA debut.

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron | Goodreads

This fresh take on a classic story will make readers question the tales they’ve been told, and root for girls to break down the constructs of the world around them.

Classics & Poetry 

The Color Purple by Alice Walker | Goodreads

A powerful cultural touchstone of modern American literature, The Color Purple depicts the lives of African American women in early twentieth-century rural Georgia. Deeply compassionate and beautifully imagined, Alice Walker’s epic carries readers on a spirit-affirming journey towards redemption and love.

Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu | Goodreads

A classic Victorian vampire novella, which influenced Bram Stoker’s later treatment of the vampire mythos in Dracula. Secret fans of the fantastic YouTube adaptation of this novella may find themselves drawn in even further by the original novella that started it all.

Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown | Goodreads

Bawdy and moving, the ultimate word-of-mouth bestseller, Rubyfruit Jungle is about growing up a lesbian in America–and living happily ever after.

Middle-Grade Fiction

In The Role of Brie Hutchens by Nicole Melleby | Goodreads

An own-voices LGBTQ novel from the acclaimed author of Hurricane Season, about eighth-grader Brie, who learns how to be true to herself and to her relationships with family, friends, and faith.

The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake | Goodreads

Twelve-year-old Sunny St. James navigates heart surgery, reconnections with a lost mother, first kisses, and emerging feelings for another girl.

Kenzie Kickstarts a Team by Kit Rosewater | Goodreads

A highly illustrated middle-grade series that celebrates new friendships, first crushes, and getting out of your comfort zone

Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake | Goodreads

In the wake of a destructive tornado, one girl develops feelings for another in this stunning, tender novel about emerging identity, perfect for fans of The Thing About Jellyfish.

Will you be picking up any of these books? Tell us in the comments below!

The post LGBTQ+ Alphabet Recommendations: L for Lesbian Fiction appeared first on The Nerd Daily.