Rubyfruit Jungle

Anna Paquin's solid narration of this first-ever production of Rita Mae Brown's classic 1973 coming-of-age novel creates an immediate impression of the irrepressible Molly Bolt. The novel's pragmatic heroine remains true to herself throughout. From her hardscrabble childhood through her college years, the young woman owns her sexuality and forges a singular path. Paquin's down-to-earth delivery creates emotional dimensions for Molly's friends and former lovers, especially her cousin, Leonard, and adoptive mother, Carrie. The contentious parent-child relationship between Molly and Carrie is captured in sharp tones. Molly's determination to live honestly sounds all the more apparent whenever she is challenged. Her search for a lesbian community eventually leads her to 1960s New York City. This engaging production allows listeners to fully experience Brown's seminal novel. J.R.T. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

Starred review from June 1, 2022

Brown's (In Her Day) classic coming-of-age tale, first published in 1973, tells the story of Molly Bolt, an inimitable spitfire growing up in the U.S. during the 1950s. Progressive in some respects but old-fashioned in others, Brown's novel follows Molly from age seven to adulthood. Her feisty and unrelenting need for justice and equal treatment in the South make her a force to be reckoned with. Besides discussing lesbian relationships and experiences, Brown's novel also delves into sexism, racism, homophobia, and classism. The audio is narrated by Academy Award winner Anna Paquin, herself an advocate for LGBTQ+ equity. She lends a robust quality to this first ever aural production. Paquin captures the myriad of emotions in this seminal story, and the pace of the novel feels natural and unforced. VERDICT Fans of this literary milestone will appreciate the aural version too.--Anna Clark

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