Rubyfruit JungleRubyfruit Jungle
Score Classic
What it's about
Molly Bolt, born outside marriage and adopted by a dirt-poor Southern couple who want better for her, plays doctor with the boys, beats up Leroy and loses her virginity to her girlfriend in sixth grade.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read.
You'll love it if you liked
Giovanni's Room
The Color Purple
A Tree Grows in BrooklynGood to know
It's frank about sex.
By the numbers
- Readers25 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller14 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
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Is Rubyfruit Jungle worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,684 of the 3,056 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 58.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Rubyfruit Jungle about?
Molly Bolt, born outside marriage and adopted by a dirt-poor Southern couple who want better for her, plays doctor with the boys, beats up Leroy and loses her virginity to her girlfriend in sixth grade.
How long does it take to read Rubyfruit Jungle?
About 6 hours (240 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Rubyfruit Jungle?
If you liked it, try Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin, The Color Purple by Alice Walker or A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.