Welcome to Litsy!

A delightful reread for me. I read it first in paperback in the 70s. That book fell apart and this edition was given to me in the 80s. I believe Rita Mae has just turned 80. Amazing woman. I‘ve also, over the years enjoyed her cosy mysteries featuring a cat. Things have changed since she wrote this book but we still have a way to go .

“… they tell you whatever lie it is they're telling to Blacks and Puerto Ricans and women that day…After watching Daddy, I haven't got the heart to see it all over again." She stopped, took a breath and lowered her eyes to the linoleum floor, " … Maybe some of it is that I don't have real work of my own. I go around being beautiful and having fun, yeah, but I don't have anything for me, really mine, and you do, and it fucking kills me.”

Molly Bolt is the heroine we all deserve. Feisty, unrelenting, and governed by a desire for justice and equal treatment, her unwillingness to compromise on her dreams and identity pave the way for a radical woman who challenges sexism, homophobia and classism to be true to herself in the patriarchal, heteronormative US. Brown embodies the bright, brilliant, and ballsy Molly Bolt in her coming-of-age autobiographical account of her own youth.

🌺💛

I understand this lesbian coming-of-age story was really groundbreaking for its time. I‘m glad to have read this classic of LGBTQ literature. It‘s very earnest and exploding with the vibrancy and strong opinions of youth.

1) Black Buck; How The One Armed Sister Sweeps Her House

2) Books that have been on my bingo card for a few months - Black Buck and Practical Magic

3) Rubyfruit Jungle

@rachelsbrittain #weekendreads

"Damn, I wished the world would let me be myself"

TW for fatphobia, racism

I enjoyed this. It is a quick read and the main character is spirited and a bit hardheaded in a good way. You will cheer for her. It is a dated book that many things did not age well in, fatphobia is throughout the book, and racism of all kinds and it doesn't get address well. Putting it in the time and place of the writing, and if was well done.

The things I liked about this book are roughly equal to the things I disliked, and that's pretty much how I felt about the main character, too, in this story about coming out as a lesbian in the 1960s. Molly Bolt was too pugnacious for me to like but she also had many admirable, even attractive, qualities. Longer review on GR:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3817753052

#lgbtq
#bookspin

When you‘re reading merrily along and find the most random things funny. #RitaMaeBrown has been making me laugh and I‘ve needed that this week.

#lgbtq

Tagged is my #bookspin and it‘s also the monthly selection for one of my book clubs so March is off to a good start!

#bookspinbingo

From one seven sisters scholarship kid to another... 😂
#readathon #24hourreadathon

My popcorn equivalent tonight: pan-fried mushroom medley 🍄 How‘s everyone‘s #readathon going?? #24HourReadathon @DeweysReadathon

Hammock time for #24hourReadathon cramming of this one for queer book club tomorrow! @DeweysReadathon #readathon

My #bookspin and #doublespin for August. They both look shorter, which is good - maybe I can catch up on June & July‘s!

What do y‘all think? It‘s a good deal- anyone read it recently?

June (how is it already and only June) #bookspin pile. I knew this month was a no go for me on book spin. Hopefully can get back to reading in June.

Thanks @TheAromaofBooks!

25%philosophy,75%sex. Well-written but not for the prudish.

One of the book‘s for this month‘s LGBT 🏳️‍🌈 Book Club that I am part of in AR. Once again I got to read a book that I never would have picked up on my own. This novel was really ahead of its time (it was originally published decades ago). A coming of age novel that tackles life as a woman trying to succeed as well as being a lesbian. There was a lot of humor and truth here. #lgbt #vhsreads #viloniareads

This is turning out to be a great read! 🌈 #lgbtlit #pridemonth #viloniareads #vhsreads

“I don‘t care whether they like me or not. Everybody‘s stupid, that‘s what I think. I care if I like me, that‘s what I truly care about...I can‘t like anybody if I don‘t like myself. Period.” pg. 33

This book is the June Book for my local LGBT 🏳️‍🌈Book Club! I just joined a few months ago and had to miss a few recent meetings, but I am excited to be getting back to it. We meet monthly at a local brewery and it is a pretty fun group of people. I am also starting this book while reading essays for the AP Lang exam in Tampa (because who travels without a book?). #viloniareads #vhsreads #lgbtreads

“Oh great, you too. So now I wear this label 'Queer' emblazoned across my chest. Or I could always carve a scarlet 'L' on my forehead. Why does everyone have to put you in a box and nail the lid on it? I don't know what I am—polymorphous and perverse. Shit. I don't even know if I'm white. I'm me. That's all I am and all I want to be. Do I have to be something?”

A fantastic read that deserves its place in the 💯 must read book by queer authors!

Here's my #WinterBreakStack @BookaholicNatty

It includes books for my book clubs, #LMPBC #GroupG , and #SFFTBRChallenge

@InBooksILive @kymmiesreads @Mccall0113

A day late on the #riotgrams for queer fiction. A classic that I've not read yet but will do if my eye will heal up for me.

I loved the first part. Molly Southern childhood is hilarious and moving and her string-willed, self-assurance is the voice everyone needs in their own heads. And yet, as it went on the other characters became increasingly flat and Molly's strength so utterly impregnable that my belief in her melted away. It's a coming out novel with huge humour and confidence but end the lack of deeper character development left me disappointed overall.

My Mom asked me to make some book recommendations for her. I mentioned that I‘d been reading a lot of #queerbooks lately. She asked why. My first response was anger that she would even ask that, and then I took a breath and said: ‘What if every book you ever read had a gay romance? Then, if you read a book with a straight couple, would you not say Finally, something I can relate to!‘

She thought about it and said, ‘I guess that makes sense.‘

I went 70s theme w my outfit for tonight, and since I bring a book w me everywhere I go I decided on this one. 70s, matches my romper, and is one of my favorites 💜🧡💛

"Damn, I wished the world would let me be myself."
This book was as hilarious as everyone who has reviewed it before me said it would be. It was amazing reading a typical "coming of age" story from a lesbian's perspective, not to mention incredibly refreshing.

Loved the writing, but I didn't really like the character and plot in the last half of the book. I gave this 3/5 ⭐️ on Goodreads. #bookreview

"That's all I think I ever wanted, to go my own way and maybe find some love...but not the now and forever kind with chains around your vagina and a short circuit in your brain. I'd rather be alone."

Never shies away from tough topics; poverty, systemic homophobia and sexism, but is lifted from a potentially depressing story by the wit and humour of the sometimes frustrating but nearly always hilarious protagonist Molly.

For the first time since joining my book club I have finished my book before the day we meet! No finishing it on the tube for me this month! Molly is a strong and often hilarious protagonist even against a backdrop of great poverty and discrimination. Looking forward to discussing it

#riotgrams / day 9 / #lgbtqpride

Some of my fave lgbtq reads from both the distant and recent past ❤️💛💚💙💜

#maybookflowers #fruit : bit of a theme there

Just listen to Rita Mae Brown. What a delight. #alabamabookfestival

40 years after being published for the first time, this book still strikes at a soft spot for every woman who refuses to just be a house wife.

The glass ceiling is pretty much still there, to be queer is often embarrasing and brings rejection and every now and then a lesbian hears the "you don't look like a lesbian" line.

Book is for every woman who had to show double the qualities a man had to to deserve a spot.

Nevertheless, she persisted.

“Oh great, you too. So now I wear this label 'Queer' emblazoned across my chest. Or I could always carve a scarlet 'L' on my forehead. Why does everyone have to put you in a box and nail the lid on it? I don't know what I am—polymorphous and perverse. Shit. ... I'm me. That's all I am and all I want to be. Do I have to be something?”
― Rita Mae Brown
#awaking #marchmadness
This book, 30+ yrs ago made so much in my life make sense finally

THANK YOU @ApoptyGina69 for the wonderful Valentine's Day goodies! I am so excited to finally read Rubyfruit Jungle and How to Disappear looks amazing! Plus that bookmark is gorgeous, and I am in love with that tiny notebook and am already scheming about how I'll fill it. You rock! #cupidgoespostal @BookishMarginalia

This book was a blast, I had so much fun reading it. There were hilarious parts and then serious parts, and I liked how they were balanced. Molly, the protagonist, is an explosive characher--I've barely finished the book and I already miss her adventures.

The protagonist of this book is great, and she's still a child at the moment. After being given the role of Mary in the school play (while her rival, who wanted to play Mary, gets Joseph's role), hilarity ensues.

Since the Italian edition is apparently out of print, I got this old copy for very little online.

I'm now starting Rita Mae Brown's Rubyfruit Jungle. The dedication is hilarious!

Good morning everyone! I hope everyone is having a great week and new year!!

Starting my 4th book of the year 😁👏🏻👏🏻 So far my Women's Literature class books have all been good so 🤞🏻

Read banned books! Celebrate Diversity! #bannedbooksweek fREADom

Truly enjoyed this book. Molly is a dynamic character who is inspiring at time aggravating at times and always unapologetically herself. I found the book captivating. Did not want to put it down once I started. It tackles some tough subjects poverty, sexuality, women's rights and still entertains.

Just a few pages before work ... Only 27 pages in and this book has already made me laugh out loud and brought me to tears. Kudos Ms Rita Mae Brown and the little spitfire Molly.

I read this whole book just today, and I think I'll probably have a lot of thoughts and feelings once I've properly processed it, but right now I'm just in awe of Molly's voice; her vitality, her tenacity, and her strength.