Red Audrey and the Roping

by Jill Malone

“This is a literary gem . . . one of the best books I’ve read this year.”—Ellen Hart

"This raw and convincing first novel is narrated by a woman who can’t help testing the limits of her ability to endure pain in her intimate relationships with men and women... the vivid characters and potent emotions keep the pages turning."—The Advocate

Occasionally a debut novel comes along that rocks its readers back on their heels. Red Audrey and the Roping is one of that rare and remarkable breed. With storytelling as accomplished as successful literary novelists like Margaret Atwood and Sarah Waters, Jill Malone takes us on a journey through the heart of Latin professor Jane Elliot.

Set against the dramatic landscapes and seascapes of Hawaii, this is the deeply moving story of a young woman traumatized by her mother’s death. Scarred by guilt, she struggles to find the nerve to let love into her life again. Afraid to love herself or anyone else, Jane falls in love with risk, pitting herself against the world with dogged, destructive courage. But finally she reaches a point where there is only one danger left worth facing. The sole remaining question for Jane is whether she is willing to accept her history, embrace her damage, and take a chance on love.

As well as a gripping and emotional story, Red Audrey and the Roping is a remarkable literary achievement. The breathtaking prose evokes setting, characters, and relationships with equal grace. The dialogue sparks and sparkles. Splintered fragments of narrative come together to form a seamless suspenseful story that flows effortlessly to its dramatic conclusion.

Winner of the Bywater Prize for Fiction, Red Audrey and the Roping is one of the most memorable first novels you will ever read.

Genres: Fiction, Lesbian, LGBT

264 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2008

About the author

Jill Malone grew up in a military family, went to German kindergarten, and lived across from a bakery where they put small toys, like train engines, into chocolate, and the gummi bears were the size of mice. In the South, she caught tree frogs, and played kickball. She has lived on the East Coast, and in Hawaii, and for the last fifteen years in Spokane with her son, two old dogs, and a lot of outdoor gear. She looks for any excuse to play guitar. Jill is recently married to a former radical-cheerleading, performance artist, addiction counselor who makes the best risotto on the planet. It was a Day-of-the-Dead affair.

She took Latin from a hot professor at the University of Hawaii, and had this idea for a novel. Like most writers, she has a sketchy career path.

Red Audrey and the Roping, her first novel, was a Lambda finalist, and won the third annual Bywater Prize for Fiction.

Her second novel, A Field Guide to Deception, was a finalist for the 2010 Ferro-Grumley, and won the Lambda Literary award. Also, the Great Northwest Book Festival grand prize.

Giraffe People, Jill's third novel, will be released in May, 2013. If you’re curious, read Jill’s blog.

Reviews

[Cher · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the prose style is clever, this bisexual protagonist is such an arch brat so far. Everything about the story should be interesting, and yet I feel kept at arm's length by a combination of nihilism and grooviness. I'm only on page 60, so I'll give it another 60 pages to "rope" me in as it were.

Let me sum up this book:
My mommy abandoned me. I cannot face the fact that I am a homo, so I'll let men "abuse" me. By golly do I ever love extreme sports. Everyone wants me to "let them in" but I won't cuz I'm a stubborn brat. Haole tourists are obese & I feel superior to them, even though I'm a total europhile. If I can avoid intimacy while creating drama, I will.

I feel really let down by this novel. It made me work so hard to wade through its cleverness, only to offer me absolutely nothing emotionally.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is probably not for everyone. It's not linear. It's not necessarily uplifting. It's fragmented, but ultimately cohesive.

The prose style is rich and evocative without being overdone or overwrought. I loved this novel from page one. And indeed, it's probably the best novel I've read in a while.

But fair warning, the subjects aren't candy and puppies and neither are any of the characters. It's not a genre novel of any kind and doesn't follow a distinct formula, which might be disconcerting or frustrating for anyone expecting a lighter read. I wasn't moved to tears or filled with joy, but by the end, I certainly felt as though the journey had been worthwhile.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jill Malone is the girlfriend of one of my good friends. I went to one of her book readings here in Portland. So far the book is really good, it is not linear, so I'm still trying to fit the pieces together, but I do believe that is the point, since that is what the narrator is doing as well after coming out of a coma.

[Bett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update: Red Audrey has made the short list for a Lambda literary award for debut fiction.

This debut novel by Jill Malone is simply brilliant, the best book I've read in a long, long time. It is remarkable to find the depth of skill and ease with language, with tone and style, with setting and dialogue, with pacing and tension and all the things that make a good book, in a first time author. I am ranting, I know, but I recommend everyone order a copy of this book now. If there is justice in the world, this one will be a best seller.

Go find this book.

[Dide · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the beginning i didn't think i'd be rating this book anything more than 3stars. This isn't a regular love story (it actually isn't one), for me it is more of a journey to discovery and a cycle in a way (the dentist in relation to audrey).
As i read on, i really didn't want to like it...it disturbed me, the conflicts, the emotional and physical pain and the assumptions that somehow the book's character were forcing me in a way to confront and relate.
I hate to say it...but i do feel somewhat accepting (which makes me feel guilty) and in another way related (which is making me feel repulsed at myself). So if this book can make me undergo these paradox of emotions, then i guess the writer did a brilliant job.
It isn't an easy book to read at a go but it somehow was.

[Elaine Burnes · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing is excellent. I can see that this is a good book. It just wasn't for me. There are times when I wish blurbs gave away more of the story and this is one of those times. Before you decide to read this book understand that it is not a western. The roping refers to s/m sex and Jane is a masochist. There, sorry if I've spoiled it, but I think it helps to know that going in. I probably would have skipped it. I almost stopped reading it one night. But I'd already gotten so far, I decided to keep going. Thankfully, nothing is terribly graphic and it ended well. Maybe too well. Audrey, important enough to be in the title, is barely in the story. For most of it I thought one thing about her that turned out not to be true and the ending seemed implausible. I understood the reason for the jumping around of the narrative. That was effective to a point, but she took way too long to pull things together. The reason she ended up in the hospital was not at all what I expected. It was a real, you've got to be kidding me moment. I never developed any empathy for Jane.

[Faith Reidenbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Her wide mouth like a place of extinction I kept returning to, looking for evidence, for precedent, for some archaeological proof of my existence."

That sentence pretty much sums up this novel for me. The author is so talented with language, she can write nonsense that carries you along as if you were surfing the Hawaii coast. This sentence is a summary in another way, too: the narrator has so little sense of self that she just barely kept me with her. (She does make a conscious choice to be bi, so more power to her there, at least.) I ended up feeling that the non-linear narrative was a cover for not having compelling characters (except for two men) or a compelling storyline. We meet the narrator as she lies in a hospital, just out of a coma, without clear recollection of why she's there. When the reason is explained (my main motivation for continuing to read), it's quite a letdown.

I wish this debut author the best, and I have her newer book on my to-read list.

[Julia]

Definitely written at a higher level than the average bear in lesbian fiction, but didn't meet my "grab me by 20 pages in" requirement for book reviews. Problem: I didn't feel like I had a reason to care about what happens to the main character by that point. Writing style was solid enough (an accomplishment in its own right in this genre) that I will give Malone's next book a shot.

[Bywater Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winner of the Bywater Prize for Fiction.

"A lyrical, passionate novel about desire, about danger, and about the need for self-forgiveness. A wonderfully impressive writing debut." -Sarah Waters

"A surfer chick who teaches Latin! The smart, adrenaline-addicted protagonist of Red Audrey and the Roping is irresistible." -Lucy Jane Bledsoe

[Tessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this tortuous, disjointed story at all. I finished the book only because I was hoping some miracle would bring it all together. None of the characters were likable, and it seemed as though the author was trying to show off how clever she was more than build the characters. I was quite relieved when I turned the last page!

[Marjorie Elwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat confusing look at lesbian relationships (confusing because the chapters jumped from topic to topic). The writing is lovely, but I was ultimately disappointed by the book because it seemed to go nowhere.

[Emmi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't stand this book and only finished it because it was for book group.

[Stacy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't even want to acknowledge the time I spent reading this dreadful, awful book. It was for my bookgroup......and it was an inexcusable waste of time.

Yuck.

[Saundradawn]

Such a great book! Not your typical novel, but very fulfilling.

[Ulla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful scary novel, an emotional roller coaster. I think I was holding my breath most of the time while reading it.

Going to re-read it at once, breathing this time!

[Leanne Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I read in 2012.

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous debut novel.