A review by youreadtoomuch
Desert of the Heart by Jane Rule

5.0

I had just read a line from one of my books regarding love between women and it said something along the lines of their coupling being the ultimate form of narcissism. For in another woman, can a woman fully see herself. A mirrored image reflecting her own desires for another woman and for herself. That notion stayed with me the entire time while reading this book. The protagonists are often mistaken for mother and daughter because of their incredible likeness yet their love, at least on Ann's part stems from a desire to remove herself from an image she's preserved of her own mother. Evelyn's love, on the other hand, grows from a relearning of desire and acceptance of her own cruelty, a veering away of her moral obligation to always do what is right. Yet, these two women seemingly so different complement each other so well and I am left even more enamored with Jane Rule's story.