Desert of the Heart vs Strangers in paradise: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Lesbians, Identity, Interpersonal relations, Fiction
Desert of the Heart
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Possibly Jane Rule's best known novel, The Desert of the Heart is the story of a free spirited woman falling for a repressed older woman. Evelyn Hall is taking respite at a ranch for women as she seeks a divorce after…
Strangers in paradise
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Years before David met Katchoo, he was a ruthless gang member named Yousaka Takahashi who was destined to head the American Yukuza. One day, he discovered guilt and remorse, and started down the path that would make him…
Side by side
The verdict
- Readers rate Desert of the Heart highest: Desert of the Heart 4.0 · Strangers in paradise 3.7.
- Strangers in paradise is the quickest read — about 1 hours vs 4 for Desert of the Heart.
- Desert of the Heart has the widest readership — 15 ratings behind its score.
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How to choose
Scores by source
| Desert of the Heart | Strangers in paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardcover | 3.9 (8) | 3.3 (12) |
| Apple Books | 4.5 (15) | — |
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Reception
| Desert of the Heart | Strangers in paradise | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 15 | 12 |
| Editions | 29 | 19 |
| Citations | — | 2 |
| Film adaptations | 1 | 1 |
| Wikipedia attention | 604 | 1631 |
| Pages | 224 | 107 |
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Questions readers ask
Which is rated higher: Desert of the Heart or Strangers in paradise?
Desert of the Heart has the higher combined reader rating across sources (Desert of the Heart 4.0/5, Strangers in paradise 3.7/5).
Which is shorter to read: Desert of the Heart or Strangers in paradise?
Strangers in paradise is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: Strangers in paradise (107 pages, ≈ 1 h 59 m); Desert of the Heart (224 pages, ≈ 4 h 09 m).
Which is harder to read: Desert of the Heart or Strangers in paradise?
Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — Desert of the Heart: Moderate; Strangers in paradise: Light.