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katykelly's review
4.0
Read lovingly by the author, I enjoyed this audiobook. A good insight into Winterson's world. It does help if you've read Oranges are not the Only Fruit but not necessary. Honest and shocking, funny and bleak.
katieinca's review
4.0
Well, if I'd read this before I met her, I wouldn't have felt so embarrassed for being strange and weepy. I would have just accepted her hugs and smiles. And after all, it got me an ARC and a lovely inscription.
I recommend this for:
-anyone who's read her books
-anyone with adoption and/or parent and/or childhood issues
Also, if you haven't read her books, go do that, then come back and read this. I just love her. I love her prose, I love her perspective, I love her humor.
I recommend this for:
-anyone who's read her books
-anyone with adoption and/or parent and/or childhood issues
Also, if you haven't read her books, go do that, then come back and read this. I just love her. I love her prose, I love her perspective, I love her humor.
suvata's review against another edition
4.0
I really love the way Jeanette Winterson writes. She really has her finger on the pulse of the human condition. She has a beautiful way of putting words to our hopes, dreams, triumphs and failures. Put up for adoption at birth, she came to live with her adoptive parents who were strict fundamentalists. They were cold, unhappy and unloving people. In spite of that, or maybe because of that, Jeanette found her voice, became an author and shares her insights through her widely popular books. I've only read one other book of hers but I'm putting a few more on my to-read list because I love her communicative writing style.
lizawall's review
Jeanette Winterson was a huge influence on me at a certain age, and I later found her hugely embarrassing like other frothy teen passions. So I approached reading this book secretly/shamefully, but I was kind of blown away by how deeply she dug into/under/around her huge ego, peeled back the bravado some and hit on some moments that were crazily honest and maybe even humble. I read it all straight through on one long bus ride and felt like I was holding my breath through about half of it.
In the end, I was a little embarrassed by how embarrassed of her I had been. She shows so much appreciation for the books that pulled her through her youth and into another life so I guess, maybe grudgingly, I should give her at least as much credit.
In the end, I was a little embarrassed by how embarrassed of her I had been. She shows so much appreciation for the books that pulled her through her youth and into another life so I guess, maybe grudgingly, I should give her at least as much credit.
hollymoeller's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Beautiful, heart-wrenching, important. The first time I've seen my own experience reflected so directly and powerfully. Grateful to have read this book. Couldn't put it down and I will definitely return to it.
pattricejones's review
4.0
If you're like me, a fan of [b:Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit|15055|Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit|Jeanette Winterson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1267717580s/15055.jpg|1411520] who becomes dismayed when the first few chapters of this books seem to be nothing other than disclosures of various real-life details of some aspects of that book, with anecdotes often followed by annoyingly tidy morals, don't give up! Read on!!! Eventually, that just-so structure gives way to a real, true, narrative that leads us deeply into much more emotionally dangerous terrain. If you are or love somebody who wrestles with reverberations of severe childhood trauma, this honest and insightful account will be more than worth your while.
leighsneade's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5