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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
“That is what literature offers—a language powerful enough to say how it is. It isn't a hiding place. It is a finding place.”
4 stars. I love Winterson’s writing so much. She has such a way with words and her writing is so engrossing and gorgeous. This was an excellent read. Memoir of Winterson’s life, a kind of follow up to Orange is Not the Only Fruit about her relationship with her adoptive mother and finding her birth mother. It was emotional at times but also full of hope. She’s had a very interesting life to say the least. Fantastic read and I am having a great time reading through her back list. She’s quickly becoming a new favorite of mine.
4 stars. I love Winterson’s writing so much. She has such a way with words and her writing is so engrossing and gorgeous. This was an excellent read. Memoir of Winterson’s life, a kind of follow up to Orange is Not the Only Fruit about her relationship with her adoptive mother and finding her birth mother. It was emotional at times but also full of hope. She’s had a very interesting life to say the least. Fantastic read and I am having a great time reading through her back list. She’s quickly becoming a new favorite of mine.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Interesting to compare this with Alison Bechdel's 'Are You My Mother?', published recently. Both are memoirs about mothers by established lesbian authors, but with questions in the title, and both referring in turn to earlier autobiographical works, ie 'Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit' and 'Fun Home'.
Just as we got to read Ms Bechdel's mother's response to 'Fun Home', here's the terrifying Mrs Winterson revealing that she had to order 'Oranges' from the library... using a fake name.
Winterson writes so clearly and honestly here, and despite the grimness of her childhood she manages to involve moments of laugh-aloud humour and even suspense (will she finally track down her birth mother? What will happen if she does? You find out!).
There's absolutely nothing in this book that feels unnecessary. Winterson is a lover of poetry, and it shows in her prose: words cut down to give the most power.
Just as we got to read Ms Bechdel's mother's response to 'Fun Home', here's the terrifying Mrs Winterson revealing that she had to order 'Oranges' from the library... using a fake name.
Winterson writes so clearly and honestly here, and despite the grimness of her childhood she manages to involve moments of laugh-aloud humour and even suspense (will she finally track down her birth mother? What will happen if she does? You find out!).
There's absolutely nothing in this book that feels unnecessary. Winterson is a lover of poetry, and it shows in her prose: words cut down to give the most power.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I didn't know anything by Jeannette Winterson prior to reading, but really enjoyed hearing her honest, practical, humorous, and compassionate voice. "Why be happy..." was on some reading list i found, and I am so glad, because I'll be picking up her books now!
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I don't have the words to describe how much I loved how this book is written. I love the way JW grounds feelings by comparing them to objects or situations.
I will definitely be reading more of JW's books.
"There was a person in me - a piece of me - however you want to describe it - so damaged that she was prepared to see me dead to find peace."
I will definitely be reading more of JW's books.
"There was a person in me - a piece of me - however you want to describe it - so damaged that she was prepared to see me dead to find peace."
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
A book that gives a lot of meaning to the wounds of abandonment and suffering that both mothers and daughters carry.