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runo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Rape
keegan_leech's review against another edition
5.0
I think a few people might be put off by the more experimental aspects of the writing—such as the moments where the narrative is told through reinterpretations of Arthurian grail legends—but the book is a fantastic and genuinely funny exploration of romantic love, religion, family, and being. If you are in the mood for something that's meditative, original, and thought-provoking while also being a delightful, witty read all the way through then you can't get better than this.
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Homophobia
areadingstan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Jeanette, the protagonist, is adopted from a young age into a Pentecostal Christian family, who are very committed. Her mother is even a missionary, and is raising her daughter to follow in her footsteps. Conflict arises when when Jeanette falls in love with another girl, which, in the 70s, in a community such as this, was quite unacceptable. We can assume the homophobia is present here without Winterson alluding to it, but it becomes more clear when Jeanette is told she cannot visit a paper shop owned by two women because they have, in her mother's words, 'unnatural passions'. This phrase is repeated throughout the novel, as Jeanette starts to express her sexuality, never worrying that she is doing anything wrong, because it comes natural.
The story is periodically interrupted by parallel fairy tales, with no indication of the change in setting but an asterisk in between paragraphs. Whether Winterson wants her readers to analyse these sprinkles of otherwordly magic or not I am not sure, but it does create a nice contrast, and I love a good fairy tale.
This book is so witty and made me laugh out loud a fair bit. Notable mentions include
There are some philosophical and thoughtful musings about our existence, God, and history, which feel like the author is speaking directly to us, maybe because this story takes great inspiration from her own upbringing.
Overall, I would really recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Winterson's life, and the struggle of growing up as a queer woman in 1970s Britain, with a fair bit of religious satire thrown in. I'm eager to read more of Winterson's work now.
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
pageleanor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, and Homophobia
niamh_carroll12's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
ha1yan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Medical content
Minor: Racism
megan_burgess's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia
maria_winther's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia
sigynmoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
In regards to the racial slurs - Slurs for romani and inuit people are used casually within this book.julialayne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Adult/minor relationship