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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I loved parts of this book. It was darkly humorous but also somewhat sad or depressing and Winterson's early life was certainly a fascinating thing to read about. However I didn't love the long metaphoric passages which made the story disjointed and I didn't always see the point of. I've got her second memoir written more recently in my bedside table. It will be interesting to compare the two.
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I actually finished this book a week ago today but I haven’t had time to write my review until now. This was the first book I read out of the five I need to read for my English Literature coursework and I actually really enjoyed it. As someone who isn’t religious, I don’t often read books with religion being a main plot-line but this book surprised me. It is beautifully written and clever with its interwoven fairytales which took me by surprise. It is a very real story, as if it were simply plucked out of real life (which it was in some parts) and as a queer person it hit very close to home, though I am lucky not to have been through what Jeanette went through both in this book and in real life. The only criticism I have of this book is that the ending felt quite underwhelming and I was expecting a bit more when I turned the last pages, but, it remained true and real to the end, and that is what makes this book so good.
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After hearing about this book as a young teenager, I had forgotten all about it until I recently read the back of the author Jeanette Winterson's autobiography at a bookstore. Books like this find you at the right time, I think. This story will stay with me. A mix of fact and fiction, largely based on the author's childhood growing up in an English Pentecostal community, until she is discovered to be a lesbian, it is stark and disturbing, yet full of love and optimism at the same time.
I am always hearing that this book is good, and I agree. I read this in one day. I didn't intend to, but I just kept reading and reading. I really liked the way the story was told, and look forward to reading more of Winterson's work.
quick read while waiting for the library to reopen so i can finish up the founders trilogy. went to the bookstore here in ruston with a long list and this is the only one they had. fate.
breezed through this one very quickly. it was pretty much exactly what i expected it to be, which is good i think?
i really liked the prose. there were moments throughout the book that i especially enjoyed (deuteronomy chapter and the bit where she’s on the hill after returning home). i would like to reread one day and take my time a little more so i can underline and annotate.
i did struggle to understand certain things. probably a lack of understanding of pentecostals or england.
the mixing of the fairy tale stories in with the main story was interesting, although i’ll appreciate it more on a reread when i’m not trying to see where the plot goes. it did annoy me a little and i skimmed them a bit.
the mother-daughter relationship. the insanity of the believers in the church she came from. the coming to terms with her sexuality. these were all extremely strong points. although it didn’t have a “good” ending necessarily, it was perfectly bittersweet. i’m thankful i can’t relate to this book very much, but i feel like i have glimpsed into how people who live this way can end up.
overall, a short and sweet story. the fact that it is basically autobiographical both breaks my heart but also adds so much more depth to the story. i’ll definitely read this one again in the future.
breezed through this one very quickly. it was pretty much exactly what i expected it to be, which is good i think?
i really liked the prose. there were moments throughout the book that i especially enjoyed (deuteronomy chapter and the bit where she’s on the hill after returning home). i would like to reread one day and take my time a little more so i can underline and annotate.
i did struggle to understand certain things. probably a lack of understanding of pentecostals or england.
the mixing of the fairy tale stories in with the main story was interesting, although i’ll appreciate it more on a reread when i’m not trying to see where the plot goes. it did annoy me a little and i skimmed them a bit.
the mother-daughter relationship. the insanity of the believers in the church she came from. the coming to terms with her sexuality. these were all extremely strong points. although it didn’t have a “good” ending necessarily, it was perfectly bittersweet. i’m thankful i can’t relate to this book very much, but i feel like i have glimpsed into how people who live this way can end up.
overall, a short and sweet story. the fact that it is basically autobiographical both breaks my heart but also adds so much more depth to the story. i’ll definitely read this one again in the future.
one year post-college and my English brain is a bit rusty, but this book reminded me just how much i enjoy a complex, multi-layered story. one read isn’t enough!
this makes me want to revisit her memoir…
this makes me want to revisit her memoir…