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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
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…
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I went down a rabbit hole trying to find out if this book was part of my literature text when I was in school. Turns out, yes and no. It was part of the syllabus, but I was never taught the book as I studied Taming of the Shrew instead.
All that to say, this book is a classic and I’m a little upset with myself for not reading it earlier. I enjoyed reading the book and its exploration of queerness, religion, and familial ties. Honestly, I might have rated this slightly lower had I not been given context while reading, “Why be happy when you could be normal?”. It was definitely more enjoyable knowing Jeanette’s story/history and understanding (at least a little bit) her mindset behind writing “Oranges are not the only fruit”.
All that to say, this book is a classic and I’m a little upset with myself for not reading it earlier. I enjoyed reading the book and its exploration of queerness, religion, and familial ties. Honestly, I might have rated this slightly lower had I not been given context while reading, “Why be happy when you could be normal?”. It was definitely more enjoyable knowing Jeanette’s story/history and understanding (at least a little bit) her mindset behind writing “Oranges are not the only fruit”.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A coming-of-age and coming-out story at the same time, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit held me captive for two evenings in November last year. The semi-biographical work of fiction is short but packed with fantastical stories and bitter-sweet memories.
Young Jeanette is growing up in a Pentecostal household in the dreary Midlands in the ’60s. Few circumstances could provide a worse start in life for a girl who doesn’t truly believe in God, is gay, and wants an education. Coming to terms with her sexuality and the way she’s different from most of the girls her age is challenging, but somehow Jeanette manages to remain sane and ends up finding her own way.
Jeanette’s upbringing is often what leads to destroyed souls ad crashed dreams, so I admired the semi-fictional character for her strength. It’s really something to go to Oxford and become a world-famous writer after you’ve had to overcome your mother and church condemning you for your “unnatural passions. The pressures of conformity are nasty anytime, but the ’60s were truly harsh for this kind of business.
Nevertheless, the book is poetic and funny at times, and it involves a funeral parlour and an ice-cream van. Not your typical coming-of-age story, but still something you’ll have a hard time forgetting.
“I have a theory that every time you make an important choice, the part of you left behind continues the other life you could have had.”
Young Jeanette has a hard time making choices in a world where no one is keen to validate anything that’s unconventional.
“Everyone thinks their own situation most tragic. I am no exception.”
And of course, she is aware that her life is going to be a difficult one, so she embraces any form of escapism that’s within her reach. She also has a rather odd relationship with God, particularly for someone whose mother arranged an exorcism for her at 16 when she found out she might be gay.
“I miss God. I miss the company of someone utterly loyal. I still don’t think of God as my betrayer. The servants of God, yes, but servants by their very nature betray. I miss God who was my friend. I don’t even know if God exists, but I do know that if God is your emotional role model, very few human relationships will match up to it.”
The next Winterson book on my list is “Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal,” another semi-biographical work that I hope will get me on another fascinating ride into Jeanette’s mind.
Young Jeanette is growing up in a Pentecostal household in the dreary Midlands in the ’60s. Few circumstances could provide a worse start in life for a girl who doesn’t truly believe in God, is gay, and wants an education. Coming to terms with her sexuality and the way she’s different from most of the girls her age is challenging, but somehow Jeanette manages to remain sane and ends up finding her own way.
Jeanette’s upbringing is often what leads to destroyed souls ad crashed dreams, so I admired the semi-fictional character for her strength. It’s really something to go to Oxford and become a world-famous writer after you’ve had to overcome your mother and church condemning you for your “unnatural passions. The pressures of conformity are nasty anytime, but the ’60s were truly harsh for this kind of business.
Nevertheless, the book is poetic and funny at times, and it involves a funeral parlour and an ice-cream van. Not your typical coming-of-age story, but still something you’ll have a hard time forgetting.
“I have a theory that every time you make an important choice, the part of you left behind continues the other life you could have had.”
Young Jeanette has a hard time making choices in a world where no one is keen to validate anything that’s unconventional.
“Everyone thinks their own situation most tragic. I am no exception.”
And of course, she is aware that her life is going to be a difficult one, so she embraces any form of escapism that’s within her reach. She also has a rather odd relationship with God, particularly for someone whose mother arranged an exorcism for her at 16 when she found out she might be gay.
“I miss God. I miss the company of someone utterly loyal. I still don’t think of God as my betrayer. The servants of God, yes, but servants by their very nature betray. I miss God who was my friend. I don’t even know if God exists, but I do know that if God is your emotional role model, very few human relationships will match up to it.”
The next Winterson book on my list is “Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal,” another semi-biographical work that I hope will get me on another fascinating ride into Jeanette’s mind.
Leaning on the coffee table was the orange demon.
'I've gone mad,' I thought.
'That may well be so,' agreed the demon evenly. 'So make the most of it.'
'I've gone mad,' I thought.
'That may well be so,' agreed the demon evenly. 'So make the most of it.'
I decided to give this modern classic a try, and I really loved it. This is a fictionalized version of Winterson's childhood growing up with a religious zealot mother. Knowing this, I could not have guessed how funny it would be, or how much love would be on the page for her mother and the devout Pentecostal community she grew up in.
I highly recommend the audiobook: Winterson narrates it herself, and her very Northern English voice over really gives life to the story.
I highly recommend the audiobook: Winterson narrates it herself, and her very Northern English voice over really gives life to the story.
