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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
reflective
sad
slow-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
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
1 hour 48 minutes - While the writing style of this book reminded me of Ali Smith, an author I love, I couldn't quite connect with this book. It in general felt quite disjointed, and sometimes I couldn't tell exactly what was happening. Maybe this was the point, but it did leave me a little confused at times. However, I did appreciate the story it was trying to tell, the semi-autobiographical account of a lesbian teenager exploring their sexuality in a missionary family. I think it is an important book, and rightly considered a classic, even if it wasn't exactly to my tastes.
challenging
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-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
This is a book that is best when savoured. I read this over the course of a month and already wish I took more time with it.
I think this is a book that is made for queer children of hyper-religious parents, for children who had no identity other than religion and then suddenly found themselves spilling outside the rigid edges of religion (in spite of their whole-hearted devotion to it).
I have never read a book that is so succinct and direct yet so thoughtful. The way Winterson depicts emotion just smacking the narrator — and the reader — in the face is stunning in every sense of the word.
Intertwining various fables and myths and bible stories alongside the main character’s story is something that we may see plenty of these days, but the way it all culminates into one resounding punch at the end is so utterly unique.
I read the last twenty pages of the book out loud, and wish I could go back and tell myself to read the entire book this way, ten or so pages at a time each night.
Final note: I 1000% recommend the vintage classics edition by Penguin, because it has an introduction by Jeanette Winterson, that I’m not sure other editions have, that would definitely be worth the extra effort to read. Plus, it’s beautiful.
I think this is a book that is made for queer children of hyper-religious parents, for children who had no identity other than religion and then suddenly found themselves spilling outside the rigid edges of religion (in spite of their whole-hearted devotion to it).
I have never read a book that is so succinct and direct yet so thoughtful. The way Winterson depicts emotion just smacking the narrator — and the reader — in the face is stunning in every sense of the word.
Intertwining various fables and myths and bible stories alongside the main character’s story is something that we may see plenty of these days, but the way it all culminates into one resounding punch at the end is so utterly unique.
I read the last twenty pages of the book out loud, and wish I could go back and tell myself to read the entire book this way, ten or so pages at a time each night.
Final note: I 1000% recommend the vintage classics edition by Penguin, because it has an introduction by Jeanette Winterson, that I’m not sure other editions have, that would definitely be worth the extra effort to read. Plus, it’s beautiful.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I’m having difficulty rating this book. I was interested in the first half of the book and then it just fell apart for me. This book was selected for our book club. We have our discussion next week. I shall revert once I hear from the person who selected this book.
The second half of the book fell apart for me. The second storyline , the Arthurian Legend storyline, not sure why, where, how what???? I hope I learn in our book club what this was all about and why? The ending fell flat for me. I fear that this was my miss. Again , looking forward for interpretation/meaning.
Our book club helped me understand this book so much better! I’m fortunate to be a part of this book club. Each selects a book when it’s their turn. I’ve read books I never would have selected and love this opportunity to explore many diverse genres. This book is a perfect example of this. I was introduced to the interstitial art form in literature! I wish I had contacted the book club member when I started to struggle with this ( unbeknownst to me ) art form. One our best book club discussions!!!! Although my rating is 2.5, I’m very glad to have read this book and discovered this genre!
The second half of the book fell apart for me. The second storyline , the Arthurian Legend storyline, not sure why, where, how what???? I hope I learn in our book club what this was all about and why? The ending fell flat for me. I fear that this was my miss. Again , looking forward for interpretation/meaning.
Our book club helped me understand this book so much better! I’m fortunate to be a part of this book club. Each selects a book when it’s their turn. I’ve read books I never would have selected and love this opportunity to explore many diverse genres. This book is a perfect example of this. I was introduced to the interstitial art form in literature! I wish I had contacted the book club member when I started to struggle with this ( unbeknownst to me ) art form. One our best book club discussions!!!! Although my rating is 2.5, I’m very glad to have read this book and discovered this genre!