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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
This was unfortunately a disappointing read to me. I probably had the wrong expectations, assuming that Winterson would tackle matters of sexuality more directly. In this fictionalised account of her early life, the writers illustrated the religious environment she grew up in and the prejudices that came with it. I thought the writing was a bit dense, and the story could have been more detailed. It felt like we were covering quite a lot of ground, whilst overshadowing parts of the blurb.
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Outing
Moderate: Death, Racism, Sexism
Minor: Animal death
3.5!
de eerste helft greep mij echt veel meer dan de tweede, met die tussenstukjes raakte ze me een beetje kwijt helaas. desondanks mooi en zielig maar misschien ook gewoon iets te oppervlakkig en ver van mijn bed waardoor ik me niet heel erg kon inleven.
“Naming is a difficult and time-consuming process. It concerns essences, and it means power. But on the wild nights who can call you home?”
de eerste helft greep mij echt veel meer dan de tweede, met die tussenstukjes raakte ze me een beetje kwijt helaas. desondanks mooi en zielig maar misschien ook gewoon iets te oppervlakkig en ver van mijn bed waardoor ik me niet heel erg kon inleven.
“Naming is a difficult and time-consuming process. It concerns essences, and it means power. But on the wild nights who can call you home?”
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
sad
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
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
This is the second book I've read this year which has explored the actual nature of storytelling and the ways it can be shaped and changed in a narrative - in Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit, Winterson fictionalises her life both within the plot, and within the fairytales and myths interspersed throughout. In fact, the nature of the narration is such that at times it can be unclear whether it is Jeanette the character or the author speaking, especially when she is exploring the themes behind part of "her story" that she has just relayed, linking back again to how surreal the events feel. The metaphor explored with the oranges was interesting, as was the complex relationship Jeanette has with her religion and with God as a whole. The skilful prose that Winterson is able to employ is already so sharp and focused here, I can only imagine it improves in her later novels. Despite the subtext of the plot being quite tragic and covering some sensitive issues, Oranges manages to be both comedic and introspective. My only real complaint was the dense, 'chopped logic' of some of the "experimental/magical realism sections" (the bit about the walled garden? still unsure what that was about. someone more willing to read into and investigate these will probably get more out of them).