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3.72 AVERAGE

rachch19's profile picture

rachch19's review

3.75
challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Really enjoyed. Very funny.
senaasss's profile picture

senaasss's review

4.25
emotional reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: N/A
Strong character development: N/A
Loveable characters: N/A
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

i love this book so much, it made me feel so seen and understood i haven’t stopped thinking about ever since i finished it
emotional reflective sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Un romanzo di formazione asfissiante dove la protagonista, personaggio immagine della stessa autrice, si racconta mediante deliri parabolici e metafore cavalleresche, un connubio di perpetue allegorie per riuscire a spiegare in modo apparentemente frivolo un'amara sentenza: la necessaria scoperta di sè stessi è accompagnata, inequivocabilmente, dalla perdita di qualcosa altrettanto caro. 
Sebbene l'evoluzione del personaggio di Jeanette, e forse la nostra consuetudine di pensiero, ci spinga ad interpretare in questo libro un sottotesto fortemente antireligioso, io ritengo invece che il credo vissuto dalla protagonista, in tutte le sue complesse e antitetiche sfaccettature, la renda (ma senza troppe sorprese) la fedele migliore dell'intera opera.
Questo storia ci lascia con diversi nodi, questioni, saldamente intrecciati: non sapremo mai se Jeanette crescerà per diventare come la sua folle madre, se riuscirà a trovare una donna la quale le possa dare quell'amore cieco che tanto brama, un sentimento parallelo all'euforia con cui un credente venera il suo personale dio. Non sapremo nemmeno se Jeanette riuscirà a lanciare quel sassolino marrone che da tempo si porta appresso, nella quasi vana speranza di ottenere da forze esterne il coraggio per liberarsene.
Però abbiamo la certezza dell'esistenza di un frutto differente da quello imposto sulle tavole, nell'intimità della propria casa, famiglia e realtà fino a quel momento conosciuta. E se c'è anche solo una possibilità che il mondo sia ancora interamente da scoprire e riscrivere a nostro piacere, allora vale la pena provare a rovinare, rinunciare, ad ogni singola certezza custodita. 


Peccato per la traduzione italiana che lascia un po' a desiderare. 
fast-paced

It just didn't hit as much as I thought it would 

twentyfourteeth's review

2.5
medium-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

Just a bit too much God and not enought story or character for me

I loved this, but "Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal" was better. I didn't quite understand all of the fairy-tale stories, but I did like the one with the goose.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

i really enjoyed parts of this book, and the insights the author uncovers in the process of reflecting this moment in her life. i related to her in many ways. other times though i felt confused about what was happening and the little fairytale stories felt like i was trying to decide some deeper meaning that im too dumb to get lol

reviews_with_rach's review

5.0
dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
emotional funny reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This is a funny little book in both senses of the word. It's hard to believe it was first published in 1985 as its prose style feels so modern and immediate. Winterson was ahead of her time in many ways and as readers, we reap the benefits. It's quirky yet astute, striking a perfect balance between critical, tender and provocative.