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jennyyates 's review for:
Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?
by Jeanette Winterson
My initial sense in reading this book was that I’d read it before. That’s because Winterson mined her life pretty thoroughly in her first book, “Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit,” This book covers the same territory without the crisp structure of the novel, and with a lot more philosophical asides.
The only thing she adds is her perennial love of books and writing. She inserts a lot of her favorite quotes, which help us know her better, but give a somewhat slack feel to the book. Sometimes it feels like her notebook, presented without editing.
But in the second part of the book, something different happens. Winterson starts looking for the mother who gave her away at birth, and the story becomes more emotional and gripping. The commentary deals with the raw feelings of the adopted child, forever lost and searching. It’s very moving.
The only thing she adds is her perennial love of books and writing. She inserts a lot of her favorite quotes, which help us know her better, but give a somewhat slack feel to the book. Sometimes it feels like her notebook, presented without editing.
But in the second part of the book, something different happens. Winterson starts looking for the mother who gave her away at birth, and the story becomes more emotional and gripping. The commentary deals with the raw feelings of the adopted child, forever lost and searching. It’s very moving.