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A review by janetmf3
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Jeanette, the protagonist of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit and the author's namesake, has issues--"unnatural" ones: her adopted mam thinks she's the Chosen one from God; she's beginning to fancy girls; and an orange demon keeps popping into her psyche. Already Jeanette Winterson's semi-autobiographical first novel is not your typical coming-of-age tale.
Brought up in a working-class Pentecostal family, up North, Jeanette follows the path her Mam has set for her. This involves Bible quizzes, a stint as a tambourine-playing Sally Army officer and a future as a missionary in Africa, or some other "heathen state". When Jeanette starts going to school and confides in her mother about her feelings for another girl, she's swept up in a feverish frenzy for her tainted soul. Confused, angry and alone, Jeanette strikes out on her own path, that involves a funeral parlour and an ice-cream van. Mixed in with the so-called reality of Jeanette's existence growing up are unconventional fairy tales that transcend the everyday world, subverting the traditional preconceptions of the damsel in distress.
'Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit' by Jeanette Winterson is a perfect fit for readers who crave a intriguing and emotionally charged coming-of-age story that explores themes of self-discovery, family, and identity, particularly those who appreciate unconventional narratives and are drawn to stories that celebrate the beauty of LGBTQ+ experiences and the complexities of faith.
I felt like the blurb of this book was very misleading, what this story turned out to be was not what I was expecting at all. There are moments of this story that I really liked and admired, I found it to be incredibly interesting, but I often found myself bored. It's an English book, but at times I read it imagining an American setting, and when she is first brought up for homosexuality, the congregations reactions read very like 'The Crucible' by Arthur Miller, very Salem Witch Trail vibes.
I read this for our month Dubray Book Club, and I am interested to hear other people's thoughts and opinions on it because I feel like I might just be missing something, but it's not the type of LGBTQ+ book I was hoping for for Pride Month, but it's not to say it isn't worth the read, I just wouldn't be racing back to read it again myself.
Brought up in a working-class Pentecostal family, up North, Jeanette follows the path her Mam has set for her. This involves Bible quizzes, a stint as a tambourine-playing Sally Army officer and a future as a missionary in Africa, or some other "heathen state". When Jeanette starts going to school and confides in her mother about her feelings for another girl, she's swept up in a feverish frenzy for her tainted soul. Confused, angry and alone, Jeanette strikes out on her own path, that involves a funeral parlour and an ice-cream van. Mixed in with the so-called reality of Jeanette's existence growing up are unconventional fairy tales that transcend the everyday world, subverting the traditional preconceptions of the damsel in distress.
'Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit' by Jeanette Winterson is a perfect fit for readers who crave a intriguing and emotionally charged coming-of-age story that explores themes of self-discovery, family, and identity, particularly those who appreciate unconventional narratives and are drawn to stories that celebrate the beauty of LGBTQ+ experiences and the complexities of faith.
I felt like the blurb of this book was very misleading, what this story turned out to be was not what I was expecting at all. There are moments of this story that I really liked and admired, I found it to be incredibly interesting, but I often found myself bored. It's an English book, but at times I read it imagining an American setting, and when she is first brought up for homosexuality, the congregations reactions read very like 'The Crucible' by Arthur Miller, very Salem Witch Trail vibes.
I read this for our month Dubray Book Club, and I am interested to hear other people's thoughts and opinions on it because I feel like I might just be missing something, but it's not the type of LGBTQ+ book I was hoping for for Pride Month, but it's not to say it isn't worth the read, I just wouldn't be racing back to read it again myself.