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naomzzz 's review for:
Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?
by Jeanette Winterson
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
i loved this! usually i prefer more a straightforward writing style but in this case, even though i had to pay attention and really think about what i was reading, the author's use of language was my favourite thing about the book. there are some beautiful turns of phrase and images and also some really funny moments as well (although it definitely isn't a light read!)
personally i enjoyed the chapter 'english literature a-z'. winterson's love of reading was so well written that it made me want to go out and find all the books she mentioned.
more importantly, it was an interesting insight into the experience of being adopted, which i haven't read or thought much about before, and it gave me a lot of food for though about mental health and what we classify as/ how we judge "madness"
i'm also just impressed by her honesty and vulnerability. she doesn't shy away from writing about aspects of herself that could open her up to judgement/criticism.
i don't typically reread books, but i feel like this is a book i could come back to at a later point and get something different from, or understand on a different level. like i said, the writing style is more challenging than i am used to and there were things i didn't really understand, but that didn't make me like it any less.
personally i enjoyed the chapter 'english literature a-z'. winterson's love of reading was so well written that it made me want to go out and find all the books she mentioned.
more importantly, it was an interesting insight into the experience of being adopted, which i haven't read or thought much about before, and it gave me a lot of food for though about mental health and what we classify as/ how we judge "madness"
i'm also just impressed by her honesty and vulnerability. she doesn't shy away from writing about aspects of herself that could open her up to judgement/criticism.
i don't typically reread books, but i feel like this is a book i could come back to at a later point and get something different from, or understand on a different level. like i said, the writing style is more challenging than i am used to and there were things i didn't really understand, but that didn't make me like it any less.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Lesbophobia
Minor: Classism