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A review by sarah_horner
Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? by Jeanette Winterson
4.75
main takeaways:
- religious guilt/brainwashing leaves people unable to enjoy their time on earth. Jeannette's mother thought that pleasure (even "innocent" forms) was wrong, so she truly hated being alive and tried to impress her dreary mindset on those around her. as Jeannette grew up and her mother disapproved of her relationships with women, Jeannette asked her mother to understand that she is happier than ever.... and her mother responds "why be happy when you can be normal." which is crazy and so so so sad.
- adoption is a fracturing. you are missing a part of your story. Jeannette never feels close to her adopted mom, and when she meets her birth mom, it's like meeting a stranger. adopted people have to form their own origin stories. but adoption does not mean you were unwanted.
- autofiction is a way to distance yourself from the intensity of your story while still working through experiences and emotions.
- religious guilt/brainwashing leaves people unable to enjoy their time on earth. Jeannette's mother thought that pleasure (even "innocent" forms) was wrong, so she truly hated being alive and tried to impress her dreary mindset on those around her. as Jeannette grew up and her mother disapproved of her relationships with women, Jeannette asked her mother to understand that she is happier than ever.... and her mother responds "why be happy when you can be normal." which is crazy and so so so sad.
- adoption is a fracturing. you are missing a part of your story. Jeannette never feels close to her adopted mom, and when she meets her birth mom, it's like meeting a stranger. adopted people have to form their own origin stories. but adoption does not mean you were unwanted.
- autofiction is a way to distance yourself from the intensity of your story while still working through experiences and emotions.