Janet Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson The ‘Blurb’ Innovative in style, its humour by turns punchy and tender, Oranges are not the only fruit is a few days ride into the bizarre outposts of religious excess and human obsession. It’s a love story too. This is a semi-autobiographical novel, loosely based on Winterson’s childhood/teenage years. Jeanette’s mother has a “mysterious attitude towards the begetting of children; it wasn’t that she couldn’t do it, more that she didn’t want to do it. She was very bitter about the Virgin Mary getting in first…” This is a novel about religion and sexual awakening. The story deals with Jeanette’s feelings of confusion over her love for God and the conflict between that, and her developing feelings towards females. Her mother, a staunch evangelist, doesn’t like sex, in any of its forms and so when she discovers her daughter’s attraction to the same sex, she and the church decide action must be taken to stamp it out. This book, which won the Whitbread Award for a First Novel in 1985, is both funny and poignant and was an enjoyable read. The paperback is 171 pages long and is published by Vintage. The ISBN number is 978-0099935704. 7/10 (Read August 2008) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 I'll keep my eye out for this. Absolutely loved Lighthousekeeping by this author. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nellie Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 How odd, I was only talking about this book last night. We studied it at school. I don't remember much about it other than I got a grade B for the essay I wrote! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 I have always wanted to read this book but never got around it, great review Janet, I am adding it to my wish list:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 I bought a copy from amazon, it is due tomorrow:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inver Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 This seems familiar....was it done on TV many moons ago! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 This seems familiar....was it done on TV many moons ago! Yes. Charlotte Colman (Scarlett in Four Weddings...) played Jeanette, I think. I didn't actually watch it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 You are correct Janet:) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098032/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted August 23, 2008 Share Posted August 23, 2008 I just finished it and I really enjoyed it, it was so funny at times and I thought Elsie was fab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy Reader Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 I always find books like this so interesting. I find the strength of a child’s ability to deal with an outwardly unloving and somewhat abusive parent amazing. I love how JW can look back on her childhood with such humour and not be self indulgent or bitter over such an upbringing. I did the feel the book because less interesting as Jeanette grew up and I wasn’t really that interested in her discovering her sexuality and then the interrupting story of the magical forest and Sir Percival towards the end of the book were off-putting I'll keep my eye out for this. Absolutely loved Lighthousekeeping by this author. I have a copy of this in a pile of books that were passed on to me and I wasn't sure about it but on your recommendation I shall move it on to the to be read pile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 IAbsolutely loved Lighthousekeeping by this author. I have a copy of this in a pile of books that were passed on to me and I wasn't sure about it but on your recommendation I shall move it on to the to be read pile When you do, Easy Reader, let me know what you think. I don't think I've seen anyone else comment on this book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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