Scan barcode
A review by ratgrrrl
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
5.0
CN. Racism, Homophobia, 'Conversion Therapy', Abusive Family, Abusive Church, Child Abuse, Child SA (Referenced)
I need to stop reading books that need me not to have covid brain to review properly, but I absolutely loved this and will be reading it again and watching the adaptations, before the Queer book club we're reading this for at the end of September.
I knew nothing going in and now I want to know everything about this! I want to check out all the adaptations and read it again before the book club!
Just so wonderfully quirky and fun and British (in the very best and worst ways), as well as tragic and heartbreaking and magical and strange and beautiful.
I really need to to do this justice in the future.
My only issue, beyond the outdated language, was the handling of what was a traumatised minor being sexually predated on by an adult, described as "making love". I do appreciate this was from the child's perspective and wasn't exactly addressed, but wasn't made worse, which I feared.
***
I'm really not sure what to add to this covid review.
I absolutely adored and rocketed through this book!
Part fictionalised memoir, part collection of anecdotes, and folk tales, Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit is an incredibly rich tapestry or quilt made gloriously whole by the some of its exquisite parts.
There is a real sense of time and geography, while also remaining timeless and feeling so tangible for any weird kid with awful, weird parents that make fitting into any kind of 'normal' or even just your own family's 'normal' life a new impossible act everyday.
The bittersweet Britishness is exquisitely pulled off, at once as homely as a blanket, cup of tea, and biscuits to dunk, as it is suffocating, silent, neglectful, and rotten.
The complex relationship with religion, individual freedom, interpretation, and personal identity are rich and heartbreaking. The threat and action of conversion and exorcism are horrifying and ludicrous with the addition of the orange demon.
The relationships feel real and complicated and exhausting.
The stories throughout are fascinating and elucidating.
The only issue I had, as I mentioned before, was the handling of an encounter that was absolutely abuse, but I do think I understand Wintersons reasons for framing it the way she did, even if I don't agree.
I'm beyond excited to read this again and discuss it in my Queer book club next month.
I need to stop reading books that need me not to have covid brain to review properly, but I absolutely loved this and will be reading it again and watching the adaptations, before the Queer book club we're reading this for at the end of September.
I knew nothing going in and now I want to know everything about this! I want to check out all the adaptations and read it again before the book club!
Just so wonderfully quirky and fun and British (in the very best and worst ways), as well as tragic and heartbreaking and magical and strange and beautiful.
I really need to to do this justice in the future.
My only issue, beyond the outdated language, was the handling of what was a traumatised minor being sexually predated on by an adult, described as "making love". I do appreciate this was from the child's perspective and wasn't exactly addressed, but wasn't made worse, which I feared.
***
I'm really not sure what to add to this covid review.
I absolutely adored and rocketed through this book!
Part fictionalised memoir, part collection of anecdotes, and folk tales, Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit is an incredibly rich tapestry or quilt made gloriously whole by the some of its exquisite parts.
There is a real sense of time and geography, while also remaining timeless and feeling so tangible for any weird kid with awful, weird parents that make fitting into any kind of 'normal' or even just your own family's 'normal' life a new impossible act everyday.
The bittersweet Britishness is exquisitely pulled off, at once as homely as a blanket, cup of tea, and biscuits to dunk, as it is suffocating, silent, neglectful, and rotten.
The complex relationship with religion, individual freedom, interpretation, and personal identity are rich and heartbreaking. The threat and action of conversion and exorcism are horrifying and ludicrous with the addition of the orange demon.
The relationships feel real and complicated and exhausting.
The stories throughout are fascinating and elucidating.
The only issue I had, as I mentioned before, was the handling of an encounter that was absolutely abuse, but I do think I understand Wintersons reasons for framing it the way she did, even if I don't agree.
I'm beyond excited to read this again and discuss it in my Queer book club next month.