Oranges are not the only fruit by Jeanette Winterson

notme

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Jul 4, 2004, 4:51:30 PM7/4/04

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I was delighted with this short, very funny but very thought provoking
novel - Whitbread Winner 1985. Dealing with religious fundamentalism the
subject matter would be hard to see as funny but Winterson treats the reader
to her character also called Jeanette, gives her an semi autobiographical
voice and manages to make her funny, thoughtful and provoking all at the
same time. Dealing with lesbianism and revivalist religion the author uses
allegorical fairy tale style stories interspersed with the narrative to tell
the story of Jeannette as she matures both in her sexuality and her
religious beliefs.

Brought to a wider audience by the BBC Drama of the same name starring the
late Charlotte Coleman it is usually remembered for its portrayal of
lesbianism yet it is so much more than that - a young girl tries to come to
terms with her own religious beliefs in spite of the almost fanatical
beliefs of those around her. The sometimes-hilarious yet poignant happenings
at her school and at home come together beautifully and still manage to
convey the difficulties with fundamentalist religion and the modern world.
She never actually loses her belief - it is her church led by her fanatical
mother that throws her out upon finding out of her relationship with another
girl in the church.

Confused but full of hope she embarks on a journey of discovery involving
working in a funeral parlour and driving an ice cream van with hilarious
results. A short book - mine had an introduction by the author - (I don't
know if they all have it ) but it doesn't seem a short story , I would have
liked more detail in places , more of Jeanette in the city etc . But this
aside it was entertaining and a frank appraisal of working class 50's/60's
Christian extremism. I would recommend readers try to forget the film Drama
and read the book afresh - it is a superb read.

Paul Ilechko

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Jul 4, 2004, 5:15:18 PM7/4/04

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notme wrote:
> I was delighted with this short, very funny but very thought provoking
> novel - Whitbread Winner 1985.

Yes, it's a wonderful book. Unfortunately she never came close to being
this good again.

notme

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Jul 5, 2004, 4:03:45 AM7/5/04

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"Paul Ilechko" <noSPaM_pile...@patmedia.net> wrote in message
news:2krab4F...@uni-berlin.de...

I did enjoy it but not enough to try "Sexing the Cherry " or her other
works, perhaps someone here might recommend them.?

Douglas Clark

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Jul 5, 2004, 4:20:55 PM7/5/04

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I read all her work however mediocre I find some of it. Of novels 'The
Passion' was one I liked but her essays are a must read.

--
Douglas Clark, Bath, Somerset, England ....
http://www.dgdclynx.plus.com
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Paul Ilechko

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Jul 5, 2004, 4:28:34 PM7/5/04

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Douglas Clark wrote:
> I read all her work however mediocre I find some of it. Of novels 'The
> Passion' was one I liked but her essays are a must read.
>
>

Funny, I thought "The Passion" was dull, watered-down magic realism.

notme

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Jul 6, 2004, 1:24:10 PM7/6/04

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"Douglas Clark" <dgdc...@NOSPAMdgdclynx.plus.com> wrote in message
news:7KiGc.3395$Fc7.6...@stones.force9.net...

> I read all her work however mediocre I find some of it. Of novels 'The
> Passion' was one I liked but her essays are a must read.
>
>

On this board and others I haven't read enough to convince me that reading
other Wintersons could be worthwhile - I have so much reading to get through
.

unglued

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Jul 7, 2004, 1:21:14 PM7/7/04

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"notme" <ne...@here.ok> wrote in message news:<ccb20i$avh$1...@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk>...

"Sexing the Cherry " is the only book i've read by her and as far as i
remember it was good fun, having said that i'm sure there are more
"important" books to read.

bogus address

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Jul 7, 2004, 6:03:26 PM7/7/04

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>> I read all her work however mediocre I find some of it. Of novels
>> 'The Passion' was one I liked but her essays are a must read.
> On this board and others I haven't read enough to convince me that
> reading other Wintersons could be worthwhile

The only one I've read was "Boating for Beginners".

Bleurgh. In theory you'd think that the idea of telling the story
of the Flood from Mrs Noah's viewpoint ought to have real comic
possibilities for a feminist satire. Instead you get a flabby,
incoherent mess.

========> Email to "j-c" at this site; email to "bogus" will bounce <========
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Douglas Clark

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Jul 8, 2004, 1:22:01 AM7/8/04

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Boating for Beginners I never bothered about. She wrote it in a week for the
money.

--
Douglas Clark, Bath, Somerset, England ....
http://www.dgdclynx.plus.com

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