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savaging's review against another edition
5.0
This is a book about families and about writing. This is a book that sees that try as we might to escape the stupid, petty domestic circle, writing is stuck warp-and-woof in the threads of the nuclear family.
I thought this book was perfect. One day reading it I wrote on my arm the single word SENTENCES! I haven't been this excited about sentences since I discovered Camus. Winterson allows herself clear, hard pebbles of sentences. I'll say the overused word here: luminous. These sentences are luminous.
You won't think this book is perfect if you think 1)stories need a beginning, middle, and end; or 2)someone shouldn't put all their personal business out there for anyone to read (especially if it's a storm of emotional intensity).
Reading this book meant pulling on other peoples' sleeves, clearing my throat, saying Just, just listen to this:
I thought this book was perfect. One day reading it I wrote on my arm the single word SENTENCES! I haven't been this excited about sentences since I discovered Camus. Winterson allows herself clear, hard pebbles of sentences. I'll say the overused word here: luminous. These sentences are luminous.
You won't think this book is perfect if you think 1)stories need a beginning, middle, and end; or 2)someone shouldn't put all their personal business out there for anyone to read (especially if it's a storm of emotional intensity).
Reading this book meant pulling on other peoples' sleeves, clearing my throat, saying Just, just listen to this:
I have noticed that doing the sensible thing is only a good idea when the decision is quite small. For the life-changing things, you must risk it.
And here is the shock -- when you risk it, when you do the right thing, when you arrive at the borders of common sense and cross into unknown territory, leaving behind you all the familiar smells and lights, then you do not experience great joy and huge energy.
You are unhappy. Things get worse.
It is a time of mourning. Loss. Fear. We bullet ourselves through with questions. And then we feel shot and wounded.
And then all the cowards come out and say, ‘See, I told you so.’
In fact, they told you nothing.
rebenka's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
halfbakedastronaut's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
"I have always tried to make a home for myself, but I have not felt at home in myself. I have worked hard at being the hero of my own life, but every time I checked the register of displaced persons, I was still on it. I didn't know how to belong.
Longing? Yes. Belonging? No."
Longing? Yes. Belonging? No."
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Read lovingly by the author, I enjoyed this audiobook. A good insight into Winterson's world. It does help if you've read Oranges are not the Only Fruit but not necessary. Honest and shocking, funny and bleak.