Anthea's review
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
by Jeanette Winterson
Anthea's review
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
Anthea's review
rating:
bookshelves:
nonfantasy_fiction,
queer
recommended for: queer folks, survivors of religion, and other misfits
This is a witty, melancholy little book about growing up
in a different world than the other kids, only to find out
that you don't belong in that world any more.
Jeanette is brought up by a religious fanatic mother, and
dreams of being a missionary one day. So obsessive is the
spiritual fervor surrounding her that when she goes
temporarily deaf, it is weeks before she receives medical
attention, as everyone supposes it is just the Lord
working in his mysterious ways. She takes her faith very
seriously, giving the other kids nightmares with her
descriptions of Hell, never allowing doubt (about God or
her crazy mother) enter her heart.
Until, "quite by mistake", she falls in love with a girl,
and the community that once loved her starts to insist
that's she's evil, literally possessed by demons.
It's a story full of unexpected little twists and bits of
humor (the truth about Jeanette's mother's youthful fling
with a Frenchman turns out to ha...more
in a different world than the other kids, only to find out
that you don't belong in that world any more.
Jeanette is brought up by a religious fanatic mother, and
dreams of being a missionary one day. So obsessive is the
spiritual fervor surrounding her that when she goes
temporarily deaf, it is weeks before she receives medical
attention, as everyone supposes it is just the Lord
working in his mysterious ways. She takes her faith very
seriously, giving the other kids nightmares with her
descriptions of Hell, never allowing doubt (about God or
her crazy mother) enter her heart.
Until, "quite by mistake", she falls in love with a girl,
and the community that once loved her starts to insist
that's she's evil, literally possessed by demons.
It's a story full of unexpected little twists and bits of
humor (the truth about Jeanette's mother's youthful fling
with a Frenchman turns out to ha...more
