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Cecily's Reviews > Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
by
by
Cecily's review
bookshelves: biog-and-autobiog, sexuality-gender-lgbtqi, god-religion-faith, bildungsroman
Aug 01, 2008
bookshelves: biog-and-autobiog, sexuality-gender-lgbtqi, god-religion-faith, bildungsroman
Read 2 times. Last read 2012.
Semi-autobiographical tale of adopted Jess growing up in an austere evangelical family, rebelling religiously, socially and sexually as she tries to find her way in life. Her chapter titles are books of the Old Testament.
I first read this shortly after publication in 1985. It seemed more shocking back then, but much sadder and more touching now.
In 1988, the infamous said local authorities "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship". It was repealed in 2000.
In 1990, the BBC broadcast an excellent, prime-time adaptation, starting Geraldine McEwan and Charlotte Coleman, although it was the core story, without much (any?) mention of the mythological analogies of her aspirations, desires, and struggles.
For the truer, grittier, more analytical version, see Why be happy when you can be normal?, which I reviewed HERE.
There are also significant autobiographical aspects to Lighthousekeeping, as explained in my review HERE.
I first read this shortly after publication in 1985. It seemed more shocking back then, but much sadder and more touching now.
In 1988, the infamous said local authorities "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship". It was repealed in 2000.
In 1990, the BBC broadcast an excellent, prime-time adaptation, starting Geraldine McEwan and Charlotte Coleman, although it was the core story, without much (any?) mention of the mythological analogies of her aspirations, desires, and struggles.
For the truer, grittier, more analytical version, see Why be happy when you can be normal?, which I reviewed HERE.
There are also significant autobiographical aspects to Lighthousekeeping, as explained in my review HERE.
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Quotes Cecily Liked
“She must find a boat and sail in it. No guarantee of shore. Only a conviction that what she wanted could exist, if she dared to find it.”
― Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
― Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
“In the library I felt better, words you could trust and look at till you understood them, they couldn't change half way through a sentence like people, so it was easier to spot a lie.”
― Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
― Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
Reading Progress
1986
–
Started Reading
1986
–
Finished Reading
August 1, 2008
– Shelved
August 1, 2008
– Shelved as:
biog-and-autobiog
2012
–
Started Reading
2012
–
Finished Reading
June 15, 2015
– Shelved as:
sexuality-gender-lgbtqi
February 23, 2016
– Shelved as:
god-religion-faith
October 7, 2017
– Shelved as:
bildungsroman
Comments Showing 1-5 of 5 (5 new)
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I can see why this might have been scandalous at the time it was published. I'm going to read both of the other books you've mentioned as well, Cecily. Winterson is becoming one of my very favorite authors :)
Candi wrote: "I can see why this might have been scandalous at the time it was published..."Only five years after it was published, the BBC adapted it for TV, starring Geraldine McEwan as Mrs Winterson. That brought the shock to wider prominence!
Might be fun to try to find a way to watch that now, Cecily!
Candi wrote: "Might be fun to try to find a way to watch that now, Cecily!"I remember it very favourably, so if you can find it, then do watch it. It stars Charlotte Coleman as Jess. She was also Scarlett in Four Weddings and a Funeral and died tragically young, of asthma.
You're very kind to class these few, old sentences as a review. Why be Happy also has the advantage (for me), of having read it much more recently, and analytically.